[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H477-H485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
 RECOGNIZING AND CALLING ON ALL AMERICANS TO RECOGNIZE THE COURAGE AND 
   SACRIFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES HELD AS PRISONERS OF WAR 
                      DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on National Security be discharged from further consideration 
of the resolution (H. Res. 360), 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 House of

[[Page H478]]

Representatives 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 
servicemembers whose fate is unknown, and ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Latham). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 360

       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 
     servicemembers whose fate is unknown.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) is 
recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Indiana (Mr. Burton).
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Oklahoma for yielding this time to me.
  Let me just say that anybody who serves this country in the armed 
services and fights and lays their life on the line for all of us 
deserves everything that we can give them. Honor. Respect. Everything.
  But those who spend time in prison camps, prisoner-of-war camps, and 
have had to endure the hardships and the torture and pain of that are 
special to me and should be to every American because they pay a price 
even above those that give their lives because they have to go through 
daily torture for long periods of time. And so my heart goes out to 
them and their families who have had to pay that sacrifice over the 
years and during the Vietnam war.
  Today I want to specifically talk about my good friend, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), who is a Member of this body, who spent 7 
years, 7 years in a POW camp in Vietnam during the Vietnam war.
  Mr. Speaker, our good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam 
Johnson) was shot down on April 16, 1966, while flying on his 25th 
mission over North Vietnam, and as I said, he spent 7 years in POW 
camps and 2 years in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. And during the time he 
was in the Hanoi Hilton along with his colleagues, I think there were 
11 or 12 of them, he lived in leg irons, suffered malnutrition and 
lived in appallingly primitive conditions. And they were mistreated, 
they were tortured, and yet the gentleman from Texas never, never gave 
in. He was a real patriot under very difficult conditions.
  And here he is 25 years later, now a Member of the Congress of the 
United States, and the resoluteness he showed during his incarceration 
in Hanoi and the Hanoi Hilton is just as strong today as it was back 
then. He is a patriot whose spirit was never broken, and I am very 
proud he is a Member of the Congress of the United States, and I am 
very, very proud that he is my friend.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, 
I yield 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) for 
yielding this time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to rise in support of this important 
resolution which honors the U.S. military personnel who were held as 
prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict. I am equally honored to 
serve in this House with my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Sam Johnson) and another colleague, Mr. Peterson, who is also being 
honored in this resolution.
  Acknowledging the courage and sacrifice of this Nation's POWs and 
reinforcing the commitment to continuing to press for a final 
accounting of those servicemen who remain missing in action is very 
appropriate, and I am pleased that we are considering this resolution 
on this 25th anniversary of the release of many of Vietnam's POWs.
  As a Vietnam veteran myself, I understand the horror of that war and 
the great sacrifices that were made by my comrades in arms from 
throughout this Nation, but I, like most in this body and in this 
country, can never understand the nightmare experienced by our POWs. 
While we are all subject to terrible living conditions, missing loved 
ones, fear of losing our lives to the Vietcong hostile fire, we were, 
however, the fortunate ones.
  The POWs and the MIAs had so much more to deal with. They were 
routinely subjected to brutal mistreatment, including beatings, 
torture, starvation, the denial of medical attention. That

[[Page H479]]

they were also kept apart for many, many years from seeing another 
American was an added hardship.
  Let us not forget their families. Their families suffered equally, 
and families today suffer not knowing the final outcome of those men 
and women missing in action. Many loved ones do not know the fate of 
their soldiers still living today. I think that we should reflect today 
on the sacrifice of these families.
  We also should acknowledge the continued suffering of the families of 
those, as I mentioned, who are missing in action. We must continue to 
seek information about these missing men for the families and because 
the United States military is loathe to leave behind any of its 
soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines. We in the House of 
Representatives must help the families in the military continue seeking 
information about these 2,000 service members who remain unaccounted 
for.
  It has been said many times, all gave some and some gave all, as well 
as blessed are the peacekeepers. Blessed truly are our POWs and MIAs.
  I stand here in the people's House saying, God bless our POWs, our 
MIAs and everyone whose lives they have touched.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Boswell).
  (Mr. BOSWELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOSWELL. Mr. Speaker, I too rise to salute the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson). I had a couple of tours in Vietnam, and I can 
say very openly that one of the things I did not want to happen to me 
is what happened to him. I did not want to burn in one of those 
helicopters, and I did not want to be a prisoner, and I thought about 
it many, many days.
  I was privileged that an associate of mine that I went through flight 
school with, name was Johnson, he and I had the mission to go after 
James Roe in the Delta. Remember Roe? And 5 years that he had been 
subjected to the conditions of a prisoner and the Delta and so on, and 
we alternated days. We had other missions to run, so we alternated 
days; and I cannot tell my colleagues our thrill the day that we got 
him. We almost shot him, but we got him, and I wish I could share some 
of the things he had to say.
  Anyway, I am very appreciative that we take the time. I occasionally 
will go down to The Wall and recognize some names there, and I have to 
thank my good fellow upstairs that mine's not there too, and I am sure 
the gentleman from Texas thought that more than a few times. And I also 
have go through my mind different times about those that are missing in 
action, and I cannot think of a worse thing than to be an American 
citizen, have carried the flag and gone into conflict at the behest of 
this country and then circumstances would come that because of a 
prisoner and time and so on, to have it in mind, to have it in one's 
mind, is everything being done, is everything being done to get that 
person out? And that would be tough.
  I just cannot think of a worse thought to go through somebody's mind 
in that condition than to think, I wonder if they are really trying to 
get me; and so I hope that we do remember those folks and those 
families.
  Too often we go off to war, different ones, and left the little 
children behind, and I left little children behind when I went for my 
second tour. I will never forget the look in the eyes of my middle 
daughter, and she said, ``Daddy, do you really have to go?'' 
Television, battlefields all the time, every day, and I said, ``Cindy, 
yes, I have to go.'' And it was pretty tough.
  So I appreciate the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) making the 
comment that he has about the families, and we cannot do enough to 
remember those not only in that conflict but others that made that 
sacrifice. And families should be included. So to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), again I thank him, welcome him home and God 
bless him and all those that have served as he did.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the majority leader.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Watts) for yielding this time to me, and let me say from the outset, I 
will not use the entire 5 minutes because we have so many people who 
want to speak on this.
  I was reading about the stay of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam 
Johnson) in North Vietnam and thinking about it as he and I have talked 
about it and thinking about others that stayed there, and we are going 
to hear all the details so many times about how he was shot down on 
April 16, 1966, and how he was released on February 13, 1973. But there 
is one detail I think that tells me that the Sam Johnson held captive 
with the Vietnamese all those years ago is the same Sam Johnson I know 
today in the House of Representatives.
  See, the Vietnamese concluded, as I have concluded, that he is a 
stubborn man. They called him a diehard. They thought, even as a 
prisoner of war, this stubborn man was a threat to their victory, and 
they took him and nine others that were particularly stubborn and put 
them in isolation in a prison that was particularly vicious called by 
the Americans ``Alcatraz.'' For 2\1/2\ years Sam Johnson remained in 
that prison in isolation from all the others, and he remained a 
stubborn man.
  Then, as now, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) was stubborn 
about his love for this country and his faith in God, and it brought 
him home. I thank him.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder).
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pride that I am 
here today with my colleagues to honor the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Sam Johnson) and the other prisoners of war from the Vietnam war. As a 
former Marine and a Vietnam veteran, I think our hearts go out to 
everyone who served in that war and particularly to the 591 folks that 
came home as former POWs.

