John McCain: Death Of A Hero

Proud patriot spent his life serving land and family he loved.

GUTSY Navy pilot John McCain survived five years of torture in a North Vietnamese POW camp and became one of America’s most celebrated leaders, but the long-time U.S. senator died with one huge regret — he lost his bid to become president.

Now, as the nation mourns the Arizona politician and 2008 GOP presidential candidate, who died at age 81 on his Sedona ranch following a courageous 13-month battle with brain cancer, GLOBE reveals his inspiring final words, the secret truth about his imprisonment and the identity of the person he blamed for his losing run for the White House.

“John took to the grave his biggest regret — not becoming president — and on his deathbed, blamed his loss to Barack Obama on his unpredictable running mate, Sarah Palin,” says a source.

“He admitted choosing the brazen then-Alaska governor ‘was a big mistake.’”