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 South-
east 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, includ-
ing beatings, torture, starvation, and denial of medical
attention;
•HRES 360 EH
Whereas United States prisoners of war were held in a num-
ber of facilities, the most notorious of which was Hoa
Loa Prison in downtown Hanoi, dubbed the ‘‘Hanoi Hil-
ton’’ by the prisoners held there;
Whereas the hundreds of American prisoners held in the
Hanoi Hilton and other facilities persevered under ter-
rible 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: ‘‘Remem-
ber, 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 him-
self 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 Meri-
torious 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 Viet-
nam conflict truly represent all that is best about Amer-
ica;
Whereas the 25th anniversary of Operation Homecoming be-
gins 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 cere-
monies 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.