 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Musi waJuly 29, 1967, McCain akanga ari lieutenant commander apo akanga ari pedyo nechepakati pomoto weUSS Forrestal. Akatiza ndege yake yaipfuta uye akanga achiedza kubatsira mumwe mutyairi kuti atize apo bhomba rakaputika; McCain akarohwa mumakumbo nepachipfuva nezvimedu. Moto wakazotevera wakauraya vafambisi vengarava 134 uye wakatora maawa 24 kuti uidzore. NeForrestal isiri kushanda, McCain akazvipira nokuda kwebasa neForrestal, imwe ngarava inotakura ndege inoshandiswa muOperation Rolling Thunder. Ikoko, akapiwa menduru yeNavy Commendation Medal uye menduru yeBronze Star nokuda kwemishinari yakabhururuka pamusoro peNorth Vietnam. 