 McCain retired with an effective date of April 1 , 1981 , the rank of Captain , and a disability pension due to his wartime injuries . For his service in the Senate liaison office , McCain was awarded a second instance of the Legion of Merit . Jack McCain died on March 22 , 1981 . On March 27 , 1981 , McCain attended his father 's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery , wearing his uniform for the last time before signing his discharge papers , and later that day flew to Phoenix with his wife Cindy to begin his new life . 
