Charlie Dowd Va Clinic
Floor Speech
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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 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.
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Mr. BOST. 3285.
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.
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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.
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