                              {time}  1430

  I particularly like the way the wording of this resolution read. We 
could talk about the thousands of prisoners of war, we could talk about 
the 591 that came home, but when we read one man's story, it means a 
whole lot more to the American public and to those folks that really 
did not follow the events of that period, or perhaps are too young to 
remember the events of that period. The old story about one person is a 
story and 1,000 is a statistic, and we know that Sam Johnson is not a 
statistic, but is a very honored man in his home country and in his 
State.
  So we are proud of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), we are 
proud of all of the men and women that have served in Vietnam, and I am 
proud to add my name to this resolution today.
  Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority whip.
  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I too rise to pay tribute to a great 
American, Sam Johnson. He is a dear friend, and certainly a true 
profile in courage. Tomorrow marks, as has already been said, the 25th 
anniversary of Operation Homecoming, when the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Sam Johnson) and 738 other American prisoners of war returned to the 
United States from imprisonment by the North Vietnamese.
  On this day in 1973, Sam Johnson boarded a plane in Hanoi's airport 
and returned home after having spent 7 years as a prisoner of war at 
the hands of the North Vietnamese. He endured unspeakable torture, 
lived in primitive conditions and suffered from malnutrition, and when 
one shakes Sam's hands, one can feel the torture in his hands. Two 
things helped him survive those awful years in North Vietnam: a very, 
very strong faith in God, and a deep, deep love of his wife, Shirley.
  For 2 of those 7 years Sam Johnson was imprisoned in that infamous 
Hanoi Hilton. It was there that he endured the worst of his torture. 
Communications between the prisoners as a well-known story was 
forbidden, but that did not stop the Americans from developing an 
intricate tap code that helped the prisoners maintain their sanity. 
Once, when Johnson and Commander James Stockdale were caught using this 
tap code, the Vietnamese retaliated with the worst kind of punishment. 
They put Sam in a cell about 2\1/2\ feet wide by 8 feet long. The 
Americans derisively called that cell ``The Mint''

[[Page H480]]

