Ted Kennedy: "Hell, half my voters in Massachusetts look on McCarthy as a hero"

So, it's been said numerous times that McCarthy "destroyed people's lives". We've been told this tidbit over and over in school. I'd like to specifically know who's life he destroyed. I'm starting to think McCarthy was targetted because he was making progress against stopping the leftist communists.

Why aren't we ever taught in school that McCarthy was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marines and left the Marines with the rank of Captain?