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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 540
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WHEREAS, A valiant son of Texas, United States Congressman |
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Sam Johnson demonstrated unflinching bravery and a resolute |
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commitment to defending his country while a member of the armed |
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forces, and February 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of his |
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release as a prisoner of war; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio, Sam Johnson grew up in |
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Dallas, where he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and |
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Southern Methodist University; he joined the United States Air |
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Force at the age of 20, and he completed 62 combat missions during |
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the Korean War; and |
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WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson went on to complete |
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two tours of duty in Vietnam; on April 16, 1966, while flying his |
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25th combat mission of that war, he was shot down over enemy |
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territory; and |
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WHEREAS, Sustaining severe injury after ejecting from his |
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plane, he was captured and held at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" |
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prison camp, where he and his fellow prisoners endured horrific |
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treatment; he ultimately spent nearly seven years in captivity, |
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half of it in solitary confinement, before returning to his |
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beloved country on February 17, 1973; and |
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WHEREAS, This distinguished officer retired from the air |
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force with the rank of colonel in 1979, having earned a host of |
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prestigious honors over the course of his 29-year career; his |
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book Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW's Story was published in |
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1992 by the Texas A&M University Press; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1984, Sam Johnson won election to the Texas |
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House of Representatives, where he served for more than six |
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years, and he has ably represented his constituents as a member |
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of the United States Congress since 1991; in that capacity, he |
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has worked tirelessly in behalf of current and former members of |
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the military, and in 2009, his efforts were recognized with the |
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National Patriot Award, the highest civilian accolade conferred |
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by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society; and |
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WHEREAS, The people of our state and nation owe a |
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tremendous debt of gratitude to Sam Johnson, a courageous aviator |
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whose patriotism and iron determination remain a source of |
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inspiration to all Americans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
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Legislature, hereby honor United States Congressman Sam Johnson |
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on the 40th anniversary of his return from Vietnam and commend |
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him for his service to his country; and, 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 |
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by the Texas Senate. |
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| Birdwell |
Garcia |
Schwertner |
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| Deuell |
Huffman |
Van de Putte |
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| Fraser |
Rodriguez |
Zaffirini |
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Dewhurst, President of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 27, 2013. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |