Sam Johnson

Washington, Oct 5 -

On Saturday, October 10th in Dallas the Medal of Honor Society will present its highest civilian award, the National Patriot Award, to 29-year Air Force veteran and former Prisoner of War in Vietnam, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas).  At least 34 living Medal of Honor recipients will attend the event with U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society presents the National Patriot Award to distinguished Americans who exemplify the ideals that make our country strong.  According to the Society, the recipients’ “dedication to freedom evidences no limitations; their love of fellow man is not qualified; their allegiance to our flag with a full understanding of its demands is without reservation.”  The Foundation was founded by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in 1999 to help perpetuate the Medal of Honor’s rich legacy of courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism.  Only 95 recipients of the nation’s highest award for valor remain alive today and more than 60 percent of those who have received the award since the beginning of World War II have received it posthumously.

Fresh out of SMU, Johnson flew 62 combat missions in Korea.  Johnson, a fighter pilot, served as the director of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and flew with the first supersonic air precision team, the Thunderbirds.  During Johnson’s first tour in Vietnam, he helped orchestrate the first bombing campaigns under General Westmoreland.  During Johnson’s second tour of duty on April 16, 1966, the enemy shot Johnson down over North Vietnam where he would remain a Prisoner of War for nearly 7 years, more than half of that time in solitary confinement.  Forced into solitary when his captors labeled him a “die-hard,” his captors kept Johnson in leg stocks (like the pilgrims) for 72 days and then leg irons for the next 2 ½ years.  In the event he escaped, Johnson committed 374 names of fellow POWs to memory by tapping a special code on the prison wall.  Johnson returned home to freedom, his family and Texas in February 1973.

The award commends Johnson for his tireless work to support America’s men and women in uniform as well as his efforts on behalf of veterans.  As an elected official, Johnson serves on the U.S. Russia Joint Commission on POWs and MIAs. 

Johnson will join other such notable recipients as: General William C. Westmoreland U.S. Army (Retired) 1986; acclaimed musician and entertainer Lee Greenwood 1992; H. Ross Perot 1993; General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Army (Ret.) 2002; U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona (2005); General Peter Pace, former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff 2006; Roger Staubach, retired Dallas Cowboys football player 2006; General Colin Powell former Secretary of State and U.S. Army, retired 2007; and former First Lady Laura Bush 2008; among others.  During Johnson’s first tour of duty in Vietnam, Johnson worked under General Westmoreland.  Johnson and McCain shared a cell while held captive in Vietnam.

Johnson chronicles his time in captivity in his autobiography, Captive Warriors.  For his service and bravery to this country, the military awarded Johnson 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. 

The 2009 Patriot Award Gala dinner will take place at the Westin Galleria in Dallas.  That evening Mr. Bill O’Reilly will accept the Tex McCreery Award for excellence in journalism and entertainer Steve Amerson will accept the Bob Hope Award for excellence in entertainment.  In addition to Johnson, the two will be honored for their life’s work of dedication to preserving the freedoms Americans enjoy.

Johnson represents portions of Dallas and Collin Counties.  To learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, visit http://www.cmohs.org.  Tickets for the Gala are available by contacting Dee Carpenter at 214-544-4368 or by email at shelleym@lmctx.com.

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