Samuel Robert Johnson III (1930 - 2020)

Colonel Sam Johnson III was A Prisoner of War for 2,494 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

First Lieutenant Sam Johnson III served in the United States Air Force in the Korean War
Service started: 1953
Unit(s): 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Service ended: 1954

Colonel Sam Johnson III served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War
Service started: 31 May 1951
Unit(s): 8th Tactical Fighter Wing; 4th Tactical Fighter Wing; 31st Tactical Fighter Wing
Service ended: 30 April 1979

Birth and Early Life

Samuel Robert Johnson III, known as Sam, was born on 11 October 1930 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States to Samuel Robert Johnson Jr. and Mima Nabors.

His dad worked for an insurance company when he was born. His mother had managed a telegraph office. The family spent a few years in Georgia and from there settled in Dallas, Texas.

Education

Sam graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, Texas. In 1951 he graduated from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. His University degree was in Business Administration. While there he was in ROTC. The entire ROTC class was called up for military service. In 1974, he earned a Master's Degree in industrial administration from the Elliott School of International Affairs of the George Washington University. ^[1]

He was sent to National War College when he got out of the hospital after his incarceration in Vietnam.

Marriage and Children

Sam married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Lee Melton, in 1950 a year before graduation from University. They were married for 65 years and had three children, ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Children of the Johnson-Melton Marriage

1. James Robert Johnson, PhD, known as Bob, was born on 3 April 1951 in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States. He was married to Anita Miller and had children. Bob died on 15 February 2013 in Cochiti Lake, Sandoval, New Mexico, United States.
2. Gini Johnson married Captain James Mulligan, known as Jim. He was also a former POW and member of the Alcatraz Gang like his future father-in-law.
3. Beverly Johnson married Scott Briney.

Military Service

He had never been in an airplane but Sam signed up for flight school when he decided to join the Air Force. Through the Air Force ROTC Program he was commissioned on 31 May 1951. He flew in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Korean War Period

Stationed with the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron very close to the front lines at the Suwon Air Base in South Korea, he flew 62 combat missions in an F-86 Sabre, which he had named Shirley's Texas Tornado, after his wife. He is credited with one MiG kill, one probable kill and one damaged.

After Korea, he returned to Nellis Air Force Base in Reno, Nevada and transitioning from the F-86, flew with the Thunderbirds in a F-100 Super Sabre.

Thunderbirds Pilot

He was with the United States Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, from March 1957 until October 1958. He was flying the F-100 Super Sabre at the time and was in the positions of both solo and slot man.

Pre-Vietnam War Period/Cold War

After Korea, Johnson and his family were sent to Chaumont Air Base in France from January 1959 to January 1960 to fly with the 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron. From January 1960 to April of that year he was flying with that squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. In April 1960 he became the Chief of Weapons Training with the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at Lakenheath until February 1962.

His next assignment was as Air Operations Officer and later Director of Operations and Training for the 4525th Student Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada until February 1964. That is the Air Force version of what the Navy calls Top Gun. The fundamental moves and techniques that same developed along with John Boyd are still taught in 2020. In 1964, he was with the 4520th CombatCrew Training Wing at Nellis Air Force Base until February 1966 when he began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing out of Ubon Air Base in Thailand.

Vietnam War Period

Flying a night bombing mission in an F-4 Phantom II over North Vietnam on his twenty-fifth combat mission on 16 April 1966, he and his co-pilot, Larry Chesley, were forced to eject when the aircraft was hit and burst into fire. He broke his arm and back and dislocated a shoulder. He was immediately surrounded by North Vietnamese enemy soldiers who took him to the Hỏa Lò Prison, better known by the name the Americans gave it of the Hanoi Hilton. He spent 42 months in solitary confinement in a 3 foot by 8 foot cell. He later retold his experiences in Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW's Story. ^[2] His family did not know if he was dead or alive for about two years.

Sam was one of the group of prisoners called "The Alcatraz Gang" in Hanoi. They were in solitary confinement for three and a half years and held in leg stocks much of the time. The torture he received is retold in his book. His body never fully recovered from the mistreatment.

He was a Prisoner of War from 16 April 1966 to 12 February 1973. ^[3] He was released in Operation Homecoming. ^[4]

He was flown out on C-141 Tail number 50236 from Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, North Vietnam at 1445 hours and arrived at Clark Air Base, Philippines at 1718 hours.

