Vietnam
P.O.W. Sam Johnson condemns vandalism of Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
also known as "The Wall"
September 27, 2007
At
a news conference on Capitol Hill, 29-year Air Force veteran and
former Prisoner of War in Vietnam, U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson
(3rd Dist.-Texas) condemned the recent vandalism of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial, also known as "The Wall.";
On September 7th between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, someone or a group
spread an oily substance on The Wall and the paving stones of
the Memorial. After an investigation, on September 17th, the U.S.
Park Police declared the act vandalism. The U.S. Park Police remain
committed to identifying and removing the substance.
The
other day Johnson became an original co-sponsor of a new House
Resolution condemning the vandalism. U.S. Congressman John Carter
(31st Dist.-Texas) proposed H. RES. 680: Condemning the actions
of September 7, 2007, resulting in damage to the Vietnam Veterans
War Memorial. The measure has 102 bipartisan backers.
Johnson's
prepared remarks at the news conference follow:
"My
name is Sam Johnson and I represent the Third District of Texas.
"I
was a POW in Vietnam for nearly 7 years and I find this vandalism
unconscionable and un-American. Why on earth would someone want
to reignite the pains of the past?
"It
was the ultimate act of cowardice.
"What
kind of a person would do such a thing? I hope that the authorities
find the criminal responsible for this and that they lock him
or her up for a very, very long time.
"Even
though I did two tours, I spent most of my time in captivity so
I didn't get to know a lot of the brave men and women who
died in action … those who have their names etched into
the Wall.
"But
I did get to know a great American very well – his name
is Ron Storz, a Lt. Col. in the Air Force – and a fellow
fighter pilot.
"Because
our captors tried to blame a handful of us for overthrowing the
Vietnamese government and labeled us the ‘diehards,'
they threw 12 of us in solitary confinement in adjacent cells.
Of the 12 of us ‘diehards,' only 11 of us came home.
Our captors killed Ron Storz after he went on a hunger strike.
"It
breaks my heart to think that someone would senselessly harm and
deface the names, the honors, and the legacies of great patriots
like Ron. You can find Ron's name on panel one of the East
Wall.
"I
find a little comfort that the stain will be cleaned and hope
and pray that the loved ones of those men and women memorialized
on the Wall know that we remember their selfless family members
and thank them for their service and sacrifice.
"These
men and women listed on the Wall all demonstrate why America is
the land of the free and the home of the brave. These valiant
warriors fought to protect and defend this great nation….We
will not allow someone to tarnish their good names …and
we must condemn this vandalism."
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