[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 118 (Monday, July 22, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H4648-H4650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHARLIE DOWD VA CLINIC
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S. 3285) to rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the
Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the ``Charlie Dowd
VA Clinic''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 3285
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Charles ``Charlie'' Arthur Dowd was born on December
23, 1923, in Rochester, New York.
(2) In January 1941, during his senior year of high school,
Charlie enlisted for service at sea in the Navy, where he was
trained as a radioman and later stationed at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii.
(3) On December 7, 1941, just after completing a night
shift, Charlie and United States Naval forces positioned at
Pearl Harbor came under attack by more than 300 enemy
aircraft belonging to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.
(4) During the attack on the heart of the United States
Pacific Fleet, which would severely damage 21 ships and claim
the lives of 2,400 Americans, Charlie emerged in only his t-
shirt and trousers and sprinted from the barracks to the
armory, where he climbed to the roof with a .30-06
Springfield rifle to fire at the Japanese pilots of low-
flying torpedo bombers.
(5) Following his bravery at Pearl Harbor, Charlie would go
on to continue serving the Navy in both the Solomon Islands
and New Guinea, where his fellow shipmates would give him the
nickname of ``Devil Dog Dowd'', for his unwavering
willingness to volunteer for the most dangerous mission
assignments.
(6) During the course of his service in the Navy, Charlie
was awarded seven Bronze Star Medals.
(7) After Charlie received an honorable discharge from the
Navy, he returned to the United States, where he worked in
masonry and carpentry construction, before completing his
degree at the University of Florida. Upon graduation, he
spent the next 18 years passing on his knowledge of
industrial arts and drafting to high school students.
(8) In 1984, as an avid sportsman with a passion for the
outdoors, Charlie later relocated to Anaconda, Montana.
(9) Charlie was a vibrant and cherished member of the local
community in Anaconda, where he became the Secretary of the
Anaconda Sportsmen's Club and the Outdoor Writer for the
Anaconda Leader newspaper.
(10) Charlie was forever an advocate for his fellow
veterans and dedicated to preserving the memory of the events
of World War II and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for
their country. Until his dying days, Charlie
[[Page H4649]]
was an active member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors
Association and loved speaking for civic groups and museums
across Montana.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF CHARLIE DOWD VA CLINIC.
(a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of
the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, shall
after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and
designated as the ``Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans
Affairs Clinic'' or the ``Charlie Dowd VA Clinic''.
(b) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
community-based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection
(a) shall be considered to be a reference to the Charlie Dowd
VA Clinic.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
general leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
S. 3285.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3285, a bill renaming the
community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.
Charlie Dowd enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a radioman during his
senior year of high school in March of 1941. His first duty station was
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. On that fateful morning of December 7, 1941,
Charlie was in his bunk and immediately sprang into action at the sound
of danger. He ran toward the enemy fire and attempted to shoot down
enemy aircraft.
Charlie would go on to serve in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea
campaigns during the war, earning seven Bronze Star Medals for his
service.
After he left the Navy, he returned to his home State of New York
where he served his community again as a high school teacher.
After serving as a sailor and a teacher, Charlie retired to Anaconda,
Montana, where he spent his sunset years fishing and hunting. Montana's
last Pearl Harbor survivor died peacefully at the age of 99 on March
17, 2023.
Charlie is a testament to American bravery, and I am proud to support
this bill so that his story of service will continue to be told for
generations of Americans.
I thank the sponsor of this legislation, Senator Daines, and my
friend, Mr. Zinke, as well as Representative Rosendale and the entire
Montana delegation for leading this effort.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support S. 3285, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for S. 3285, a bill to
designate the community-based outreach clinic of the Department of
Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.
Charlie Dowd was Montana's last known survivor of the attack on Pearl
Harbor.
Charlie Dowd had just settled into his cot after a long night shift
in the early hours of December 7, 1941. Without hesitating, the 17-
year-old Dowd leapt into action at the sound of the bombs, sprinting
from the barracks to the armory in only his T-shirt and trousers.
There, he retrieved his rifle and fired at low-flying enemy torpedo
bombers, some of the first American shots fired in World War II.
Mr. Dowd continued to serve aboard Navy fighting vessels in the
Solomon Islands and New Guinea. Never one to back away from a
challenge, Charlie earned the moniker ``Devil Dog Dowd'' from his
shipmates, who saw him volunteer for the most dangerous assignments
time and time again. Mr. Dowd was honored with seven Bronze Star Medals
before his honorable discharge from military service.
