IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 356

Recognizing, and calling on all Americans to recognize, the courage and

sacrifice of the members of the Armed Forces held as prisoners of

war during the Vietnam conflict and stating that the House of Representatives will not forget that more than 2,000 members of the United

States Armed Forces remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam conflict

and will continue to press for a final accounting for all such

servicemembers whose fate is unknown.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 11, 1998

Mr. GINGRICH (for himself, Mr. ARMEY, Mr. DELAY, Mr. KING, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. ISTOOK, Mr. GILMAN, Mr.

MCINTOSH, Mr. SPENCE, Mr. SOLOMON, and Mr. STUMP) submitted the

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on National Security

RESOLUTION

Recognizing, and calling on all Americans to recognize, the

courage and sacrifice of the members of the Armed

Forces held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam

conflict and stating that the House of Representatives

will not forget that more than 2,000 members of the

United States Armed Forces remain unaccounted for

from the Vietnam conflict and will continue to press

for a final accounting for all such servicemembers whose

fate is unknown.
2

•HRES 356 IH

Whereas participation by United States Armed Forces in

combat operations in Southeast Asia during the period

from 1964 through 1972 resulted in as many as 8,000

United States servicemen being taken prisoner by enemy

forces;

Whereas the first such United States serviceman taken as a

prisoner of war, Navy Lt. Commander Everett Alvarez,

was captured on August 5, 1964;

Whereas following the Paris Peace Accords of January 1973,

591 United States prisoners of war were released from

captivity;

Whereas the return of these prisoners of war to United

States control and to their families and comrades was

designated Operation Homecoming;

Whereas many United States servicemen who were taken

prisoner as a result of ground or aerial combat in Southeast Asia have not returned to their loved ones and their

fate remains unknown;

Whereas United States prisoners of war in Southeast Asia

were routinely subjected to brutal mistreatment, including beatings, torture, starvation, and denial of medical

attention;

Whereas United States prisoners of war were held in a number of facilities, the most notorious of which was Hoa

Loa Prison in downtown Hanoi, dubbed the ‘‘Hanoi Hilton’’ by the prisoners held there;

Whereas the hundreds of American prisoners held in the

Hanoi Hilton and other facilities persevered under terrible conditions;

Whereas the prisoners were frequently isolated from each

other and prohibited from speaking to each other;
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•HRES 356 IH

Whereas the prisoners nevertheless, at great personal risk,

devised a means to communicate with each other through

a code transmitted by tapping on cell walls;

Whereas then-Commander James B. Stockdale, United

States Navy, who upon his capture on September 9,

1965, became the senior POW officer present in the

Hanoi Hilton, delivered to his men a message that was

to sustain them during their ordeal, as follows: Remember, you are Americans. With faith in God, trust in one

another, and devotion to your country, you will overcome.

You will triumph;

Whereas among the prisoners held in the Hanoi Hilton was

then-Major Sam Johnson, United States Air Force, now

a Representative in Congress from Texas, who was shot

down on April 16, 1966, while flying his 25th mission

over North Vietnam and while a prisoner conducted himself with such valor as to be labeled by the enemy as a

die-hard resister and, notwithstanding the tremendous

suffering inflicted upon him, continually demonstrated an

unfailing devotion to duty, honor, and country, and who

during his military career was awarded 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, who retired

from active duty in 1979 in the grade of colonel, and who

personifies the verse in Isaiah 40:31, ‘‘They shall mount

with wings as eagles’’;

Whereas the men held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict truly represent all that is best about America;

Whereas the 25th anniversary of Operation Homecoming begins on February 12, 1998; and
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•HRES 356 IH

Whereas the Nation owes a debt of gratitude to these patriots

for their courage and exemplary service: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) expresses its gratitude for, and calls upon

3 all Americans to reflect upon and show their grati4 tude for, the courage and sacrifice of the brave men,

5 including particularly Sam Johnson of Texas, who

6 were held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam

7 conflict;

8 (2) urges States and localities to honor the

9 courage and sacrifice of those brave men with appro10 priate ceremonies and activities; and

11 (3) acting on behalf of all Americans, will not

12 forget that more than 2,000 members of the United

13 States Armed Forces remain unaccounted for from

14 the Vietnam conflict and will continue to press for

15 a final accounting for all such servicemembers whose

16 fate is unknown.

Æ