after a Las Vegas hotel. It was in The Mint where Sam Johnson was set 
in stocks so tight he could not even move.
  The Vietnamese kept Sam in that cell in those stocks for 72 days, and 
on the 72nd day, a typhoon struck Hanoi Hilton. Water flooded Sam's 
cell. He thought he was going to drown. So he prayed, and he prayed 
that night like he had never prayed before, and when he awoke the next 
morning, he discovered that he had actually survived, thanks to God. 
Not only had he survived, but the typhoon had blown the boards off his 
cell and he saw the sun for the first time in 72 days.
  Sam Johnson serves as an inspiration of every Member of this House. 
He endured that pain of imprisonment fighting for his country. Nobody 
knows the value of freedom more than the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam 
Johnson).
  We are all honored by his presence in this House, and I am honored 
and very proud to call Sam Johnson a friend of mine.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Bonior), my friend and colleague.
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas (Mr. Reyes) for 
yielding me this time.
  I want to rise in support of this resolution. I want to thank those, 
including the Speaker and the leadership on the other side of the 
aisle, for offering it, and I want to commend, as my colleagues have, 
the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), for his 
service to this country.
  I came here almost 22 years ago and one of the first things that I 
involved myself in in this body was putting together a group of 
Members, Vietnam era veterans. There were 11 of us at that time. The 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), to my right, was one of them; 
the gentleman from Vermont, Mr. Jeffords was another one, Vice 
President Gore, and there were others as well. And at that time it was 
very clear that Vietnam veterans were receiving a very short end of the 
legislative pie in this Congress. Their education benefits were not 
adequate, their health care benefits were not adequate, their 
readjustment counseling benefits were almost nonexistent; and so 
together, Republicans and Democrats, we put together a program, and 
little by little, it got enacted over a period of 2 or 3 years. We even 
had difficulty getting recognition for Vietnam veterans back then.
  I remember a bunch of us had a tree planted over near Constitution 
Gardens about 22 years ago to commemorate Vietnam veterans before the 
wall was even conceived, and then of course Jay Scruggs and a few 
others came along and we put together a group and we worked very hard 
to get the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that has meant so much to so many 
in this country.
  It has been a long road, but I think on this issue we have seen 
Republicans and Democrats come together, and they have come together 
because of the courage of Mr. Johnson from Texas, and the courage of 
people like Pete Peterson from Florida, our Ambassador to Vietnam 
today. These people gave an enormous amount for their country. We owe 
them the deepest sense of gratitude, as we owe all people who serve in 
our Armed Forces.
  So it is with that that I want to commend the gentlemen who have 
introduced this legislation, to thank those who have served in our 
Armed Forces, especially our Vietnam veterans whom we specifically 
honor today, and of course those who are missing and who have been 
prisoners of war. We deeply feel and understand their pain, and we 
particularly appreciate their sacrifices.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today, as a member of the House Committee on National 
Security, I rise to pay tribute to the many thousands of Americans who 
have been held as prisoners of war and the many thousands of Americans 
who are still missing in action. Today marks the 25th anniversary of 
the release of the first American POWs from North Vietnam, and 
accordingly, I urge my colleagues here today to support this resolution 
which honors those 591 American POWs who were reunited with their 
families 25 years ago today in a mission known as Operation Homecoming.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, there are still 8,100 American soldiers who 
fought valiantly in the Korean War and still have yet to return home. 
We have yet to locate their whereabouts. Today, there are still some 
2,500 American men and women who battled in the streets and jungles of 
Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and still have yet to return 
home. We have yet to determine their whereabouts.
  Let me tell my colleagues a story to illustrate the sacrifices that 
America's soldiers have made to secure freedom in our land. I want to 
tell my colleagues about Captain Bruce Johnson, a soldier from 
Michigan. On May 25, 1965, Captain Johnson was being airlifted with 6 
other soldiers to a location in South Vietnam where they were needed to 
offer assistance to a Special Forces unit in trouble.
  While the relief helicopter carrying Captain Johnson was landing, it 
came under heavy mortar and small arms fire. In an attempt to avoid 
furious assault, the aircraft took off and tried to gain altitude, only 
to lose control and crash into some nearby parked vehicles.
  An American pilot circling the area soon established contact with 
Captain Johnson and Captain Johnson reported sadly that he was the lone 
survivor. Captain Johnson also reported that the situation around him 
was grim and that he was under heavy fire and that no more American 
personnel should be sent to this location. It was just too dangerous. 
Shortly thereafter, contact was lost with Captain Johnson.
  One week later, when our military finally secured the area, a search 
was conducted of the crash site, but Captain Johnson was nowhere to be 
found. Residents of the nearby town said that an American soldier had 
been taken prisoner and had been seen recently in this particular town. 
However, these residents were either unable or unwilling to provide 
further information. To this day, no further information regarding 
Captain Johnson has surfaced. No one has stepped forward to account for 
his whereabouts.
  Captain Johnson is an American hero. He risked his life to safeguard 
his fellow soldiers and he risked his life to protect our freedom. It 
is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker, that the whereabouts of Captain Johnson 
and other valiant Americans are yet to be determined. We must resolve 
in Congress to do whatever we can to get a full accounting of what 
happened to Captain Johnson and every one of the other men and women 
who have been taken prisoner or are still missing in action.
  I would also like to recognize two POWs who, thank God, returned from 
their pain and suffering and are even today still making contributions 
to our great Nation. The honorable Pete Peterson, one of our former 
members and a distinguished member of the House Committee on National 
Security, was also a prisoner of war. He now serves admirably as the 
United States Ambassador to Vietnam, and he is working hard to find out 
what has happened to our men and women who are still missing in 
Southeast Asia. Today, Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize Pete Peterson 
for his valor and dedication to protecting America's freedom.
  I would also like to recognize a gentleman who is currently serving 
in the United States House of Representatives, and again, still making 
contributions to our great Nation and the great State of Texas. Our 
colleague, Sam Johnson of Texas was a POW in Vietnam for almost 7 
years. He refused to cooperate when the enemy demanded that he give 
them important information.
  Mr. Speaker, Sam Johnson is an American hero and all of us today 
salute his patriotism and his dedication to protecting his country's 
freedom. Mr. Speaker, in Oklahoma there is an old saying that we have: 
``You don't call them cowboy until you see them ride.'' And for the 
last 3 years I have worked with Sam Johnson and I have seen him operate 
and I have seen him work, and I say to my friend from Texas, Sam, we 
call you cowboy in Oklahoma.
  I will say it again. Over 8,100 American men and women who fought in 
Korea are unaccounted for. Over 2,500 American men and women who fought 
in Vietnam are still unaccounted for. Mr. Speaker, we must not rest 
until we account for every single one of these brave men and women. 
They deserve no less, and their families deserve no less.
  Mr. Speaker, I call for all of my colleagues to recognize the 
sacrifices of

[[Page H481]]

America's POWs and MIAs by supporting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Latham). Without objection, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) will manage the time on his side 
of the aisle.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) is 
recognized.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Boyd).
  Mr. BOYD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for yielding me this time. I also want to thank 
the sponsors of this resolution and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Skelton) for including the honorable Pete Peterson as a part of this 
resolution.
  It is with a certain great amount of pride and humility that I am 
here today, not just as a Member of this distinguished body, but also 
as a fellow Vietnam veteran who has served alongside many brave men who 
did not have the fortune to return home to their family and friends, as 
I did.
  Today, on this 25th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, I would 
especially like to pay my respects to two men. One, a brave fallen 
soldier who served by my side as my radio telephone operator, the 
second of the 506 101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Vietnam, 
Gilbert Ruff, Jr., from St. Louis, Missouri; and the other, the 
honorable gentleman who served as a Member of this Chamber, a war hero 
and former POW, a man whose seat I now hold, a man who now, after so 
many years, returned to Vietnam to serve as our Ambassador to that 
country, the Honorable Pete Peterson.
  There is no doubt that this Nation owes a great debt of gratitude to 
those who sacrificed their lives, who fought and persevered, whose 
courage and service prevailed during this difficult conflict in 
Vietnam.

