[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES AND SACRIFICES MADE BY THE VETERANS OF THE 
              TERRITORY OF GUAM AND U.S. PACIFIC ISLANDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 1997

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on a recent press release, the Vietnam 
Veterans of America claimed that their Eighth National Convention held 
last August was an ``historic occasion.'' I could not help but fully 
agree with this claim. Aside from the record attendance and the 
presence of Vice-President Al Gore, this convention saw the first ever 
representation of Guam's veterans.
  Frank San Nicolas, the president of Guam chapter 668 of the Vietnam 
Veterans of America, is one of Guam's outstanding Vietnam veterans. 
Frank has been active with the association on Guam and he took part in 
the convention to emphasize the role of Guam and its veterans and to 
focus attention on the problems currently encountered by veterans from 
Guam. Among the resolutions and constitutional changes adopted at the 
convention to outline organization's agenda for the next 2 years, one 
honoring the veterans of Guam was approved. I would like to submit a 
copy of this resolution for the Congressional Record:

Recognition of the Services and Sacrifices Made by the Veterans of the 
              Territory of Guam and U.S. Pacific Islanders


                      Vietnam Veterans of America

                       Eighth National Convention

                       Minority Affairs Committee

                                MA-8-97

                                 Issues

       According to the March 1993 issue of VFW magazine, 58.9 of 
     every 100,000 males was the national average state death rate 
     during the Vietnam War; West Virginia had the highest state 
     death rate--84.1 for every 100,000 males. According to the 
     1970 U.S. Census of Guam there were 47,362 males on the 
     island of Guam. 71 sons of Guam died in the Vietnam War. 71 
     out of 47,362 is a ratio of 74.9 per 50,000 or 149.8 per 
     100,000.

                               Background

       There are currently 8,037 veterans of Guam who have proudly 
     and honorably served in the Armed Forces of the United States 
     of America in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, 
     and the Persian Gulf War. The programs and services available 
     to the veterans of Guam are severely limited in comparison to 
     their comrades in the U.S. mainland as it is 3,500 miles to 
     the nearest fully staffed VA Outpatient Clinic and over 7,000 
     miles to the nearest U.S. VA medical center. 3,142 Vietnam 
     veterans reside on the island of Guam and 71 sons of Guam 
     died in the Vietnam War, an equivalent ratio of 149.8 per 
     100,000 males, a proportion higher than any other State or 
     Territory.
       The island of Guam, ``Where America's Day Begins,'' is also 
     the first American soil reached by the repatriated remains of 
     POW/MIA's on their journey back from Vietnam and appropriate 
     ceremonies mark each occasion.

                                Position

       Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., at the national 
     convention in Kansas City, Missouri, August 5-10, 1997, 
     recognizes the contributions made by the veterans of Guam; 
     and commends and salutes the Vietnam veterans of Guam for 
     their courageous and gallant contributions to the United 
     States of America during the Vietnam War. Furthermore, VVA 
     strongly supports the improvement of veterans benefits and 
     healthcare provided to veterans of Guam and other U.S. 
     Pacific Islanders.

     

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