[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 149 (Thursday, September 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1615
                HONORING LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JIM GIBSON

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to speak about the passing 
of a very good friend and an American hero, Lieutenant Commander Jim 
Gibson of Redding, California.
  Pictured here at an Honor Flight here in Washington, D.C., I got to 
accompany him that day. It was a lot of fun and very gratifying.
  Jim was a career Navy officer for 26 years. He joined the Navy as an 
engine man right out of high school and rose to the rank of ensign 
before becoming a commissioned officer.
  After working his way through the ranks to captain, he was assigned 
command of a submarine rescue ship in the 7th Fleet. This vessel, the 
USS Coucal, had the worst reputation in the entire U.S. 7th Fleet. When 
Jim took command, he turned things around and made it the premier 
submarine rescue vessel in the entire U.S. 7th Fleet.
  After retiring from active service, Jim remained devoted to the ideal 
of duty. He was very active in veterans' affairs, founding a submarine 
veterans group in northern California and serving as its president. He 
was instrumental in raising money for the Veterans Memorial in Anderson 
River Park. I was proud to have him as a member of my congressional 
advisory committee on academy appointments, where he did a great job of 
helping us screen the best new and brightest.
  Jim was faithful to his fellow veterans to the last, working 
faithfully out of the Igo Veterans Cemetery. He was always there to 
ring the bell for the last watch when a Navy veteran was laid to rest.
  He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou. My heart goes out to her and 
their family at this time of grief. They will be in our prayers.
  We will miss him dearly. Fair winds and following seas, Jim.

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