H. Res. 360

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

February 12, 1998.

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;
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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;

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,
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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 among the prisoners held in the Hanoi Hilton was

then-Captain Pete Peterson, United States Air Force, a

former Representative in Congress from Florida who is

now serving, in a distinguished manner, as the United

States Ambassador to Vietnam, who was shot down on

September 10, 1966, and while a prisoner conducted

himself with valor 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,

one Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross,

three Bronze Stars with V Devices, two Purple Hearts,

six Air Medals, one Air Force Commendation Medal, the

Vietnam Service Medal with eight devices, and one Meritorious Service Medal, and who retired from active duty

in 1981 in the grade of colonel;

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

Whereas the Nation owes a debt of gratitude to these patriots

for their courage and exemplary service: Now, therefore,

be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
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(1) expresses its gratitude for, and calls upon all

Americans to reflect upon and show their gratitude for,

the courage and sacrifice of the brave men, including

particularly Sam Johnson of Texas and Pete Peterson of

Florida, who were held as prisoners of war during the

Vietnam conflict;

(2) urges States and localities to honor the courage

and sacrifice of those brave men with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and

(3) acting on behalf of all Americans, 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 service members whose fate is unknown.

Attest:

Clerk.