                              {time}  1445

  It is men like Gilbert and Pete that truly represent all that is good 
and honorable and is the best in America.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger).
  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to an authentic 
American hero, Congressman Sam Johnson.
  Mr. Speaker, on April 16, 1966, U.S. Air Force Colonel Sam Johnson 
was shot down while flying his 25th mission over North Vietnam. And as 
we heard today, for the next 7 years he experienced unimaginable 
amounts of threats and torment and, yes, torture.
  He was kept in solitary confinement. He withstood malnutrition and 
endured leg irons and suffered unconscionable humiliation. But though 
he was beaten, he was never broken. While others might have given in, 
he stood firm. His faith in his God was never surrendered, it was 
fortified.
  So what do we say to a soldier who gave so much of himself to his 
country? And what do we say to a man who endured unthinkable torture 
and refused to think of giving in? What do we say to an American hero 
who kept the faith, stood his ground, and defended his country?
  What do we say to this very special person? There is only one thing I 
can think of to say and that is ``Thank you.'' Sam, we thank you for 
your commitment to freedom and your courage to fight. To most Americans 
you are more than a soldier, you are a peacemaker. To me and to the 
rest of us who know you, you are a respected colleague and a very 
cherished friend.
  So, Mr. Speaker, to all of those who keep the peace and who preserve 
freedom, but especially to our friend, Sam Johnson, I want to say God 
bless you and thank you very much.
  Today I rise to pay tribute to an authentic American hero, 
Congressman Sam Johnson.
  On April 6, 1966, U.S. Air Force Colonel Johnson was shot down while 
flying his 25th mission over North Vietnam. For the next seven years, 
Colonel Johnson experienced an unimaginable amount of threats, 
torment--and yes--torture.
  He was kept in solitary confinement. He withstood malnutrition. He 
endured leg irons. And he suffered unconscionable humiliation.
  But though he was beaten, he was never broken. Where others might 
have given in, Sam simply stood firm.
  Through it all, his love for his country never wavered, it 
strengthened. His faith in his God was never surrendered, it was 
fortified.
  What do you say to a soldier who gave so much of himself for his 
country?
  What do you say to a man who endured unthinkable torture and refused 
to think of giving in?
  And what do you say to an American hero who kept the faith, stood his 
ground, and defended his country?
  What do you say to this very special person? There's only one thing 
you can say--thank you.
  Sam, we thank you for your commitment to freedom and your courage to 
fight.
  To most Americans you are more than a soldier, you are a peacemaker. 
And to me, you are more than a respected colleague, you are a cherished 
friend.
  God bless Sam Johnson. And God bless all of America's warriors who 
keep the peace and preserve our freedom.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the sponsors of this resolution which 
calls for all Americans to recognize the courage and sacrifice of 
members of the Armed Forces held as prisons of war during the Vietnam 
conflict. Especially singled out is our friend from Texas (Mr. Sam 
Johnson).
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman is an example of courage and is one for 
the history books, and Sam Johnson, we all salute you and there is no 
way for us to adequately empathize with what you went through. But we 
can say a sincere word of gratitude to you as an American and as you 
continue to serve our country in these halls.
  Mr. Speaker, also being honored in this resolution is a gentleman who 
served ably and well as well as on the committee on which I now serve, 
Pete Peterson from Florida, who not only endured the hardships of being 
a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict, but returned and 
completed a successful Air Force career, was elected to Congress, and 
now presently serves as the United States Ambassador to that sad 
country. To his credit, he went back in another capacity to help heal 
those wounds that were so open and so sore from those many years ago.
  This resolution also makes reference, excellent reference to Admiral 
James B. Stockdale, who I know and have great admiration for. All three 
of these gentlemen should be remembered and properly doing so in this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, it was 1978. I was a freshman in this body. Mississippi 
Congressman Sonny Montgomery asked me as the only freshman to go to 
Vietnam to help bring back remains of those who had died in that 
conflict. It was a very difficult trip. A very difficult trip.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) was a member of that 
delegation, and we did. We met with various Vietnamese officials and we 
were given the remains and returned them honorably and correctly to a 
ceremony at the air base in Honolulu, Hawaii, a memory that I shall 
long remember.
  This resolution calls for remembering those who sacrificed, like Sam 
Johnson, like Pete Peterson, like Admiral Stockdale. But we should also 
pay tribute to those who fought in that war, who wore the American 
uniform, who did well and returned home to work and live and experience 
the freedoms of our country. To them, too, we say a heartfelt thanks.
  We should also, Mr. Speaker, well remember those in previous 
conflicts. Now, this is the 25th anniversary of the release of the 
prisoners, Operation Homecoming, 1973 from the Vietnam conflict. But 
there were previous conflicts in which Americans were held captive, 
were mistreated, and were able to come home to an American welcome.
  I have a neighbor down the street in Lexington, Missouri, on Franklin 
Street, a longtime friend, George Stier, who was shot down as a pilot, 
a lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps at the time, and spent 
many, many, many months in a stalag in Germany.
  I went to a wake just a few weeks ago for another friend who more 
recently was mayor of Higginsville, Missouri, in Lafayette County, who 
was captured on Corregidor in May of 1942. He served as a marine, and 
he endured the hardships of the Japanese prisoner experience. Buford 
Thurmon, as his remains lay in the casket at that funeral home,