Returning to his home of Rochester, New York, Mr. Dowd worked as a
mason and contractor. He eventually relocated to Dunnellon, Florida,
where, after completing his degree at the University of Florida, he
became a high school teacher.
Mr. Dowd shared his knowledge of industrial arts and drafting with
his students, helping them to design and build residential houses and
even commercial buildings and reinvesting the profits of these projects
into the school and the local community.
In recognition of his inspiring and transformative work, he was
promoted to regional director for building trades in the Florida public
school system to expand the success throughout Florida.
Mr. Dowd was an advocate for his fellow veterans and worked to
preserve the memory of the events of World War II as an active member
of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
After a long career in Florida, Mr. Dowd retired to Anaconda,
Montana, in 1984. Mr. Dowd passed away in 2023 at the age of 99.
Mr. Speaker, I support this important piece of legislation and ask
that my colleagues do the same.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Montana (Mr. Rosendale).
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize, honor, and
remember the extraordinary life of an American hero, Charlie Dowd, who
truly embodied the Montana spirit of patriotism, courage, and hard
work.
Heroes like Charlie Dowd are what make America a beacon of hope here
and abroad.
Through his exemplary and selfless service to our great Nation during
the attack on Pearl Harbor, at just 17 years of age, and his continued
defense of our country in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea as a
member of the United States Navy, Charlie undoubtedly faced the horrors
of war and remained committed to defending our Nation despite
uncertainty and life-threatening challenges.
Even after serving, Charlie was an active member of the Pearl Harbor
Survivors Association where he continued to provide care for his fellow
veterans and was recognized as the last survivor of the Pearl Harbor
attack living in Montana.
Charlie's legacy deserves to be honored, admired, and preserved. By
establishing the new VA clinic in Butte to be named in his honor, we
can ensure that future generations of Montanans will remember the
Greatest Generation and Charlie's legacy.
Naming the facility that provides care for thousands of veterans
across the Treasure State in Charlie's honor would be a worthy accolade
for his bravery and service to our great Nation.
Charlie Dowd devoted his life to defending our freedoms, serving our
veterans, and strengthening Montana communities. By passing this
legislation today, the memory of him and his heroic acts of patriotism
will be truly memorialized.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Ranking Member Takano's support for this
legislation. I hope my colleagues will do the same.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I am always moved by poignant examples of
veterans who, once they take off their uniforms after valiant service,
still go on to serve our country and serve their communities.
Charlie Dowd is certainly an example of that, especially deserving of
the honor of having the community-based outpatient clinic at the
Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, named as the
``Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.''
Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 3285,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, as has been mentioned in previous
pieces of legislation, there is a reason why we name our facilities
after these men.
Charlie Dowd was an amazing person who stood up for this Nation and
truly pursued the American Dream and served the Nation almost 100 years
of his life.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support this legislation,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of S. 3285,
which would rename the VA community-based outpatient clinic in Butte.
Montana, as the `Charlie Dowd VA Clinic'. This bill is the Senate
companion to my bill, H.R. 7154.
[[Page H4650]]
Born in Rochester. New York. Charlie enlisted in the Navy while still
in high school. On one fateful morning at 17 years old he awoke to the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Rather than running for cover or
choosing self-preservation. Charlie chose to fight back and led a
counter-offensive on a nearby rooftop. Armed with only a rifle and
dressed only in his T-shirt and boxer shorts, he fired some of the
first shots against the Japanese on that day which ended up claiming
the lives of 2,403 American servicemembers, 14 of which were Montanans.
Charlie Dowd went on to become a high school teacher where he taught
the next generations of great Americans to become patriots who were
inspired by his acts of courage and selfless service.
An avid sportsman, Charlie moved to Anaconda, Montana and continued
his active membership in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
While in Montana, Charlie leaned into his passion as a sportsman by
spending time hunting, fishing, and writing a weekly column named 'The
Wild Side' which became a staple for the Anaconda Deer Lodge community
as well as Western Montana as a whole.
I remember visiting with him over the years and even 70 years after
Pearl Harbor. at 99 years old, he could still tap the messages he sent
as a radioman in Morse code.
Charlie was one of the last living survivors of the attack on Pearl
Harbor, a Montana legend, and a true American hero. By renaming this
clinic in his honor, we pay tribute to his legacy and ensure that
future generations of veterans receive the care they deserve.
Let us pass this bill with unanimous consent, demonstrating our
unwavering support for our veterans, their families, and the memory of
Charlie Dowd.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Meuser). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 3285.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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