[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16618]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 280--RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
  WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES COMBAT TROOPS FROM THE VIETNAM WAR AND 
 EXPRESSING RENEWED SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES VETERANS OF THAT CONFLICT

  Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Baucus, and Mr. McCain) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 280

       Whereas the United States Armed Forces supported the cause 
     of freedom in South Vietnam between October 1955 and May 7, 
     1975, beginning with the commencement of the Military 
     Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam, with many servicemembers 
     making the ultimate sacrifice;
       Whereas the United States carried out its first combat 
     mission in Vietnam on January 12, 1962;
       Whereas a total of 8,744,000 personnel served worldwide 
     during the Vietnam War era, including 4,368,000 in the United 
     States Army, 1,842,000 in the United States Navy, 794,000 in 
     the United States Marine Corps, and 1,740,000 in the United 
     States Air Force;
       Whereas the number of United States servicemembers deployed 
     in theater rose to a peak of 543,482 in April 1969;
       Whereas 1,857,304 men entered military service through the 
     Selective Service System between August 1964 and February 
     1973;
       Whereas, of the 58,220 casualties of United States 
     personnel, 47,434 were battle deaths;
       Whereas 153,303 wounded United States servicemembers 
     required hospital care;
       Whereas an additional 150,341 wounded United States 
     servicemembers did not require hospital care;
       Whereas 2,646 United States servicemembers went missing in 
     action during the Vietnam War, of whom 1,645 are still 
     unaccounted for;
       Whereas 725 United States servicemembers were taken as 
     prisoners of war, with 64 dying while in internment;
       Whereas the Paris Peace Accords, signed on January 27, 
     1973, put an end to the direct intervention of the United 
     States in the Vietnam War; and
       Whereas the last United States combat troops left South 
     Vietnam 2 months later in the spring of 1973: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate honors the 40th anniversary of the 
     withdrawal of United States combat troops from the Vietnam 
     War;
       (2) the Senate renews its support for United States 
     veterans of that conflict; and
       (3) when the Senate adjourns today, the Senate will stand 
     adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of 
     United States servicemembers who have given their lives in 
     the name of service to the United States.

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