Post Vietnam War Military Service

From 1974 to 1976, he was assigned as the Deputy Commander for Operations and later the Wing Inspector for the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

His last military assignment in 1976 was as the Commander of the 31st Tactical Fighter wing at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida until his retirement.

Military Honors

1st of 2 Silver Star Citations:

Major Samuel R. Johnson distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force in Southeast Asia on 16 April 1966. On that date, Major Johnson led a flight of two F-4C Fighter-Bombers on a twilight armed recce mission against a heavily defended target deep within hostile territory. Locating the target despite restricted visibility due to haze and terrain, Major Johnson encountered a curtain of flak as he rolled in for his first strike. Immediately altering his attack, although at a dangerously low altitude, he turned into the very teeth of fire from the menacing guns and continued to press the attack until his aircraft sustained mortal damage, forcing him to eject. This courageous act, attempted in the face of devastating ground fire at minimum altitude and great personal risk, epitomized the finest qualities of a true combat pilot. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Johnson has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

1. Silver Star Medal (2).
2. Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.
3. Distinguished Flying Cross.
4. Bronze Star Medal with V Device.
5. Purple Heart (2).
6. Meritorious Service Medal.
7. Air Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.
8. Air Force Commendation Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.

The full ribbon set is available here.

He also received countless other than military awards.

Retirement from Military Service

Colonel Johnson retired from the United States Air Force on 30 April 1979.

Personal Business Interests

He brought his family back to Plano, Texas and started a home building business.

Political Service and Final Retirement

He first served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991. Then in 1991, he was elected at the Representative from the 3rd District of Texas in the United States Congress. He retired from Congress in 2019. He had been on the Ways and Means Committee, helped create the Republican Study Committee and served as an Assistant Whip to the Majority Whips in the House. He was well known for his work on veterans' affairs. His colleagues in the United States Congress voted him the Most Admired Member of Congress. When he retired, Sam was the oldest Republican member of Congress. He was also considered to be one of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives. His statements were often controversial and he was honest and outspoken, but he seemed to also be able to remain on good terms with most people.

The message he sent to his constituents in a January 2017 letter was Scripture tells us 'there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.' For me, the Lord has made clear that the season of my life in Congress is coming to an end.

Death and Burial

U.S. Representative, Colonel Johnson died (Flew West) at the age of 89 on 27 May 2020 of natural causes (not Covid related) in Plano, Collin, Texas, United States. He was survived by his two daughters Gini and Beverly. His wife died in 2015 and his only son, Dr. Bob Johnson, died in 2013. He was buried next to his wife in the Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas, Texas on 8 June 2020. Their plot can be found in the Garden of Faith where his name had previously been added to her headstone. There were full military honors rendered and the police and first responders of Plano, his home, lined the streets to salute as his hearse traveled in a processional to the funeral site. The Thunderbirds flew the ceremonial missing man formation to honor him. ^[5]

Sources

• NAM POW death notification and further notifications on 31 May about the funeral and visitation on Camp Radio Broadcast email today 28 May 2020 sent to all Vietnam Prisoners of War and their families received by Darlene Kerr.
• Veteran Tributes Find [here]
• USA Today by Villalobos, Louie; Sam Johnson, ex-Texas GOP congressman and Vietnam POW, dies. 27 May 2020.
• U.S. News & World Report at www.usnews.com on 27 May 2020.
• The Washington Post Sam Johnson Obituary find at [1]
• Humanities Texas.March 2015 article with some book excerpts from Johnson's book. find here
• Wikipedia. [2]
• Super Sabre Society. Congressman Samuel R. Johnson (Col. USAF, Ret.) 'Headed West' May 27, 2020. Find the full article here
• The Dallas Morning News, article "Sam Johnson laid to rest in tribute to longtime congressman, veteran, and P.O.W." bydallasnews.com/news/2020/06/08.
• Schudel, Matt. "The Boston Globe" article "Sam Johnson, seven-year POW in Vietnam who became a Texas congressman, dies at 89." 29 May 2020 (Washington Post).

Footnotes

1. ↑ Weissert, Will. Sam Johnson, ex-Texas GOP congressman and Vietnam POW, dies. Associated Press, 27 May 2020.
2. ↑ Johnson, Sam, Winebrenner, Jan, Keitz, Rod. Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW's Story. Texas: Texas A&M University Military History Series, University Press, 1992.
3. ↑ Veteran Tributes
4. ↑ NAM POW List
5. ↑ The Dallas Morning News

Acknowledgments