[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 83 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CAPT. JOHN MICHAEL CRYE TO RETIRE FROM COAST GUARD

                                 ______


                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 1996

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize an outstanding individual, Capt. John Michael Crye, who is 
due to retire later this year. Captain Crye has served our country for 
more than 20 years, most recently as Deputy Chief, Coast Guard 
Congressional and Governmental Affairs. He also served as Coast Guard 
Legislative Counsel in the Coast Guard Congressional and Governmental 
Affairs Office. It is a privilege for me to recognize his many 
outstanding achievements and commend him for his superb service to this 
legislative body and our great Nation as a whole.
  A native of Knoxville, TN, Captain Crye received his commission from 
the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. He was commissioned as 
an ensign in May 1972, first assigned as a deck watch officer aboard 
the Cutter Morgenthau.
  Following this tour, Captain Crye was assigned to the Greater 
Antilles Section in San Juan, PR, as an operations center and search 
and rescue coordinator. He participated in several heroic search and 
rescue cases and law enforcement seizures.
  Completing a successful tour at Greater Antilles Section, PR, Captain 
Crye returned to his alma mater, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, as the 
non-appropriated funds activities officer. His outstanding performance 
at the Coast Guard Academy led to his selection to the University of 
Miami School of Law.
  Upon completing law school, Captain Crye was assigned to numerous 
legal staff positions throughout the Coast Guard. His most notable 
legal staff assignment was to the Coast Guard Maintenance and Logistics 
Command Atlantic, where he defended and prosecuted some of the most 
detailed and controversial Coast Guard Courts-Martial Cases in Coast 
Guard history.
  Due to his continued outstanding performance, Captain Crye was 
handpicked for an assignment to the Coast Guard Congressional and 
Governmental Affairs Office. During his tour as legislative counsel, 
Captain Crye worked very closely with congressional staffs in drafting 
important maritime and safety legislation such as the Oil Pollution Act 
of 1990 and the passenger vessel Safety Act. As a result of his 
efforts, he was nominated for the ``Justice Tom C. Clark Outstanding 
Lawyer Award.''
  Captain Crye was later promoted to his current position as Deputy 
Chief of the Coast Guard Congressional and Governmental Affairs Office. 
In this position, Captain Crye has provided the members of the House 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, our personal staffs as 
well as many of you standing here today, with superior support 
regarding Coast Guard plans and programs. His valuable contributions 
have enabled Congress and the Department of Transportation to work 
closely together to ensure the Coast Guard remains ``Semper paratus''--
always ready.
  Mr. Speaker, Captain Crye, his wife, Sheila, and their two children, 
Marilena and John, have made many sacrifices throughout his career. 
Captain Crye will be retired on August 1, 1996, and I call upon my 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join me in wishing him much 
success, as well as fair winds and following seas.

                          ____________________