The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the June 2021 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Radioman 2nd Class David Downey. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Radioman 2nd Class David Downey at the Tin Can  Sailors Association of New Jersey DESRON 2 - Phoenix Squadron in the Spring of 2019.

On July 6th, 1959, David Downey embarked upon a new chapter in his life by joining the United States Navy Reserve. He shared, "you signed up as a reservist, were given your basic military requirements, you learned at the training center the skills you could learn in a classroom. The things that couldn’t be taught in the classroom such as the range, swimming, firefighting. Once you put it all together you got your basic military requirements completed." Upon completion of his basic training at Great Lakes, he decided to go onto active duty and was ordered to the Brooklyn receiving station. After two weeks he was assigned to the USS Glennon DD 840. He remembered the moment his eyes met his new ship as if it was yesterday. Downey shared, "there was 13 of us that came to Newport Rhode Island...the bus let us off at pier 1 and 2. It was a foggy February, misty night...walking down the pier, there were nests of destroyers...when we saw the number 840, I said this is it, this will be home for the next 2 years.

Downey began his service on the USS Glennon on the deck force but aspired to pursue an interest in the Communications Department. His interest in radios became known and the Chief of the Radio Shack offered a challenge. If Downey learned the communications manual, he would be sent to Radio School. He quickly accepted and met the challenge and was soon on his way to 12 intense weeks of Radio School. Upon graduating, he returned to the USS Glennon to serve in his new role in the Communications Department.

The Glennon was assigned to Destroyer Development Group 2 which was responsible for testing new technologies to enhance ship performance and effectiveness. Downey shared the tests included everything from new paint, to sonar, and more.

Downey served during key moments of the Space Race, he spoke of the excitement of the Mercury Space Program and efforts to support John Glenn. He shared, "In the Radio Shack, I was pretty much aware of what was going on between the navigation and communications with Cape Canaveral." As part of the recovery force, Downey shared the messages received in celebration of a successful mission which were posted and read aloud to the entire crew. Downey served with distinction until his honorable discharge in 1965 and continued to serve in his community in Law Enforcement and now with the New Jersey DESRON 2 - Phoenix Squadron.

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The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Radioman 2nd Class David Downey, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.