IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 397 

Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary celebration 

of the homecoming of United States prisoners of war from Vietnam 

and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices of such 

prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 15, 2023 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. CROW, Mrs. KIM of California, and Ms. SHERRILL) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the approval of Congress for the 50th anniversary 

celebration of the homecoming of United States prisoners 

of war from Vietnam and in recognition of the extraordinary service and sacrifices of such prisoners of war 

during the Vietnam War. 

Whereas more than 2,700,000 members of the United States 

Armed Forces served in the Vietnam War; 

Whereas more than 58,000 members of the United States 

Armed Forces lost their lives and 153,000 were wounded; 

Whereas, during the conflict, approximately 766 members of 

the Armed Forces of the United States were taken captive as prisoners of war by the Government of the DemoVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:32 May 16, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR397.IH HR397

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•HRES 397 IH 

cratic Republic of Vietnam and the allies of that Government; 

Whereas many of the prisoners of war were Navy and Air 

Force aviators shot down over the jungles of North Vietnam, and during captivity the prisoners endured brutal 

conditions, including torture, forced labor, and prolonged 

solitary confinement; 

Whereas prisoners of war were held in more than a dozen 

prisons throughout North Vietnam, including in the famous prison camp known as the ‘‘Hanoi Hilton’’, but despite the challenging conditions, many of the prisoners of 

war held by the North Vietnamese maintained their 

honor, resilience, and loyalty to their country and fellow 

members of the Armed Forces; 

Whereas the return of the prisoners of war was a nonnegotiable condition for President Richard Nixon as his administration negotiated an end to the Vietnam War; 

Whereas, on January 27, 1973, the Agreement on Ending 

the War and Restoring Peace in Viet-Nam (commonly 

known as the ‘‘Paris Peace Accords’’) was signed, ending 

the involvement of the United States in Vietnam and requiring the return of the United States prisoners of war 

within 60 days of the signing of the agreement; 

Whereas, between February and March 1973, 591 members 

of the Armed Forces were released by the North Vietnamese; 

Whereas more than 114 prisoners of war died in captivity; 

Whereas the return of the prisoners of war held by the North 

Vietnamese had a tremendous effect on the formation of 

the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘POW/MIA’’) movement in the United 


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•HRES 397 IH 

States, which is led by the National League of POW/MIA 

Families; 

Whereas, in 1972, the National League of POW/MIA Families adopted the National POW/MIA flag, which flies over 

Federal buildings, including the United States Capitol, 

on days the United States flag is flown; 

Whereas 50 years after the prisoners of war held by the 

North Vietnamese gained their freedom, the resilience, 

courage, and patriotism of the prisoners of war continues 

to inspire generations of citizens of the United States; 

and 

Whereas the Richard Nixon Presidential Library will host the 

official 50th Anniversary celebration of the homecoming 

of United States POWs from Vietnam, from May 23 to 

25, 2023, in Yorba Linda, California: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses approval for the 50th anniversary 

3 celebration of the homecoming of United States pris4 oners of war from Vietnam; and 

5 (2) recognizes the extraordinary service and 

6 sacrifices of the United States prisoners of war dur7 ing the Vietnam War. 

Æ 


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