SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 359
	WHEREAS, In 2015, the Honorable Sam Johnson, a member of
	the United States House of Representatives, is commemorating the
	42nd anniversary of his release as a prisoner of war in North
	Vietnam; and
	WHEREAS, An alumnus of Woodrow Wilson High School in
	Dallas, Sam Johnson graduated with a degree in business
	administration from Southern Methodist University in 1951, and
	soon thereafter, at the age of 20, he entered the United States
	Air Force; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson completed 62 combat missions as a
	fighter pilot during the Korean War, and he went on to become a
	member of the elite Air Force Thunderbirds and the director of
	the Air Force Fighter Weapons School; he later served two tours
	of duty in the Vietnam War; on April 16, 1966, he was flying his
	25th combat mission over North Vietnam when his plane was shot
	down, forcing him to eject into enemy territory; and
	WHEREAS, Severely injured, Major Johnson was taken captive
	and held at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" prison camp, where he was
	subjected to horrific beatings, starvation, solitary confinement,
	and other deplorable treatment; he ultimately endured seven
	years in the facility before being returned to his homeland on
	February 17, 1973, and he later chronicled his experiences in his
	autobiography, Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW's Story, which
	was published in 1992; and
	WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson concluded his exemplary
	29-year career in the United States Air Force in 1979, retiring
	at the rank of colonel; his numerous military commendations and
	accolades include two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the
	Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple
	Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards;
	moreover, he was retroactively awarded the Prisoner of War Medal
	following its creation in 1985; and
	WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life, this esteemed
	Texan founded a home-building business, and in 1984 he was
	elected to the first of four consecutive terms in the Texas House
	of Representatives; since 1991, he has represented the Third
	District of Texas in the United States Congress, where he serves
	on the Committee on Ways and Means and the Health Subcommittee
	and chairs the Social Security Subcommittee; throughout his
	career in Congress, he has made the welfare of the men and women
	in the military one of his foremost priorities; in 2009, he was
	awarded the National Patriots Award, the highest civilian
	accolade conferred by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society,
	and he was named by his peers as the "most admired" Republican in
	the United States House of Representatives; and
	WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson and his wife, Shirley, are
	the parents of 3 children, Gini, Beverly, and the late Bob
	Johnson, and the grandparents of 10 grandchildren; and
	WHEREAS, Sam Johnson has demonstrated the highest degree
	of patriotism, fighting bravely for his country, holding
	steadfast in captivity, and rendering public service with the
	utmost integrity, and he is indeed deserving of his fellow
	citizens' deepest gratitude; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
	Legislature,herebyhonorCongressmanSamJohnsononthe42nd
	anniversary of his return from Vietnam and extend to him sincere
	appreciation for his valiant service to his country; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
	prepared for Congressman Johnson as an expression of high regard
	from the Texas Senate.
	Taylor of Collin,
	Estes
	Bettencourt Hancock Perry
	Birdwell Hinojosa Rodriguez
	Burton Huffines Schwertner
	Campbell Huffman Seliger
	Creighton Kolkhorst Taylor of Galveston
	Ellis Lucio Uresti
	Eltife Menéndez Watson
	Fraser Nelson West
	Garcia Nichols Whitmire
	Hall Zaffirini
	Patrick, President of the Senate
	____________________________________________________________
	Member, Texas Senate               Member, Texas Senate
		______________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on March 11, 2015.
		______________________________
		Secretary of the Senate