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H. R. No. 150 *HR43/R2747* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Rushing
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 150
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND HONORING VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM 1
WAR FOR THEIR HEROIC SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. 2
WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was an armed conflict in Vietnam, 3
Laos, and Cambodia, fought between North Vietnam (Democratic 4
Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and 5
their allies from November 1, 1955 until April 30, 1975; and 6
WHEREAS, in 1965, ground combat units of the Armed Forces of 7
the United States arrived in the Republic of Vietnam to join 8
approximately 23,000 personnel of the Armed Forces who were 9
already present there; and 10
WHEREAS, by 1969, the number of such troops reached a peak of 11
approximately 549,500, including members of the Armed Forces in 12
the region who were supporting the combat operations, and during 13
the Vietnam War era, more than 10,000,000 members of the Armed 14
Forces of the United States served worldwide; and 15
WHEREAS, the members of the Armed Forces stationed in Vietnam 16
included approximately 10,000 women, who served as nurses, 17
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physicians, air traffic controllers, in military intelligence, in 18
administrative roles, and in many other capacities; and 19
WHEREAS, on January 27, 1973, the Agreement on Ending the War 20
and Restoring Peace in Vietnam (commonly known as the Paris Peace 21
Accords) was signed, which required the release of all prisoners 22
of war of the United States held in North Vietnam and the 23
withdrawal of all Armed Forces of the United States from South 24
Vietnam; and 25
WHEREAS, on March 29, 1973, the United States Armed Forces 26
completed the withdrawal of combat units and combat support units 27
from South Vietnam; and 28
WHEREAS, 58,281 members of the United States Armed Forces 29
lost their lives in the Vietnam War, more than 300,000 were 30
wounded in Vietnam, and 771 endured the hardships of being 31
prisoners of war, with 113 dying while in internment; and 32
WHEREAS, 1,545 members of the United States Armed Forces who 33
served in Vietnam remain missing and unaccounted for, and the 34
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency continues its diligent efforts 35
to locate, identify, and repatriate their remains, providing 36
closure to families and honoring the commitment to leave no one 37
behind; and 38
WHEREAS, members of the Armed Forces who served bravely and 39
faithfully for the United States during the Vietnam War were 40
repeatedly targeted with criticism and disparagement as the result 41
of decisions that were beyond their control, and they faced 42
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mistreatment, discrimination, and a lack of recognition and 43
appreciation for their service; and 44
WHEREAS, Vietnam Veterans of America, the only 45
congressionally chartered national organization exclusively 46
dedicated to Vietnam veterans and their families, was founded in 47
1978, by Vietnam veterans seeking recognition and advocacy for 48
their unique needs, growing from modest beginnings into a 49
respected national institution with more than 600 chapters 50
worldwide, providing steadfast service, legal assistance, and 51
legislative leadership to advance the welfare, rights, and dignity 52
of Vietnam veterans and their communities; and 53
WHEREAS, many thousands of veterans of the Vietnam War were 54
exposed to Agent Orange and other harmful herbicides during the 55
course of their service, carrying home delayed wounds of toxic 56
exposure such that Congress passed the Agent Orange Act of 1991 57
(Public Law 102–4), leading to the recognition of Agent Orange as 58
a presumptive hazard and paving the way for benefits for affected 59
veterans; and 60
WHEREAS, the Agent Orange Act of 1991, and research conducted 61
pursuant to that law, yielded new presumptions of service 62
connection related to herbicide exposure and provided a blueprint 63
for Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to address 64
military toxic exposures encountered by succeeding generations of 65
veterans, culminating in the passage of the Sergeant First Class 66
Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive 67
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Toxics Act of 2022 (Public Law 117–168) (commonly known as the 68
PACT Act); and 69
WHEREAS, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., 70
completed in 1982, stands as a lasting tribute to those who lost 71
their lives in the conflict, with its black granite walls 72
inscribed with the names of the fallen, offering a place of 73
reflection and remembrance for their loved ones and fellow 74
citizens; and 75
WHEREAS, the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C., 76
dedicated in 1993 as the first national memorial to female 77
veterans, honors the heroic service and sacrifices made by the 78
many women who served in Vietnam, often as medical personnel 79
rendering the final care and comfort to their dying comrades; and 80
WHEREAS, the thousands of Gold Star families that remember 81
loved ones lost continue to maintain the legacy of Vietnam 82
veterans who answered the nation's call to defend freedom and made 83
the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty; and 84
WHEREAS, the Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the 85
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and other community-based replica Walls 86
across the country provide veterans and their families with 87
opportunities to pay tribute and find solace; and 88
WHEREAS, it is essential to express profound gratitude to the 89
men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States who served 90
with bravery, courage, dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness in 91
the Vietnam War, reaffirm the importance of educating future 92
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ST: Vietnam Veterans; commend and honor for
heroic service and sacrifice.
generations about the Vietnam War and the sacrifices made by those 93
who served, ensuring their legacy is never forgotten, and remember 94
and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those 95
who remain missing in action from that conflict: 96
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 97
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 98
commend and honor veterans of the Vietnam War for their heroic 99
service and sacrifice. 100
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 101
furnished to the members of the Capitol Press Corps. 102