 The early life and military career of John Sidney McCain III spans the first forty @-@ five years of his life ( 1936 – 1981 ) . McCain 's father and grandfather were admirals in the United States Navy . McCain was born on August 29 , 1936 , in the Panama Canal Zone , and attended many schools growing up as his family moved among naval facilities . McCain graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1958 . He married the former Carol Shepp in 1965 ; he adopted two children from her previous marriage and they had another child together . 
