[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 64 (Monday, April 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REMEMBERING JOHN HENRY CASHWELL III

 Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I wish to take a few minutes to 
remember and celebrate the life of John Henry Cashwell III, one of my 
oldest friends and a great friend to Maine.
  John passed away on November 24, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of 
love for his family, for our country, for the communities where he 
lived and served, and also for our great forests.
  All who knew John will remember him for his thick New England accent, 
his unyielding candor, his brilliant and at times irreverent sense of 
humor, and a warmth of heart that made him an instant friend to all, 
especially the disadvantaged and those in need of a little extra 
encouragement and confidence.
  John loved his daughters Morgan and Mollie, and he raised them as the 
proverbial ``acorns that didn't fall far from the tree.'' Each is a 
strong, virtuous, and independent-minded woman who is not afraid to do 
hard things and to put their shoulders to worthy causes. I know this 
firsthand because Morgan served as my legislative director and helped 
me through some tough moments, most especially the ``Christmas 
Miracle'' that saved our lobster industry from death by regulation 
several years ago.
  He loved his grandchildren and made sure they knew it. As a father 
and grandfather, he instilled in his family laughter, belonging, and 
the belief that they could do anything they put their mind to.
  John was a devoted husband to his wife of 42 years, Julie Norton. 
John demonstrated his determination and unique power of persuasion by 
asking his future father-in-law for Julie's hand while taking him on a 
helicopter ride. Looking out the window at 1,500 feet, Julie's father 
felt that a positive response to John's request was prudent. John and 
Julie made their first home in Calais, ME, in a house they built in a 
blueberry field and where their daughters were born. John and Julie 
were devoted to each other and their daughters and filled their home 
life with adventure, friends, and a respect and awe for the wonders of 
nature.
  John was a patriot to his country. He served as an Army helicopter 
pilot during two tours of Vietnam delivering provisions and ammunition 
wherever they were needed, evacuating wounded soldiers, and eventually 
commanding the air as a gunship pilot with the call sign ``Stingray 
56.'' John's service was fearless and heroic. He courageously logged 
1,800 combat hours in his second tour of duty, earning him two silver 
stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Army Soldier's Medal, a 
Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal, 44 Air Medals, a 
Purple Heart, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. John was and will always 
be remembered with gratitude by the many who owe their lives and 
posterity to him.
  John was a civil servant who cared for the people and places in which 
he lived. He served on the city council and eventually mayor of Calais, 
where he worked tirelessly to improve the quality of the community and 
quality of life of its citizens. John befriended those he served and 
made them lifelong friends. After moving to Bangor, John became a 
member of the city council and soon chaired that council, where he 
helped make performing arts, entertainment, and the Bangor waterfront 
more vibrant and available to all.
  To those who knew him professionally, John was always the champion of 
the forest. John received his forestry degree in 1979 and used it for 
the ensuing 46 years to steward the forests of Maine. Using his 
piloting skills, John fought fire, fertilized trees, protected forest 
health, restocked rivers with salmon, and ensured our forests were 
managed sustainably for future generations. John served as director of 
the Maine Forest Service, where he led the drafting and passage of the 
Maine Forest Practices Act and modernized the State's fire control air 
fleet. He later led the Seven Island Lands Company and BBC Land, LLC. 
One of John's forest legacies was helping the Pingree family and New 
England Forestry Foundation create the largest conservation easement in 
the country. John's leadership in forestry earned him the prestigious 
Albert D. Nutting Award from the Maine Forest Products Council, 
recognizing his many contributions to sustainable forest management and 
environmental stewardship,
  John leaves behind a legacy that will bless the citizens of Maine for 
generations. He always said that ``he was what he was.'' To those who 
knew him best, he was a ``hero's hero.'' We honor that heroism today as 
we pay tribute to John for a life lived well in the service of his 
family, our Nation, and the friends, communities, and forests he 
loved.

                          ____________________