[[Page H482]]

Buford Thurmon was wearing his beloved United States Marine uniform.
  So it is to all of those today in the Vietnam conflict, and in my 
mind, in the other conflicts in which Americans have suffered because 
they were Americans, because they had courage, because they believed in 
this country, to them I say a heartfelt thanks and words of gratitude.
  And Sam, a special thanks to you not only for what you have done, but 
for your work here in the Congress of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma 
(Mr. Watts) for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution. Today 
we honor a man who withstood the agony of war and the horrors of 
imprisonment. Sam Johnson's courage is an inspiration to all Americans 
as we salute him on the 25th anniversary of his release from Vietnam 
captivity.
  One of the requirements I have in my office for summer interns is to 
write two reports on a select number of books. One of those books was 
written by our colleague, Sam Johnson. It is called ``Captive 
Warriors'' and it is required reading in my office.
  For many of my interns, the Vietnam War is as distant as the Civil 
War. After reading the book, though, they come away with a new sense of 
patriotism and humility because of the sacrifices that Sam Johnson and 
thousands of others made for our country.
  But what makes the greatest impression on many of us is that Sam 
Johnson was held captive for nearly 7 years. Half of those years were 
spent in solitary confinement, yet during his years in captivity, his 
faith in God and country was unwavering.
  Mr. Speaker, to paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, I think that a 
gathering of prisoners of war from Vietnam would be a most 
extraordinary collection of courage ever assembled since George 
Washington faced the British since the Revolutionary War.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I urge my colleagues to 
support this resolution in honor of my friend and colleague, Sam 
Johnson.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Archer), the dean of the Texas delegation and 
the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means.
  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Watts) for yielding me this time and for managing what I believe is a 
very, very important moment for the House of Representatives and for 
the people of this country.
  Mr. Speaker, the individual that we honor today is a man who walks 
amongst us day by day here in the House of Representatives, and many do 
not know about what he has been through in his life because he is so 
down to earth. He has got it so put together. He has such resolve and 
commitment for the benefit of all the people in this country. His word 
is his bond. He will never vary from it.
  Mr. Speaker, he is an individual, as we heard from the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Smith) who went to Vietnam because it was the right thing to 
do. And it was an honorable cause. Politicians let him down and let 
down the rest of our military personnel who made the great sacrifice in 
Vietnam.
  But we owe him a great debt of gratitude. He knew the risk. He knew 
the danger. And unfortunately it befell him and his body was shattered. 
He endured pain and deprivation beyond anything that Americans can have 
any idea of.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope every American can read his book. I read it and I 
could not put it down. I lived for 2 weeks with him and his experiences 
in Vietnam. But he emerged from that a man that can be an idol for all 
of us. Young people today can aspire to be the individual, to have the 
character and the attributes of this man, Sam Johnson.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call him my friend. I would follow him 
anywhere and know that trust, faith, hope, resolve, patriotism would be 
leading me.
  Sam, I am honored to be your friend. I am honored to serve with you 
and I love you.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. McIntosh).
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Watts) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, Sam Johnson is my hero and today politicians give out 
that honor much too easily. But Sam Johnson is a real hero in every 
sense of the word.
  There are few Members of this House who have given so much of 
themselves to this country and we have heard about that today. Few have 
earned the right to be called a patriot. He has answered every call to 
serve this country, in wartime and in peace. He has been a warrior and 
a public servant, and on both occasions he has fought for the same 
cause: freedom at home and abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, when the United States asked Sam to serve to battle 
communism in Asia, he did not hesitate. He was in the Air Force for 29 
years. He was a hero in Korea and then served again in Vietnam, as we 
have heard about.

                              {time}  1500

  On that day in 1966 when his F-4 was shot down over North Vietnam, an 
event occurred that would change his life forever, serving 7 years as a 
prisoner of war, three of them in solitary confinement because he would 
never allow the torture to break his will, his love of America and his 
faith in God.
  In recognition of his service, the military has given him 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.
  Everyone in this House talks about patriotism and sacrifice. Sam 
Johnson embodies patriotism and sacrifice.
  Today he continues to fight for freedom. He has been fighting for 
individual liberty since he came here to Congress in 1991. It has been 
my high honor to be able to join him in that struggle since I arrived 
here in 1995. He has done it effectively and without rancor.
  Sam's selfless devotion to America and freedom is evident every day. 
He never mentions the awards or his bravery in action. He never 
mentions the exploits of or the horrors of his captivity. That is just 
not Sam's way. He is humble. He is kind. He bears no ill will. Every 
time I see his smile or shake his hand, I am reminded, here stands a 
man who sacrificed more for this country than I can ever imagine.
  It is fitting that we honor him today.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Sessions).
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for 
yielding me the time.
  I rise today to give thanks also to my good friend, Sam Johnson, my 
friend and colleague, a man who has been a mentor for me politically 
for many years. But I want to admit that as we give great admiration to 
Sam Johnson, I want you to know that he has a family. He has a lovely 
wife, Shirley, who is with us today, who is here in the gallery, who 
has stood by her husband for years and years, a woman who has faith in 
God and faith in our country, to Sam's 3 children and 10 grandchildren.
  We give thanks to Sam Johnson because he is a hero, a captive warrior 
who came home, who gave his very best for America, but who gives it 
every single day today.
  Sam, we love you. We respect you. We appreciate you. Let the day 
never, never get too far away from us here. We can say not only thank 
you but thank you also to the men and women who did not come home who I 
know you live with in your heart every day. We are proud of you. And to 
you and Shirley we say, God bless you.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Pappas).
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, America needs heroes. We have one of them 
within our midst. Prior to my coming to Congress, I would tune in to C-
SPAN every once in a while, and Sam Johnson is one of the Members that 
I would see and listen to and admire. Since I have had the good fortune 
to work with him, that admiration has only increased incredibly.

