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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Sam Johnson, a member of the United |
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States House of Representatives, commemorated on February 17, 2011, |
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the 38th anniversary of his homecoming from Vietnam, where he |
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endured nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War; and |
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WHEREAS, This highly decorated war hero served his country |
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for 29 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force; raised in Dallas, |
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he joined the military at the age of 20, shortly after graduating |
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from Southern Methodist University, and completed 62 combat |
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missions as a fighter pilot during the Korean War; he subsequently |
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flew with the elite Air Force Thunderbirds and directed the Air |
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Force Fighter Weapons School; and |
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WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson served two tours of duty in |
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Vietnam; on April 16, 1966, during his second tour, he was shot down |
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over North Vietnam while flying his 25th combat mission; ejecting |
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from his plane, he sustained a dislocated shoulder, broken arm, and |
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broken back; and |
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WHEREAS, After his capture, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson was |
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held at the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison camp, where he survived |
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72 days in leg stocks and 2-1/2 years in leg irons, as well as severe |
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beatings and starvation; identified by his captors as a "die-hard" |
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because of his refusal to cooperate, he was placed in solitary |
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confinement for 3-1/2 years; his ordeal finally ended with his |
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release from prison on February 12, 1973; he later wrote about his |
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experiences as a Prisoner of War in his book Captive Warriors: A |
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Vietnam POW's Story, which was published in 1992; and
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WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson retired from the Air Force with |
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the rank of Colonel in 1979; among the many military awards he |
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received were two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the |
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Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple |
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Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his return to civilian life, Congressman |
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Johnson established a home-building business and served for seven |
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years in the Texas House of Representatives; since 1991, he has |
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represented the Third District of Texas in the U.S. Congress, where |
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he is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the chairman of |
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the Social Security Subcommittee; a dedicated advocate for the men |
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and women in the military, he was named by his peers in 2009 as the |
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"most admired" Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives; and |
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WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Sam Johnson has enjoyed the |
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love and support of his wife, Shirley; the couple have been blessed |
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with 3 children and 10 grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A distinguished patriot, Congressman Johnson |
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continues to represent his country with extraordinary honor and |
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dedication, and he is truly worthy of special recognition for his |
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service; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor Congressman Sam Johnson on the 38th anniversary of his |
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homecoming from Vietnam and extend to him sincere appreciation for |
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his deep devotion to this country and to the cause of freedom; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Congressman Johnson as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |