FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                      
                      Contact:           McCall Avery

February 16,
2007                                                                              
             202/225-4201

**Sam Johnson, former POW: "The pain inflicted by your country's
indifference is tenfold that inflicted by your ruthless captors."**

*\
Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3^rd^ Dist.-Texas) delivered the
following closing statement on the floor of the House during the 36-hour
debate on Iraq.*

*A 29-year Air Force veteran, Johnson served in both the Korean and
Vietnam Wars.  Johnson spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War,
more than half of that time in solitary confinement.  [Coincidentally,
this week in 1973 as one of the longest held captives, Johnson finally
left Hanoi on February 12, 1973 and returned home to Texas on February
17, 1973. ]{.underline}*

*Earlier this week on Monday, Johnson spent the anniversary of his
release pleading with a House panel to accept his amendment to support
and fully fund the troops for the 36 hours of debate on the troop
escalation in Iraq. *

*Johnson's floor statement follows:*

"You know, I flew 62 combat missions in the Korean War and 25 missions
in the Vietnam War before being shot down. 

"I had the privilege of serving in the United States Air Force for 29
years, attending the prestigious National War College, and commanding
two air bases, among other things.

"I mention these stories because I view the debate on the floor not just
as a U.S. Congressman elected to serve the good people of the Third
District in Texas, but also through the lens of a life-long fighter
pilot, student of war, a combat warrior, a leader of men, and a Prisoner
of War.

"Ironically, this week marks the anniversary that I started a new life
-- and my freedom from prison in Hanoi.

"I spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam, more than
half of that time in solitary confinement.  I flew out of Hanoi on
February 12, 1973 with other long-held Prisoners of War -- weighing just
140 pounds.  And tomorrow -- 34 years ago, I had my homecoming to Texas
-- a truly unspeakable blessing of freedom.

"While in solitary confinement, my captors kept me in leg stocks, like
the pilgrims... for 72 days....

"As you can imagine, they had to carry me out of the stocks because I
couldn't walk.  The following day, they put me in leg irons... for 2 ½
years.  That's when you have a tight metal cuff around each ankle --
with a foot-long bar connecting the legs. 

"I still have little feeling in my right arm and my right hand... and my
body has never been the same since my nearly 2,500 days of captivity.

"But I will never let my physical wounds hold me back.

"Instead, I try to see the silver lining.  I say that because in some
way ... I'm living a dream...a hope I had for the future.

"From April 16, 1966 to February 12, 1973 -- I prayed that I would
return home to the loving embrace of my wife, Shirley, and my three
kids, Bob, Gini, and Beverly...

"And my fellow POWs and I clung to the hope of [when]{.underline} -- not
if -- we returned home. 

"We would spend [hours]{.underline} tapping on the adjoining cement
walls about what we would do when we got home to America. 

"We pledged to quit griping about the way the government was running the
war in Vietnam and do something about it... We decided that we would run
for office and try to make America a better place for all.

"So -- little did I know back in my rat-infested 3 x 8 dark and filthy
cell that 34 years after my departure from Hell on Earth... I would
spend the anniversary of my release pleading for a House panel to back
my measure to support and fully fund the troops in harm's way....and
that just days later I would be on the floor of the U.S. House of
Representatives surrounded by distinguished veterans urging Congress to
support our troops to the hilt. 

"We POWs were still in Vietnam when Washington cut the funding for
Vietnam.  I know what it does to morale and mission success.  Words can
not fully describe the horrendous damage of the anti-American efforts
against the war back home to the guys on the ground.

"Our captors would blare nasty recordings over the loud speaker of
Americans protesting back home...tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam
veterans when they came home\... and worse.

"We must never, ever let that happen again.

***["The pain inflicted by your country's indifference is tenfold that
inflicted by your ruthless captors.]{.underline}***

"Our troops -- and their families -- want, need and deserve the full
support of the country -- and the Congress.  Moms and dads watching the
news need to know that the Congress will not leave their sons and
daughters in harm's way without support.

"Since the President announced his new plan for Iraq last month, there
has been steady progress.  He changed the rules of engagement and
removed political protections.

"There are reports we wounded the number two of Al Qaeda and killed his
deputy.  Yes, Al Qaeda operates in Iraq.  It's alleged that top radical
jihadist Al-Sadr has fled Iraq -- maybe to Iran.  And Iraq's closed its
borders with Iran and Syria.  The President changed course and offered a
new plan ...we [are]{.underline} making progress.  We must seize the
opportunity to move forward, not stifle future success.

"Debating non-binding resolutions aimed at earning political points only
destroys morale, stymies success, and emboldens the enemy.

"The grim reality is that this House measure is the first step to
cutting funding of the troops...Just ask John Murtha about his
'slow-bleed' plan that hamstrings our troops in harm's way.

["Now]{.underline} it's time to stand up for my friends who did not make
it home -- and those who fought and died in Iraq - so I can keep my
promise that [when]{.underline} we got home we would quit griping about
the war and do something [positive]{.underline} about it...and we must
not allow this Congress to leave these troops like the Congress left us.

"Today, let my body serve as a brutal reminder that we must not repeat
the mistakes of the past... instead learn from them.

"We must not cut funding for our troops.  We must stick by them.  We
must support them all the way...To our troops we must remain...*always
faithful*.

"God bless you and I salute you all.  Thank you."

\# \# \#