[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 12089-12090] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE RETIREMENT OF MASTER CHIEF JOHN E. DOWNEY, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ______ HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR of minnesota in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to honor a truly great member of the U.S. Coast Guard--Master Chief John E. ``Jack'' Downey--who was throughout his 41 years of service ``always ready for the call.'' Master Chief Downey enlisted in the Coast Guard at age 19 from his hometown of Narragansett, Rhode Island, in 1966 and will retire at Station Point Judith in Narragansett on the 20th of this month, having served continuously in the Coast Guard in reserve and active duty status for almost 42 years. Master Chief Downey is retiring as Command Master Chief of Coast Guard District One (Boston, Massachusetts)--one of the nine Command Master Chiefs in the Coast Guard. He has served in this position since September of 2006. Seaman Recruit Jack Downey reported to the Coast Guard Training Center, Cape May, New Jersey, on November 11, 1966, and completed basic training in February 1967. Seaman Apprentice Downey reported to Coast Guard Cutter Casco (WHEC 370) on March 8, 1967, and was promoted to Seaman on November 1, 1967. On December 15, 1967, Seaman Downey reported to Coast Guard Air Station Salem, Massachusetts where he was a rescue boat crewman for water take-offs and landings--in the days of amphibious fix-wing aircraft. Seaman Downey transferred to Station Point Judith, Rhode Island, in March 1968, where he served on active duty until 1970, then 8\1/2\ years in reserve status, returning to active duty in 1979 and continuing his service at Pt. Judith until 1982. While stationed at Pt. Judith, Downey was promoted to Boatswain's Mate Third Class on January 16, 1969, to Boatswain's Mate Second Class on December 16, 1969, to Boatswain's Mate First Class on April 1, 1972, to Chief Boatswain's Mate on September 1, 1975 and to Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate April 1, 1980. Senior Chief Downey returned to sea duty on the Coast Guard Cutter Chase (WHEC 718) on January 10, 1982. In addition to service on the CGC Casco and CGC Chase, Boatswain's Mate Downey had many temporary assignments afloat on CGC Seneca (WMEC 906), CGC Reliance (WMEC 615), CGC Neah Bay (WTGB 105), CGC Cape George (WPB 95306) and CGC Point Hannon (WPB 82355). Many of these Temporary Assigned Duty assignments were necessitated by the Coast Guard's need to ``fix'' a leadership issue--a position Jack Downey found himself in on more than one occasion. On February 21, 1984, Senior Chief Downey returned to shore duty at Group/Station Woods Hole, Massachusetts where he was Officer-In-Charge of the Station. Senior Chief Downey took command, as Officer-In-Charge, of Coast Guard Cutter Towline (WYTL 65605), a 65-foot harbor tug/icebreaker, on June 15, 1987. On November 1, 1988, Senior Chief Downey transferred to Coast Guard Station Chatham at the elbow of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he faced one of his most challenging assignments--dealing with an unforgiving and ever changing environment, and a community whose faith in the Coast Guard was at a low-ebb because of a failure of leadership. Senior Chief Downey, whose skills as a Boatswain's Mate are only exceeded by his skills in dealing with people, not only mastered the treacherous Chatham Bar, he won the loving respect of the community. Senior Chief Downey's time in Chatham had both harrowing and amusing moments. In 1991 Station Chatham acquired a much-needed new surf capable rescue boat--the 28-foot [[Page 12090]] LeCompte (CG 280502). In October--shortly after the boat arrived, Cape Cod and New England were slammed by the ``No Name'' or ``Halloween'' Storm--later known as the ``Perfect Storm.'' Downey and his crew secured the boat in the north ``jog'' of the Chatham Fish Pier in preparation for the onslaught of the storm. Little did they know just how ferocious the gale would be--as the storm intensified and the tide rose to record levels, boats broke loose from their moorings and debris piled up in the jog. One fishing vessel landed up against the LeCompte, prompting Downey to comment, ``Well that's a $120,000 fender you've got there.'' In May of 1993, at the Change-of-Command, hundreds came from all over Cape Cod to honor Jack Downey for his dedication and service to the maritime community, and to wish him well in his next assignment across Nantucket Sound at Coast Guard Station Brant Point on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, where he took command, as Officer-In-Charge, on May 17, 1993. On June 26, 1998, Senior Chief Downey returned ``home'' to as Officer-In-Charge of Coast Guard Station Point Judith, Rhode Island, and was promoted to Master Chief on September 1, 1998. While Officer-In-Charge of Station Point Judith Master Chief Downey was called upon by the Group Commander to fill temporary commands concurrent with his responsibilities for his Station. On one occasion, when the Officer-In-Charge of CGC Hammerhead (WPB 87302) was not-fit- for-duty due to a leg fracture, Master Chief Downey assumed command of a brand new class of patrol boat with which he was completely unfamiliar, and on another