This dove's war record was much more distinguished than that of his sleazebag hawkish opponent. In spite of the slanders directed at him because of his anti-war politics, McGovern never used his own military record to garner sympathy votes or promote his reputation during the campaign against Nixon. Having myself managed to get through a whole tour in a war zone without getting shot at, or firing a shot myself, I have always been hesitant about the war record, or lack of it, being an issue. I do not use the term "chicken hawk". But the prior service, be it that of McCain or McGovern, should be remembered, if not honored.

"He volunteered for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and served as a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot in the Fifteenth Air Force, flying 35 missions over enemy territory from bases in North Africa and later Italy, often against heavy anti-aircraft artillery, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving his crew by landing his damaged bomber on a British airfield on Vis, a small island off the Yugoslav coast controlled by Tito's Partisans."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McGovern

http://members.aol.com/Head0Class/Bios/McGovern.htm