| − | Downer joined the United States Army Reserve as an enlisted man in 1968. He obtained a commission in 1971 as a second lieutenant in the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]]. He then joined the Louisiana National Guard as a first lieutenant of the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps]]. In time, Downer became a [[lieutenant colonel]], brigadier general, and a major general. | + | Downer joined the United States Army Reserve as an enlisted man in 1968. He obtained a commission in 1971 as a second lieutenant in the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]]. He then joined the Louisiana National Guard as a first lieutenant of the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps]]. In time, Downer became a [[lieutenant colonel]], brigadier general, and a major general.<ref name=pvs/> |
| − | He served in [[Operation Desert Storm]] from October 1990 to May 1991. Downer has won more than a dozen military awards, including the [[Bronze Star]], the Legion of Merit, and the [[Kuwait]] Liberation Medal.<ref name="ng"/> | + | He served in [[Operation Desert Storm]] from October 1990 to May 1991. Downer has won more than a dozen military awards, including the [[Bronze Star]], the Legion of Merit, and the [[Kuwait]] Liberation Medal.<ref name=pvs/> |