[[Page H483]]

  My father served in World War II. Fortunately, he never had to be a 
prisoner of war. For you, Sam, and for so many other Americans that had 
that indignity thrust upon them, words can never be used, we could 
never find the words to express how humbling that must be for all of us 
to see the sacrifices that people like you have made for each of us 
here. And for so many Americans that means so much.
  Sam, you are to be commended for your willingness to continue to 
serve your country and it is my great honor to serve with you. God 
bless you and your family.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Ewing).
  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, I have a very special place in my heart for 
all Vietnam veterans. Sam Johnson only makes that a greater and bigger 
place in my heart. We came into this body a few days apart. He was just 
ahead of me, so he always gets the office I want and I am right behind 
him. But we are kind of a class of our own.
  Just two little stories that make me know what Sam Johnson and 
Shirley Johnson are all about. When I talk to Sam, and he does not talk 
much about it, he says when they stand you up and blindfold you and 
they are going to shoot you and then they do not, he says, you never 
fear again.
  And then when I talk with Shirley, and she is a great friend of 
Connie's and mine, she takes it so lightly. Well, he ran off while I 
was raising the children.
  I think they are a great couple.
  You certainly do love your country, your family and your God. It 
shows every day in that great big smile. God bless you, Sam.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  After I was drafted into the Army and served 2 years during the 
Korean conflict, I could not wait to get out and tell my friends and 
family how much I had suffered when I was in the Army, the great 
contributions and sacrifices that I made. The truth was that I never 
saw combat. I was in a tank once at Fort Knox, and I did go through 
basic training, was trained to be a tank commander; but I was lucky and 
never did really have to do anything that would put me in harm's way.
  But then I met John McCain and Sam Johnson and others in similar 
circumstances, and all of a sudden, I made a plea to myself and promise 
to myself that I would never say that I suffered while I was in the 
Army. I was glad I served, and I am happy that I did my duty. But it 
paled in comparison to those sacrifices made by the likes of Sam 
Johnson and John McCain.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.
  It is interesting that we have used the word ``hero'' here in this 
Chamber today. I think in 1998 America we ought not to confuse heroes 
with celebrities, and there is a real difference. Celebrities are known 
for being known. But heroes are known for the values, the principles, 
their character, their integrity, and the love for this great country 
and the love for their wonderful God.
  Sam Johnson is a real hero. His book has been mentioned today. Sam, I 
can say for all of our colleagues that you have been a wonderful book, 
your life has been a wonderful book for us to read on a daily basis 
here in the Chamber. We appreciate your heart and your patriotism.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) 
is recognized for 6\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. J.C., you are terrible. You are great. You 
are perfect. I thank you for bringing this to the floor. And Ike, you, 
and all the other Democrats I know, respect and admire our veterans and 
those who are in the service today. This Nation would not be the great 
Nation it is were it not for the veterans from the Revolutionary days 
right on up until today.
  I hope we will remember those who are in the service in places of 
harm's way today and who might be put in harm's way and hope that we 
will not have to put them there. Those are the guys that down through 
the years have made this country great, have made it free. I can assure 
you, until you have had freedom taken away from you, you never can 
understand exactly what the beauty of it is.
  This Nation represents that. America is and will be the greatest 
nation in the world. All you have to do is step across the border in 
any direction and you know you want to come back.
  I salute the veterans of this Nation who have made it great. I think, 
with you, we should honor those who are in the service of our Nation 
today, respct and honor them. Let me just tell you, there was a quote 
left on the wall in Vietnam, in one of those prisons when we left, 
which I think says it all: Freedom has a taste to those who fight and 
almost die that the protected will never know.
  God bless you all. It is pleasure to be in this body with each and 
every one of you.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues to honor a 
decorated fighter pilot, a former POW, a distinguished Congressman and 
a good friend, Sam Johnson.
  The Hallmark of Sam's life has been service--service to the Air 
Force, to this House, to the citizens of the Third Congressional 
District of Texas, and to the country. His record of sacrifice and 
dedication to duty is unmatched in this House. I know he would be 
uncomfortable with the term ``hero''--but in a time when American youth 
are looking for true heroes, they would do well to look to Sam Johnson 
for their inspiration.
  I join with my colleagues today in honoring Sam Johnson. I want to 
add my personal thanks for selfless devotion to duty, his hard work, 
his sacrifice, and his friendship.
  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a real 
American hero, Congressman Sam Johnson, and to all his fellow POWs who 
so bravely and valiantly served this country. As you well know, Sam was 
shot down over North Vietnam and imprisoned for almost seven years 
under horrifying conditions.
  What strikes me most about Sam's story is his unshakeable faith in 
the Lord. On the evening of his 72nd day in leg stocks, Sam was ready 
to give up. For months he had not been able to move from his shackles. 
For months he had not seen the sun or sky through the boarded-up 
windows of his tiny cell. As he fell asleep that evening, Sam thought 
to himself: ``It would be okay if I never woke up again.'' That night, 
a powerful typhoon struck Hanoi. As Sam's cell filled with water, be 
began to pray as never before. He knew then more than ever that the 
Lord was his hope and his salvation. As Sam later recounted, ``When I 
woke up the next morning, I realized the storm has blown the covers off 
the window, and that morning I saw the sun rise for the first time in 
72 days. That was God in all His glory coming up out there. And it's 
good to know He's there; it certainly helps to put your mind at rest. 
It helps you to get through those tough times.''
  God bless you Sam Johnson. God bless our POWs. And God bless America.

