JOHNSON, SAMUEL ROBERT

Name: Samuel Robert Johnson
Rank/Branch: O4/United States Air Force
Unit: 433rd TFS
Date of Birth: 11 October 1930
Home City of Record: Dallas Tx
Date of Loss: 16 April 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 173500N 1061700E
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4C
Missions: 25
NOTE: Flew 62 missions in Korea in F-86's

Other Personnel in Incident: Larry Chesley, WSO, Returnee

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK 06 September 1996 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.

REMARKS: 021273 RELEASED BY DRV

SOURCE: WE CAME HOME  copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).

SAMUEL R. JOHNSON
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: April 16, 1966
Released: February 12, 1973

                     
The nearly seven years  that I spent in Hanoi but most especially the more
than two years in a camp called Alcatraz engendered a close-knit bond
between me and some great Americans. I count these men as true friends and
their courage and ideals have brought home vividly to me what America is all
about. I can only emphasize that the freedoms that most Americans take for
granted are in fact, real and must be preserved. I have returned to a great
nation and  our sacrifices have been  well worth the effort.  I pledge to
continue to serve and fight to protect the freedoms and ideals that  the
United  States stands for.

February 14, 1997. Updated with this letter and additional material provided
by Cong. Sam Johnson. On the Letterhead of:

Congressman Sam Johnson
3rd District, Texas
801 East Campbell Road,
Suite 425
Richardson, Texas 75081
972/470-0892

1030 Longworth H.O.B.
Washington, D.C. 20515
202/225-4201

Fax:     District 972/470-9937 D.C. 202/225-1485

         sam.txO3(gmail.house.gov WebSite:
         http://www.house.gov/samjohnso

Elected in a in May of 1991, Congressman Sam Johnson is serving his fourth
term in the U.S. Congress.  He represents the Third Congressional District
of Texas which includes parts of Dallas and Collin Counties.

A staunch fiscal conservative, Johnson is a member of the prestigious House
Ways & Means Committee which oversees all tax laws, tariff and trade laws,
and the Social Security and Medicare systems.  He has consistently fought
for lower taxes and limited government, whether it is standing up against
wasteful spending, attacking the bloated size and budgets of cabinet level
agencies, or pushing for a new tax system.

In addition, he sits on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
As a member of the Early Childhood, Youth and Families Subcommittee, Johnson
has worked to return control of education to parents, teachers, and local
school boards.

Johnson serves as an Assistant Whip to Majority Whip Tom DeLay.  As a member
of the Whip organization, Johnson works to "grow-the-vote" for Republican
initiatives in the House.

Sam Johnson is also a member of the Speaker's Advisory Group on Corrections
in the House.  This committee reviews legislation to quickly fix dumb laws
and repeal unnecessary regulations.

After months of pushing for an accurate and balanced exhibit of the B-29
"Enola Gay" airplane at the National Air and Space Museum, Johnson was
appointed to the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution by Speaker
Gingrich.  He now plays an active role in the display of America's great
heritage and is determined to make sure that all exhibits are factually
correct and properly reflect the values on which this country was founded.

Johnson was recognized in the 102nd, 103rd, and 104th Congresses with the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce "Spirit of Enterprise" Award, the Watchdog of the
Treasury Award, and the National Federation of Independent Business
"Guardian of Small Business" Award.  He also has received high ratings from
the National Taxpayers Union, Citizens for a Sound Economy, the Christian
Coalition, and Citizens Against Government Waste.

Sam Johnson grew up in Dallas, attended Woodrow Wilson High School, and
graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelors degree in
Business Administration.  In 1974 he earned his Masters degree in
International Affairs from George Washington University.

After graduating from SMU, Johnson began a 29 year career in the U.S. Air
Force, where he served as director of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School
(Top Gun) and flew with the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying
demonstration team.  He also graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College
and the National War College.  In Korea he flew F-86s in 62 combat missions.

While serving with the 8th TFW in 1966, Johnson's F-4 was shot down over
North Vietnam on his 25 mission. He and the WSO, Lt. Larry Chesley were on a
"milk run" mission about 30 miles north of the DMZ. During his ejection he
suffered a broken arm, a broken back, and a dislocated shoulder. Johnson
spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war, some of those years in
"Alcatraz." Three of those years were spent in solitary confinement.
Johnson's autobiography, Captive Warriors, details his POW experience.  In
recognition of his service to his country, Johnson 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.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1979 with the rank of Colonel, Johnson
began a home building company.  In 1984 he was elected to the Texas State
House of Representatives where he served seven years.

Sam Johnson is married to the former Shirley L. Melton of Dallas.  They have
three children and ten grandchildren.

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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dallas/politics/columnists/tgillman/stories/020903dnnattexwatch.47624.html

POW past shaped indefatigable congressman's career

02/09/2003
By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON - For Sam Johnson , the seeds of a political career were planted
in conversations conducted in code - taps so faint that only inmates of the
Hanoi Hilton could hear them, pressing tin cups against the walls.....

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