Trent Kelly: “I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to speak today in support of H.R. 208 to designate a post office for Colonel…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for allowing me to speak today in support of H.R. 208 to designate a post office for Colonel Carlyle ``Smitty'' Harris, my friend. Madam Speaker, he served with one of our colleagues and friends here, Mr. Sam Johnson, and was in the Hanoi Hilton with him for much of the time they shared together. I have this long speech written, but I want to talk about who Carlyle Smitty Harris is. He is Smitty to all his friends. You would never know that he was a lawyer; you would never know that he was a pilot; you would never know that he was a retired colonel. He is such a gentleman and such a role model for our entire community. His family are key people in the Tupelo area. Smitty was shot down and spent almost 8 years in the Hanoi Hilton. During that time, he had learned many, many years ago, from a sergeant, about a tap code they used to communicate in World War II. Being one of the first 10 or 12 prisoners in the Hanoi Hilton, they would separate them so that they couldn't communicate. And Smitty taught this to all the other members when they came in so that they could communicate when they were separated and segregated as prisoners. You would think that 8 years serving in the Hanoi Hilton that you would be bitter, that you would hate humanity, that when you were tortured, you would want to be tortured or be mean to others, but not Smitty Harris. Colonel Harris is a gentleman of all gentlemen.…”