                        Congressman Sam Johnson

            (Testimonial as told to Northwest Bible Church)

       Listen, I want you to know that we've been doing a little 
     bible study up there in Washington, DC, believe it or not. . 
     . . My goodness, the Lord is directing you and, you know, it 
     goes to show you the faith and the grace and the failures 
     that make our lives worth living. Let me tell you a little 
     bit about what happened to me in Vietnam. I was shot down in 
     an F-4 and ejected to get out. Our air speed was about 650 
     knots, which is kind of slow I guess. I broke my left arm in 
     two places and dislocated my left shoulder and broke my back. 
     When I landed the bad guys were on me in about 30 seconds. We 
     were right in the middle of a division of the enemy troops, 
     and I was caught pretty quickly.
       They threw me around and they took over a house and just 
     kicked the people out. The guards and I were thrown in there. 
     My back-seater also got out, fortunately, and was put in 
     another house where they threw people out. We stayed there 
     for just one night and then went to a place called ``Dong 
     Hui'' which was in North Vietnam. There they accused us of 
     being air pirates and took me out and put me in front of a 
     firing squad. Even though you've been trained in the Air 
     Force Survival School and you know or think they are not 
     really going to hurt you, when you're standing there with six 
     guys facing you with rifles, and you see them pull a clip out 
     of their pockets, jam it in the gun, and charge the weapon, 
     you know you can't really tell whether there's a bullet going 
     in or not. And they pull them up and the officer gives the 
     signal to fire and they all go click, click. . . . You're 
     facing them and you wonder about that. They tried again 
     later, and the second time I laughed at them. They threw me 
     in a pit. You know, in retrospect, that was the Lord being 
     with me. I followed him by praying as hard as I could at that

[[Page H484]]

