[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RETIRED U.S. AIR FORCE COLONEL CARLYLE ``SMITTY'' HARRIS

  (Mr. KELLY of Mississippi asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize 
retired United States Air Force Colonel Carlyle ``Smitty'' Harris of 
Tupelo, Mississippi.
  On this day in 1973, after nearly 8 years of being held as a prisoner 
of war in Vietnam, he was released to be reunited with his wife, 
Louise; his daughters, Robin and Carolyn; and his son, Lyle, who was 
born 1 month after he was captured.
  Colonel Harris became a POW on April 4, 1965, when his F-105 
Thunderchief was shot down by enemy fire while he was on a mission to 
attack a bridge known as the Dragon's Jaw, an important target in 
northern Vietnam. After he was captured, he was then transported to the 
well-known Hanoi Hilton.
  Colonel Harris taught his fellow prisoners a vital way of 
communicating with each other through a method called the tap code. 
This gave the men the ability to communicate without speaking, 
establishing a chain of command and boosting morale. While he 
experienced cruelty, torture, and isolation, he was able to find solace 
in his faith in God, love for his country, and hope of seeing his 
family again.
  Colonel Harris embodies the characteristics that make you proud to be 
an American.
  Thank you, Colonel Harris, for your service. I join you in 
celebrating this happy anniversary of your homecoming.

                          ____________________