[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN JOHN M. HOLMES, U.S. COAST GUARD, ON THE OCCASION 
                           OF HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHRISTOPHER COX

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding 
officer of the United States Coast Guard. Captain John M. Holmes has 
devoted almost three decades of his life in service to his country. 
Captain Holmes has excelled in his many assignments over the years in 
the Coast Guard, assignments which are as far ranging, varied and 
contemporary as the Service itself.
  Captain Holmes' assignments include: Chief of Operational 
Intelligence, Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami, Florida; 
Operations Officer, Coast Guard Group, Seattle, Washington; Overseas 
Inspection Supervisor, Marine Safety Office, Honolulu, Hawaii; Chief of 
Compliance, Office of Marine Safety, Coast Guard Headquarters, 
Washington, D.C.; and Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office, St. 
Louis, Missouri.
  The experience, commitment and professionalism which Captain Holmes 
brought to the Service proved its value in assignments as Coast Guard 
Liaison to the Governor of American Samoa; staff officer for the United 
States Ambassador to the Government of Singapore; State Department 
delegate to the International Maritime Organization, London, England; 
and as Deputy Chief, Office of Congressional Affairs, Coast Guard 
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
  It has been under the most demanding circumstances that, as 
Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office, Los Angeles-Long Beach, 
Captain Holmes has demonstrated the finest qualities of a military 
officer. The events of September 11, 2001, and the aftermath of those 
attacks on our country, presented Captain Holmes with challenges far 
beyond those faced by any previous Commanding Officer at this unit. 
Captain Holmes immediately initiated a series of skillfully coordinated 
actions in order to establish a robust, comprehensive maritime homeland 
security presence for this vital port complex, the largest and busiest 
in our Nation.
  Expertly directing port security operations and carefully balancing 
security and safety with commerce, Captain Holmes achieved an 
unprecedented level of interagency cooperation with city, county, state 
and federal agencies that led the Nation in coordinated operations and 
planning. Establishing joint agency boarding teams, high-risk vessel 
water escorts, on-board Sea Marshals of high-risk vessels, and tighter 
port security boarding procedures, he moved without delay on September 
11, 2001 to insure the continuation of maritime commerce and the 
confidence of the shipping community. Many of Captain Holmes' 
innovative methods were adopted Pacific-wide by the Coast Guard and 
will no doubt find their way to ports worldwide as we seek to enhance 
global maritime security.
  This most distinguished Coast Guard officer, with his wife Carol, has 
two children, Lucas and Ava. They are as proud of him as am I, for he 
has provided all of us a shining example of all that is good and 
honorable in the American military.
  Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I have 
had the distinct pleasure of working directly with Captain Holmes and 
seeing first-hand his professional expertise, commitment to his 
personnel, and dedication to his country. His stewardship in serving 
our Nation will long be remembered, and should serve as a model for all 
of us in the years to come. As he sets his course for new challenges, 
I'm sure my colleagues will join me in saluting John Holmes, and 
thanking him for a ``job well done''--for the maritime community, for 
California, and for America.

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