[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1190-E1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the 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 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 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

[[Page E1191]]

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.