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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Sam Johnson, the United States |
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Representative for the Third Congressional District of Texas, is |
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marking the 42nd anniversary of his release from a North Vietnamese |
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prison camp in 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Sam |
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Johnson entered the United States Air Force at the age of 20 and |
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carried out more than 60 combat missions as a fighter pilot in the |
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Korean War; he went on to join the prestigious Air Force |
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Thunderbirds and to direct the Air Force Fighter Weapons School; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, On April 16, 1966, during his second tour of duty in |
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Vietnam, then Major Johnson was flying his 25th combat mission over |
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North Vietnam when his plane was shot down; he was able to eject |
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from the cockpit and sustained a dislocated shoulder, broken arm, |
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and broken back; for nearly seven years, the enemy held him captive |
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in the notorious "Hanoi Hilton," where he endured beatings, |
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starvation, solitary confinement, and other grievous abuse; and |
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WHEREAS, His ordeal finally ended with his release on |
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February 12, 1973; this distinguished Texan continued to serve in |
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the military, attaining the rank of colonel before his retirement |
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in 1979; over the course of 29 years in the air force, Congressman |
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Johnson received numerous decorations, including two Silver Stars, |
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two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star |
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with Valor, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals, and three |
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Outstanding Unit Awards; he later published a memoir, Captive |
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Warriors: A Vietnam POW's Story; and |
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WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson began his career in public |
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service as a member of the Texas House of Representatives; since his |
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election to Congress in 1991, he has been one of that body's |
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foremost champions of the men and women in the military, and for his |
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efforts in their behalf, he was awarded in 2009 the National Patriot |
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Award, the highest civilian accolade conferred by the Congressional |
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Medal of Honor Society; that same year, his colleagues named him the |
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"Most Admired" Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives; and |
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WHEREAS, Few can claim such a long and distinguished record |
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of service to this nation, and the courage, strength of character, |
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and love of country that Congressman Johnson has so abundantly |
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demonstrated have earned him the esteem of every American; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Congressman Sam Johnson on the 42nd |
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anniversary of his homecoming from Vietnam and express lasting |
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appreciation for his exceptional contributions in both time of war |
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and time of peace; 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 by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |