Bill Text: TX HCR118 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Honoring Congressman Sam Johnson on the 38th anniversary of his release as a North Vietnamese Prisoner of War.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-23 - Received from the House [HCR118 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HCR118-Introduced.html
| 82R15997 RYA-D | ||
| By: Taylor of Collin | H.C.R. No. 118 | |
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| WHEREAS, The Honorable Sam Johnson, a member of the United | ||
| States House of Representatives, commemorated on February 17, 2011, | ||
| the 38th anniversary of his homecoming from Vietnam, where he | ||
| endured nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War; and | ||
| WHEREAS, This highly decorated war hero served his country | ||
| for 29 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force; raised in Dallas, | ||
| he joined the military at the age of 20, shortly after graduating | ||
| from Southern Methodist University, and completed 62 combat | ||
| missions as a fighter pilot during the Korean War; he subsequently | ||
| flew with the elite Air Force Thunderbirds and directed the Air | ||
| Force Fighter Weapons School; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson served two tours of duty in | ||
| Vietnam; on April 16, 1966, during his second tour, he was shot down | ||
| over North Vietnam while flying his 25th combat mission; ejecting | ||
| from his plane, he sustained a dislocated shoulder, broken arm, and | ||
| broken back; and | ||
| WHEREAS, After his capture, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was | ||
| held at the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison camp, where he survived | ||
| 72 days in leg stocks and 2-1/2 years in leg irons, as well as severe | ||
| beatings and starvation; identified by his captors as a "die-hard" | ||
| because of his refusal to cooperate, he was placed in solitary | ||
| confinement for 3-1/2 years; his ordeal finally ended with his | ||
| release from prison on February 12, 1973; he later wrote about his | ||
| experiences as a Prisoner of War in his book Captive Warriors: A | ||
| Vietnam POW's Story, which was published in 1992; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson retired from the Air Force with | ||
| the rank of Colonel in 1979; among the many military awards he | ||
| received were two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the | ||
| Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple | ||
| Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Following his return to civilian life, Congressman | ||
| Johnson established a home-building business and served for seven | ||
| years in the Texas House of Representatives; since 1991, he has | ||
| represented the Third District of Texas in the U.S. Congress, where | ||
| he is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the chairman of | ||
| the Social Security Subcommittee; a dedicated advocate for the men | ||
| and women in the military, he was named by his peers in 2009 as the | ||
| "most admired" Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Sam Johnson has enjoyed the | ||
| love and support of his wife, Shirley; the couple have been blessed | ||
| with 3 children and 10 grandchildren; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A distinguished patriot, Congressman Johnson | ||
| continues to represent his country with extraordinary honor and | ||
| dedication, and he is truly worthy of special recognition for his | ||
| service; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby honor Congressman Sam Johnson on the 38th anniversary of his | ||
| homecoming from Vietnam and extend to him sincere appreciation for | ||
| his deep devotion to this country and to the cause of freedom; and, | ||
| be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Congressman Johnson as an expression of high regard by | ||
| the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. | ||
