[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 360 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 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 Southeast 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, including beatings, torture, 
        starvation, and denial of medical attention;
Whereas United States prisoners of war were held in a number of facilities, the 
        most notorious of which was Hoa Loa Prison in downtown Hanoi, dubbed the 
        ``Hanoi Hilton'' by the prisoners held there;
Whereas the hundreds of American prisoners held in the Hanoi Hilton and other 
        facilities persevered under terrible 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: ``Remember, 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 himself 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, 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 Meritorious 
        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 Vietnam conflict truly 
        represent all that is best about America;
Whereas the 25th anniversary of Operation Homecoming begins 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--
            (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 ceremonies 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.