     time, but the real faith you know, the Lord really being with 
     you, doesn't come home until you stop and think how he 
     provided.
       Later they put a cast on my arm. They dressed up some 
     guards like doctors (which is how you become a doctor in 
     Vietnam). They pulled it down to the extreme (that it broke 
     it in two places) and then they folded it up and put a cast 
     on it. That was their medical deal. They broke it again in 
     route to Hanoi during the travel which took us about 25 days. 
     And when we got to Hanoi nearly everybody was treated the 
     same, it was a week of torture, while they were trying to get 
     military information. And you know, they never found out that 
     I ran the Fighter Weapons School of the Air Force.
       My back seat pilot Larry Chesley and I made up a couple of 
     stories. Like, ``I had just gotten there, I didn't know 
     anything about the airplane, they just put me in it and told 
     me to fly over, and they put bombs and napalm on it, but I 
     didn't know what was on the airplane. And the back-seater got 
     in the plane there, so I didn't know him. He was new to 
     Vietnam and he didn't know a thing about radar.'' They told 
     me when I got up over N. Vietnam push that button. We told 
     them that story and they gave up after awhile.
       I was put into an empty dirty room. When they came in to 
     interrogate you they brought a table in so the interrogators 
     can sit behind it and start asking questions. You were 
     without food and water for about a week. But, it was one of 
     those trials that you go through. They took this broken arm 
     of mine and broke it again and twisted it right on around and 
     tore it out the other side, trying to make me talk to them. 
     And really, the Lord was protecting me as I look back on it. 
     It was very painful. So we didn't change our story and 
     apparently my backseater told the same thing. Later (five 
     years later) the commander, who was the colonel, walked in 
     and said ``You lied to us.'' I said no, what are you 
     talking about. He said when you first got shot down you 
     didn't tell us the truth. I said, ``No, you must be 
     mistaken, Americans never lie.''
       I later was put with a guy named Jim Stockdale who is now 
     in California. We were in a place where they kept bringing 
     men who had just been shot down. I tried to talk to them and 
     tell them how they could guard themselves and how to react 
     and respond to the Vietnamese so they wouldn't get into too 
     much trouble. They knew we were doing it but they couldn't 
     catch us. If they had caught us they would have really 
     punished us. I don't understand that mentality, but they 
     would punish us and it would be in communist ways.
       One of the most serious incidents involved Stockdale and I. 
     We were caught communicating with other prisoners and the 
     guard busted in the door of our cell. Stockdale tried to 
     fight him and he knocked him to the floor. Our punishment for 
     this was the worst of my entire time in prison.
       They put me in a little cell that was about two and a half 
     foot wide by eight foot long that we called the Mint, we 
     named everything after a Las Vegas hotel. So, there's one 
     other guy in an adjoining cell with me, and at the same time 
     they put me in leg stocks. I don't know if you know what that 
     is but it's kind of like the pilgrims when they used to 
     punish people they put them in the middle of the town square. 
     They set me in those stocks and locked my legs down so I 
     couldn't move for 72 days. I didn't get up for anything.
       But, on the 72nd day an amazing thing happened. My cell was 
     on the corner, so I had windows, but they were all boarded 
     up. I hadn't seen the sun or anything for 72 days. That night 
     a typhoon came through Hanoi. It was a terrible storm and my 
     cell started to flood. The water was rising fast and since I 
     couldn't move because of stocks I had no way to escape the 
     water. I had nothing else to turn to but my faith. I began to 
     pray. I prayed like I had never prayed before, because I knew 
     that the Lord was my only salvation at this point. It ends up 
     that the Lord was with me that night. When I woke up the next 
     morning I realized the storm had blown the covers off the 
     window and that morning I saw the sun rise for the first time 
     in 72 days. That was God in all his glory coming up out 
     there. And it's good to know He's there, it certainly helps 
     to put your mind at rest. It helps you to get through those 
     tough times.
       That very day they came and took me out of the stocks. I 
     could not walk, obviously. Two guards carried me over to an 
     interrogation office and set me down on a three-legged stool, 
     and this guy says ``We're going to kill you.'' They 
     threatened to do that fairly often. But, they said they had 
     this confession from Stockdale and obviously you're involved. 
     I said, let me see it because I don't think he'd write one. 
     And he, of course, wouldn't let me look at it. So I told him 
     that he was lying, I knew Stockdale didn't write anything. He 
     got mad and said just go back.
       Well, that month they took 11 of us to a place we called 
     Alcatraz. Jim Stockdale was one of them with us, and Jeremiah 
     Denton from Alabama, ex-senator. He was in the same camps 
     with me practically the whole time, he taught me the tap 
     code. This was a code where we took the letters of the 
     alphabet and put them into five rows of five letters each and 
     eliminated the ``k'' and used the ``c'' for ``k'' for a 
     while, but later tucked it back in where it belongs. And a 
     ``b'' would be tap--tap, tap (1st row second letter) and 
     we became pretty adept at doing that. In Alcatraz we were 
     all in 11 different cells, side by side, and kind of in an 
     ``L'' shape, and we could talk to each other pretty 
     rapidly with that code. We then decided we weren't talking 
     fast enough, so we developed a ``cough, hack, spit code.'' 
     And I said, ``you know Jerry, we're going to get caught 
     for this and the Vietnamese are going to really clamp down 
     on us and we're going to be in trouble.'' But, he said, 
     ``no, we're going to try it.''
       It was around 1968, I guess, when they started letting us 
     out for exercise, first time ever. And about 15 minutes a 
     day. So Jerry got out of his cell and he was walking around 
     and he was talking and having the prisoners communicate with 
     him. We used a clearing of the throat for one, two clears for 
     two, a cough for three, a hack for four, and a spit for five. 
     We talked for three years with that code and the Vietnamese 
     never caught on. Their population over there must think 
     Americans have a respiratory problem. We always signed off in 
     the evening with ``God bless you.''
       Every Sunday, we would pray together, somebody would know 
     it was Sunday, and the Vietnamese took about half a day off. 
     Some guy would stomp on the floor and we'd all get on our 
     knees and pray together. We could feel the power of prayer 
     when we were together, everybody praying, even though we 
     weren't side by side, separated by walls. We did that for as 
     long as I can remember.
       And then one day they had the Son Tay raid and I don't know 
     if ya'll remember that or not, but it was an effort to try to 
     rescue the guys out of the camp at Vietnam. They failed in 
     that effort because they had moved about 30 days earlier. And 
     it was unfortunate because they were going to move them back, 
     but it scared them enough that they moved us all together for 
     the first time. And when we moved together we decided to have 
     a church service and I'll never forget because Jerry said 
     ``Sam you sing for us and lead,'' and I said ``I can't 
     sing,'' but I did.
       Well, it happened to be New Year's Eve when we moved 
     together so we sang Christmas carols and that was just a 
     great time. But when you're in a communist world like that, 
     the Vietnamese think that it's a demonstration so they came 
     charging in and said ``Stop, you are not authorized to do 
     that.'' We didn't care, we were going to have a church 
     service every Sunday regardless. And we did, they took 3 
     senior officers out and put them in solitary and in irons, 
     and we kept doing it and they came in one night and they took 
     about 40 more of the seniors out and put them in solitary and 
     in fact doubled them up in bunks and really made them 
     uncomfortable. We got in the windows and started signing 
     ``Battle Hymn of the Republic,'' ``God Bless America,'' all 
     the good songs that you know, in our room. There were about 
     370 of us in that camp and every room got up in the window 
     and started joining in with us.
       The North Vietnamese came running in with their guards in 
     full battle dress with gas masks on, and we thought they were 
     going to try to throw tear gas in, but they didn't. We could 
     peek through the walls where we had but holes and we noticed 
     that the whole town of Hanoi had come out to see what the 
     commotion was. Well that died out that night and the next day 
     the camp commander came on the loud speaker and said ``the 
     camp authorizes you to have church services.'' You know that 
     only God could make that happen, and I'll tell you what, the 
     Lord was with us. I think each and every one of us is 
     stronger from that experience.
       I never really thought about being involved in the 
     Congress, which has brought me here to talk to you today. 
     Jerry Denton and Jim Stockdale and all of us talked about how 
     badly managed our government was and decided that when would 
     we get involved when we got back to the U.S. and do something 
     about it, instead of just complaining. So, I got involved in 
     the State Legislature and when Steve Bartlett resigned to run 
     for mayor of Dallas, I decided to try for the House. And I 
     think the Lord led the way and prompted me to do that and 
     hopefully, I can be there for you and represent you and our 
     beliefs up there.
       I do know that this is one nation under God, our founding 
     fathers wrote this Constitution under the precepts of the 
     Bible. The Supreme Court needs to use the Bible as a guide, 
     as a Law book. We have been drifting, as a country, far from 
     these founding principles. And I'm hoping that we can get 
     more people up in D.C. to turn that around. Thank you so much 
     for letting me share my story with you today, and I hope you 
     will share with me. My office is always open. God bless you 
     and God bless America.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, with great respect and tribute to our 
friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), we sincerely hope 
that this resolution passes unanimously. I thank the gentleman from 
Oklahoma for his efforts in this regard, as well as the other 
cosponsors.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Latham). Without objection, the previous 
question is ordered on the resolution.
  There was no objection.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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