[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E151-E152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNITION OF MR. TRACY ``T-DOG'' RASCOE, AS CALIFORNIA 56TH ASSEMBLY 
                  DISTRICT'S 2019 VETERAN OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JUAN VARGAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 7, 2020

  Mr. VARGAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Tracy ``T-
Dog'' Rascoe, who was recently recognized by California State Assembly 
Member, Eduardo Garcia, as California 56th Assembly District Veteran of 
the Year for 2019.
   Tracy served as a Surface Sonar Technician in the U.S. Navy for 10 
years before joining the U.S. Navy Reserves. There, he served for two 
years before transferring to the U.S. Army Reserves. In the Army 
reserves, he served as a Human Resource and Training noncommissioned 
officer (NCO) with the 104th and 95th Infantry Training Division where 
he helped train drill sergeants.
   After Tracy's U.S. Navy active duty service, he joined the renewable 
energy industry in wind power. There, he utilized his training and 
managerial background and became a Technical Trainer and Training 
Manager for major leading organizations within the industry. 
Recognizing the potential for the industry's future growth in the U.S. 
and the job opportunities it could provide veterans and others, Tracy 
became a director of wind energy technology for both a community 
college and a for-profit school. During his term as a director, he 
volunteered to lead the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) 
Education Work Group. Here he worked diligently for two years with 
middle and senior members of the industry, colleges, technical schools, 
the Department of Energy and the Department of Labor to create skill 
sets for Wind Energy Technicians in the U.S. The skill sets were 
approved in 2010 and have resulted in the creation of official U.S. job 
codes for Wind Technicians. Currently, he serves on the AWEA Veterans 
Employment Committee, which focuses on attracting additional veterans 
to the wind industry.
   In 2012, Tracy left the Pattern Energy Operations Headquarters in 
Houston Texas, to become an Operations Manager of their wind farm in 
Ocotillo, CA. As a veteran, Tracy and his wife (Dawn), were determined 
to be of service to others alike and transferred their American Legion 
memberships to the Boyce Aten Post located in El Centro. There, they 
quickly identified the need to revitalize the Post for the good of its 
members and the local community.
   While serving two consecutive years as the Post Commander, Tracy 
rose through the elected ranks in the 30th District (Imperial County) 
as 2nd Vice Commander, 1st Vice Commander and then Commander. As the 
30th District Commander, his successful leadership and hands on 
approach helped revitalize the district posts. One of the posts under 
his leadership was severely struggling and on the verge of closure. As 
a result of his leadership, the post was not only able to remain open, 
but it successfully achieved 135 percent increase in membership and has 
remained stellar in various performances to date. His leadership helped 
the 30th District achieve 3rd place in membership in the entire state 
of 30 districts. As a result, the district received great respect and 
admiration within the American Legion Department of California 5th 
Area, which comprised of 107 American Legion Posts with over 25,000 
members in Imperial, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside 
counties.
   This past year, he was elected and served honorably as the American 
Legion Department of California (DOC) Vice Commander-Area 5. During his 
one-year term, he again earned great respect and admiration from 
leaders within the DOC.
   As a mentor, Tracy continues to strive to improve. Last year he and 
Dawn completed the California American Legion College. They supported 
one another as she serves as an Auxiliary Unit 25 President and was 
recently elected as the Auxiliary 30th District President.
   Tracy presently serves as Jr. Past Vice Commander-Area 5, 30th 
District Judge Advocate and as an Executive Board Member for the Boyce 
Aten American Legion Post 25 and

[[Page E152]]

Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) No. 9305, in El Centro, CA. In addition, 
he was selected to be one of only seven members of the newly formed 
American Legion Department of California Training Committee. There he 
drafted the approved Annual Training Budget and is leading the 
development of Post Finance Officer training to assist the 442 American 
Legion DOC Posts.
   Tracy continues to demonstrate his dedication to our community, 
veterans and patriotism. This can be easily seen by his roles and 
active participations: Co-Founder and President of the Imperial Valley 
Patriotic Planning Committee, member of the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb 
Committee, member of the Vietnam Moving Wall 2020 Ceremonies Committee, 
Advocate and active participant for the Imperial County Veterans 
Advisory Council and Veterans Employment Committee, member and 
Secretary of the Imperial County Continuum of Care Council and Point-
In-Time Count Committee.
   Tracy is a Cold War and Gulf War Veteran. In the past year, he alone 
raised several hundreds of dollars to help support California Veterans 
through the American Legion's CALVAR Helmets for Heroes program. He has 
also provided multiple patriotic ceremonies to the community and served 
as the Master of Ceremony for the Boyce Aten Post 25's 100th 
Anniversary.
   Tracy is known and highly respected by many of the elected leaders 
within my district and Imperial County. I thank Tracy for his service 
and congratulate him for being selected as California 56th Assembly 
District's 2019 Veteran of the Year.

                          ____________________