[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 177 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 177

Recognizing, and calling on all Americans to recognize, the courage and 
 sacrifice of the members of the Armed Forces held as prisoners of war 
 during the Vietnam conflict and stating that the American people will 
  not forget that more than 2,000 members of the Armed Forces remain 
 unaccounted for from the Vietnam conflict and will continue to press 
    for the fullest possible accounting for all such members whose 
                        whereabouts are unknown.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 12, 1998

 Mr. Coverdell (for himself, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, 
  Mr. Lott, Mr. Hagel, and Ms. Moseley-Braun) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing, and calling on all Americans to recognize, the courage and 
 sacrifice of the members of the Armed Forces held as prisoners of war 
 during the Vietnam conflict and stating that the American people will 
  not forget that more than 2,000 members of the Armed Forces remain 
 unaccounted for from the Vietnam conflict and will continue to press 
    for the fullest possible accounting for all such members whose 
                        whereabouts are unknown.

Whereas participation by the United States Armed Forces in combat operations in 
        Southeast Asia during the period from 1964 through 1972 resulted in 
        several hundreds of members of the United States Armed Forces being 
        taken prisoner by North Vietnamese, Pathet Lao, and Viet Cong 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 by North Vietnam;
Whereas the return of these prisoners of war to United States control and to 
        their families and comrades was designated Operation Homecoming;
Whereas many members of the United States Armed Forces who were taken prisoner 
        as a result of ground or aerial combat in Southeast Asia have not 
        returned to their loved ones and their whereabouts remain 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 in Southeast Asia 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 United States prisoners or war 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 the men held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict truly 
        represent all that is best about America;
Whereas two of these patriots, Congressman Sam Johnson, of Texas, and Senator 
        John McCain, of Arizona, have continued to honor the Nation with devoted 
        service; and
Whereas the Nation owes a debt of gratitude to all of these patriots for their 
        courage and exemplary service: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (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 who were held as 
        prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict, particularly on 
        the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, 
        their return from captivity; and
            (2) acting on behalf of all Americans--
                    (A) will not forget that more than 2,000 members of 
                the United States Armed Forces remain unaccounted for 
                from the Vietnam conflict; and
                    (B) will continue to press for the fullest possible 
                accounting for such members.
                                 <all>