Pearl Harbor Vet Honored in Butte, Charlie Dowd VA Clinic

In case you missed it, a Pearl Harbor veteran from Anaconda was honored in Butte with the naming of the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic.

Montana's US Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT) were both on hand for the ceremony leading into the Memorial Day weekend.

Charlie Dowd passed away in March 2023 and was Montana’s last survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Rep. Zinke: “Today was a deeply meaningful day as we renamed the Butte VA Clinic in honor of Radioman Charlie Dowd, a Pearl Harbor and WWII hero, and truly incredible American who dedicated his life after the Navy to serving Montana...I had the privilege of visiting with Charlie many times over the years, and I’ll never forget listening to him share stories from Pearl Harbor and the South Pacific. Even at 99, he could still fit into his uniform and tap out Morse code like he did in the service. The 'Charlie Dowd Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic’ will serve as a lasting reminder of Devil Dog Dowd’s legacy of bravery and lifelong commitment to his country, his fellow veterans, and his community.”

Senator Daines, in his official prepared remarks at the ceremony, says he was proud to champion the bill in the Senate to rename Butte’s VA facility in Dowd's honor. 

Senator Daines (R-MT): "Charlie joins the likes of Montana war heroes Doolittle Raider David Thatcher, Bataan Death March Survivor Ben Steele, Tribal War Chief of the Crow Nation Dr. Joe Medicine Crow, and Medal of Honor Recipient Travis Atkins. What do these men have in common?  They epitomize the Montana spirit of service, courage, and selfless sacrifice."

According to a press release from Congressman Zinke's office, Dowd was the recipient of seven Bronze Star Medals. After his military service, "Dowd became a respected member of the Anaconda, Montana, community. He was known for his advocacy on behalf of fellow veterans, his dedication to preserving the memory of the events of World War II, and his active membership in the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Charlie loved speaking to civic groups and museums across Montana. He was also an avid sportsman and served as an outdoor writer for the Anaconda Leader newspaper."