Former Vietnam POW and longtime Texas congressman Sam Johnson has died

Sam Johnson, a military pilot who served almost seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and nearly three decades in Congress representing Texas, died Wednesday at the age of 89.

The conservative Texas Republican began serving in Congress in 1991 and remained until January 2019, leaving at 88 as the oldest serving member at that time. Ralph Hall was the oldest member ever to serve in the House when he departed in 2014 at 91.

“Scripture tells us ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven,’” Johnson wrote in a 2017 letter to his constituents in which he said that he planned to retire at the conclusion of his term, according to the Associated Press. “For me, the Lord has made clear that the season of my life in Congress is coming to an end.”

Prior to his many years as a public official Johnson had a long career in the U.S. military that included service in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

In 1966 Johnson and co-pilot Larry Chesley ejected from their plane which had been attacked. Johnson sustained serious injuries and was eventually captured. He spent almost seven years as a prisoner at the so-called "Hanoi Hilton."

Johnson is survived by two daughters and 10 grandchildren. His wife of more than 60 years died in 2015, and in 2013 his son died at 61.

"Sam Johnson was a fearless patriot and an American hero, and we are incredibly proud and fortunate to have called him a fellow Texan," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement about Johnson's death.

"Today, we mourn the loss of a great Texan, but we also remember his tremendous life and the legacy he leaves behind. Cecilia and I offer our prayers to his family and friends, and we ask all Texans to join us in remembering a true Texas icon," Abbott said.