4. John McCain
In 1967, during the Vietnam War, U.S. Navy pilot John McCain was shot down over Hanoi and captured by North Vietnamese forces. He endured over five years as a prisoner of war, facing brutal conditions and repeated torture. Despite his injuries and the hardships, McCain’s resilience and leadership among fellow POWs became legendary. After his release in 1973, he continued his military service before embarking on a political career, serving as a U.S. Senator from Arizona and running for president in 2008. His captivity and subsequent career highlighted the long-term impact of political imprisonment (smithsonianmag.com).