he returned to Station Brant Point on Nantucket to lead the Station while the Officer-In-Charge was assigned to a joint service academy. On both the occasions answered the call-- all the while ensuring that Station Point Judith ran smoothly and fulfilled all its responsibilities. Master Chief Downey left Point Judith and in 2000, and on August 10th became the lead instructor for the Command and Operations School at the Leadership and Development Center located at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Master Chief Downey returned to sea duty on July 2, 2005 to take command, for a second time, as Officer-In-Charge, of Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead (WPB 87302) an 87-foot Patrol Boat operating out of Group Woods Hole with responsibility for law enforcement, fisheries patrols, search and rescue, environmental protection and port, waterways and coastal security. On August 28, 2006, Master Chief Downey became the Command Master Chief, First Coast Guard District, Boston, Massachusetts--the senior enlisted advisor to Rear Admiral Timothy S. Sullivan, Commander, First Coast Guard District, on issues and initiatives pertaining to all Coast Guard members and their families within District One. On June 20, 2008--after 41-years of continuous service in the United States Coast Guard--Master Chief John E. ``Jack'' Downey returns to Station Point Judith, Rhode Island where he will--with regret--retire. Master Chief Downey has received many awards during his distinguished career. Having held the position of Officer-In-Charge of boat force units for more than 17 years of the more than 20 years he served in the boat forces community, he was the first recipient of the Joshua James Keeper Award--the ``Ancient Keeper'' award--that recognizes longevity in the Coast Guard boat force operations. This award is named in honor of Captain Joshua James--the most celebrated life-saver in U.S. history--who served in the Massachusetts Humane Society and the U.S. Life-Saving Service. James died at the age of 75 after drilling his crew during a northeast gale in March of 1902 shortly after the tragic loss of a life-saving crew off Monomoy Point in Chatham, Massachusetts. Master Chief Downey's other Coast Guard awards include the Meritorious Service Award with a gold star and operational distinguishing device, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal with three gold stars and an operational distinguishing device, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with operational distinguishing device, the Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal with silver star, and the Letter of Commendation with an operational distinguishing device. In addition to his Coast Guard awards, Master Chief Downey is the recipient of the prestigious NAVY League Douglas A. Monro Award that is ``awarded for inspirational leadership . . . to the Coast Guard enlisted member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional competence.'' Madam Speaker, you may have noticed that Master Chief Downey has managed to spend most of his career in Coast Guard District One, and much of that in Group Woods Hole (now Sector Southeast New England). His tremendous local knowledge of the treacherous waters in this region added value to every one of his Coast Guard assignments--and he often called on this local knowledge to keep Group Commanders ``out of trouble.'' Master Chief is a leadership ``fixer''--the person you go to when there is a unit in trouble. The communities where Master Chief Downey has served have recognized him with awards and proclamations too numerous to mention--they would cover several walls were he to display them--because Jack understands well the important roll the Coast Guard plays in the lives of New England towns. Local officials, townspeople and fellow mariners have recognized his great contribution and will miss his steadying hand. In fact, a Group Commander once said that after Jack Downey retires, ``the Coast Guard should hire him back, not to train Officers-In-Charge of small-boat stations, but rather to train Group Commanders.'' Throughout the Coast Guard--and particularly in Southeast New England--there are Coast Guard men and women, Officers-In-Charge, who were mentored by Master Chief Downey. Many of them--along with many retired officers, including former District and Group Commanders, fellow boat-drivers and shipmates--will join the Vice-Commandant and the Atlantic Area Commander of the Coast Guard on June 20th to honor his long service and dedication to the Coast Guard. John E. ``Jack'' Downey's service to the country, the United States Coast Guard and New England are best expressed in the words used by Superintendent Sumner Increase Kimball when he spoke of Joshua James-- Here and there may be found men in all walks of life who neither wonder or care how much or how little the world thinks of them. They pursue life's pathway, doing their appointed tasks without ostentation, loving their work for the work's sake, content to live and do in the present rather than look for the uncertain rewards of the future. To them notoriety, distinction, or even fame, acts neither as a spur not a check to endeavor, yet they are really among the foremost of those who do the world's work. Master Chief John E. ``Jack'' Downey is one of those men.