Charlie Dowd Va Clinic

Floor Speech

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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.

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.

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