Sam Johnson urges Congress to support troops in harm’s way
On his anniversary of freedom, Johnson opposes Democrat efforts, citing first step to cutting funds
Washington,
Feb 13, 2007 -
As
the U.S. House prepares to debate the future of the war in Iraq for 36 hours,
today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson
(3rd Dist.-Texas) called on his colleagues to support all men and
women serving in the United States military and to oppose efforts by the
Democrats to undermine the fight for freedom.
A
29-year Air Force veteran, Johnson served in both the Korean and Vietnam
Wars. Johnson spent nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War, more than half of
that time in solitary confinement. Johnson experienced fighting in a war for
this country when the Congress pulled the plug on funding and he vowed that when
he returned home, he would never, ever let that happen again.
Coincidentally,
today in 1973, Johnson experienced his first full day of freedom; as one of the
longest held captives, Johnson finally left Hanoi on February 12, 1973.
Last
month Johnson introduced legislation calling on Congress to support all troops
in harm’s way and prohibiting Congress from cutting any funding for the armed
forces while deployed. Johnson’s measure, H.R. 511, has 140+
co-sponsors.
Johnson’s
prepared remarks follow:
“Good
morning. America, wake up and smell the
freedom!
“Some may
not appreciate it. But as someone who lost it for seven years as a Prisoner of
War, I say that with a heavy heart. On this day – 34 years ago – I was
experiencing my first full day of freedom in seven
years.
“As some
of you may remember, on February 12, 1973, the first wave of the longest held
Prisoners of War left Hanoi. I was among them. Words can not fully
describe the unspeakable damage of the anti-American efforts against the war
back home to the guys on the ground.
--MORE
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Johnson
release/ page 2 of 2
“Our
captors would blare horrible recordings over the loud speaker of Americans
protesting back home…tales of Americans spitting on Vietnam
veterans when they came home.. and worse.
“I
promised myself many things I would do when I returned home safely to my family
– and one was that I would fight to ensure America
never lets down our troops in harms way
again.
“We did it
before in Vietnam – we had that war won – yet
Congress pulled the funding and the troops were forced out. Insanity is doing
the same thing over and over again and expecting different results….we must
support our troops. We must stand up for them and for America.
“The
Democrat resolution to deny success in Iraq is the first step for them to
cut funding for our troops in harm’s way. What do you think 36 hours of
debate on whether or not we support our troops does for the morale of the
Private First Class stationed in Camp Blue Diamond…for the next 11 months? Or
how about the parents and families of our troops in harm’s way? What are they
supposed to think?
“We are
elected to protect our men and women in uniform, just as they protect our
freedom everyday. It’s imperative that our nation backs our troops to the
hilt!
“As long
as we deploy men and women across the globe, we should never, ever leave a
member of our military in harm’s way without
support.
“It is up
to us to protect those who protect America
and the freedoms we cherish.”
