This
five
weeks as a Mexican prisoner and tells why it made him stronger.
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here are a lot of reasons that
But what garnered the former lifeguard, firefighter and
current OC Sheriff’s Department Reserve Deputy his 15 minutes – uh, make that
five weeks – of fame was a 1998 episode that he’d just as soon never happened.
It was during Rapture’s maiden voyage. McClung, along with members of his
family and crew, were bringing the brand new $4.5 million yacht from
The ship was boarded, at which time McClung showed Mexican
officials a rack of shotguns, used for shooting skeet over open ocean, and two
AR-15s (civilian versions of the military M-16), which were bought legally in
Florida as protection against pirates along the Central American coast. Because
of rebel fighters, the government takes weapons infractions seriously, with a
zero tolerance law, which is why McClung says he declared the weapons
immediately. But Mexican officialdom is notorious for corruption and McClung,
his 71-year-old father Eugene and first mate Noah Bailey were arrested for the
possession of illegal firearms. But, says McClung, the charges were a scheme
from the beginning. “Let’s call it what it was, flat out corruption,” he says.
“During the first night of interrogation, about 14 hours, the same question
kept coming up. ‘How much money do you have aboard the boat?’” So McClung
pointed his interrogators to the ship’s safe, which held $10,000 in cash. And
for a brief period, it looked as though that would clear up the “fine” and send
Rapture and crew on her way.
Then, the media got involved. Mexican papers touted the
capture of American drug- and gun-traffickers and the problem escalated out of
control. The Mexican official who had made the arrest was caught in a
face-saving corner – the bribe deal was now out – and McClung, his father and
first mate, were caught in a tiny Mexican jail cell. “He had the choice to make
an apology or make us look really, really bad,” says McClung. “He chose to make
us look bad.”
And just when McClung believed it couldn’t get worse, it did.
After being held for 10 days, the men had a hearing on gun-smuggling charges.
McClung’s father and Bailey were cleared, McClung was ordered to stand trial in
Mexican federal court to face a possible 33-year prison term. That was bad
enough, but says McClung, “One of the Federalies had
tipped off my Mexican attorney that I would never make it to Cancun’s prison,
that I would be killed on the boat ride over and they’d claim I tried to jump
ship. So basically, I was being read my death sentence.” Finding himself
without a plan, McClung improvised: he faked a heart attack and was sent to a
hospital.
That turned out to be a very good move, says McClung, since
in the hospital he found the help of people as pure and good as his accusers
had been crooked. His doctor turned out to be a fellow Christian who was
disgusted with his country’s bureaucratic corruption and became determined to
keep McClung out of prison. Ironically, he had to bend the rules himself to do
it. “He was falsifying records to keep me in the hospital,” says McClung. “I
owe him a lot.” But the doctor could only do so much, says McClung. “The doctor
came in one day and said they were going to transfer me unless I could prove
that I was insane,” says McClung. “He said I had to prove to a panel of four
psychologists the government was flying in that I was bi-polar, suicidal and a
threat to others.” McClung, who was sure he was none of those things was again distraught.
Then, McClung says, came the oddest
twist of all. He got a random visitor, a woman on vacation who had been
following his story in the newspapers – none of which stated these
behind-the-scenes deceptions – and decided to “stop by.” “I wasn’t exactly in
the mood for visitors,” says McClung with a gallows humor laugh. “So I tried to
make small talk. I asked her what she did. She said she was a psychologist.”
McClung’s jaw dropped. For the next several hours, with a radio blaring for
fear of the hospital room being bugged, McClung was coached on how to pass the
psychological test – or fail it, that is. The next day, he did just that.
So McClung stayed in the hospital while his attorneys, as
well as the
Far from being angry or bitter for the episode, McClung now
sees it as a life-changing experience, one that has made him a stronger and
more spiritual person. “I’m amazed how something so terrible changed my life
for the better,” he says. “Without that experience I would not be nearly the
man I am today.”
He’s captained Rapture with renewed vigor since his
experience. He’s also added corporate team building and father-son bonding
expeditions to Rapture Marine’s itinerary, where his Navy SEAL friends will
lead intense, challenging competitions. But he’s still proudest of the work he
does with kids. He sees his role to push his students, particularly boys on the
verge of manhood, both emotionally and physically, to instill in them the
self-worth and character that comes with overcoming challenges. “My favorite
times are watching young lives change during a trip,” he says. “That’s always
accomplished.” And you can bet that it’s accomplished well clear of Mexican
waters.
The Q & A
Who are your heroes? President George Bush and any other
individual who, despite obstacles and criticism, continues to swim against the
current to do what’s right.
Whom in business do you most
ad-mire? Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona for his ability to bring multi-agencies together to
accomplish miraculous results.
What is your favorite
movie of all time? We Were Soldiers. An honest effort to capture the reality of war.
What future technology
do you think will change the world? Stem cell
research. It will eradicate many diseases and increase life expectancy.
What did you want to be
when you grew up? A
lifeguard, fireman, sheriff’s deputy, and a ship captain.
Of what accomplishment
are you most proud? Finding my wife, who
supports my ministry with the youth, and my two precious boys, Malcolm and Koa. Also, my crew aboard Rapture.
Through my mentoring they are able to enrich the lives of so many young people.
If you could have been something
different in your life, what would it be? I am
exactly what I wanted to be.
What is your life’s
motto? Seek the truth in everything you do.
What is the most
beautiful place you’ve ever seen? Kure Atoll, located in the
Where is the place you’d
most like to travel to, that you haven’t visited, and why?