[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E328-E329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATIONS TO MASTER SERGEANT GOGUE
______
HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD
of guam
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 3, 1999
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, as I was visiting military facilities in
Okinawa a couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of crossing paths
with a former student, Arnold Gogue. Years ago, as an administrator at
George Washington Senior High School in Guam, I had been acquainted
with Arnold's amazing ability to get himself in trouble. This kid was a
school teacher's nightmare--a major problem.
Although I could use up all this time to recount anecdotes which I am
sure Arnold would rather not discuss, I have decided to talk of how he
has made me real proud of his achievements.
[[Page E329]]
After high school, Arnold enlisted with the United States Marine
Corps. He reported as a private on May 31, 1977 to the Marine Corps
Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, and completed Recruit Training in
August of that year. He later received technical training at Camp
Lejuene, North Carolina Court House Bay for MOS 1371 Combat Engineer
School.
Upon completion of the basic course on November 8, 1977, Arnold was
transferred overseas and was assigned to Charlie Company 3rd Combat
Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan. Promoted to
the rank of Private First Class on December 1, 1977 and assigned
temporary additional duty with 3rd Battalion 4th Marines as a Combat
Engineer, Arnold was then deployed on Operation Quick Jab to Tinian and
Saipan.
On March 2, 1978, he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
Assigned temporary additional duty to 2nd Battalion 4th Marines, he was
deployed to Pohang, South Korea. He attended Mountain Warfare School in
the Republic of Korea and was selected Marine of the quarter.
Arnold was promoted to the rank of Corporal on July 2, 1978. He was
later transferred to Charlie Company, 8th Engineer support battalion,
Camp Lejeune, NC, and assigned as 1st Platoon Sergeant. He was assigned
temporary additional duty on April 6 to July 11, 1979 to attend
Journeyman's Combat Engineer course at Court House Bay, Camp Lejeune,
North Carolina. He was then selected as Marine NCO of the Quarter.
Promoted to the rank of Sergeant on December 1, 1979, Arnold
reenlisted and made a lateral move to MOS 2111. He was assigned
temporary additional duty on February 28 to April 1, 1980 to attend the
Basic Small Arms repair course. Afterwards, he was transferred to
Marine Barracks, Guam on June 1980 as a Small Arms Repairman.
On July 22, 1982, he was transferred to Headquarter's Battery, 2nd
Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, and served as the NCOIC.
He was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant on July 1, 1983 and
assigned as the Ordnance Chief. While in this capacity, he was deployed
on two different occasions to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for regimental
exercises.
He was then transferred to the 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Force
Service Support Group on September 17, 1984 and assigned as Quality
Control Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge. He was given
temporary additional duty on January 24 to May 30, 1985 to Brigade
Service Support Group-9, Operation Team Spirit and, once again deployed
to Pohang, Korea--this time as the Maintenance Chief.
On October 6, 1985, Arnold served as an Instructor at the USMC Admin
Detachment, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. He attended the
Instructor Training course and attained the level of Senior Instructor.
He was then transferred to the 2rd battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine
Division on May, 1988, as the Ordnance Chief, and later moved to Bravo
Company, Marine Corps Logistic Base, Albany, GA on July 26, 1989 as a
Quality Control Inspector and Reserve Technical Assist Team.
Promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant on Aug. 1, 1991, he was
transferred to the Ordnance Maintenance Company, Brigade Service
Support Group-1 Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, HI on Feb. 17,
1992 as the Ordnance Chief. He was assigned temporary additional duty
on September 5 to October 17, 1994 to attend the Ordnance Chief Course
at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He was then transferred to the 3rd
Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group-1 on November
28, 1994 as Infantry weapons repair shop chief. On May, 1995 he was
reassigned to the Maintenance Management Section and on November, 1996
assigned again as the Infantry weapons repair shop chief.
Arnold was promoted to his present rank of Master Sergeant on June 1,
1997. He served as the OIC (Officer in Charge) for the Infantry Weapons
Repair shop. On May, 1998 he was assigned to Ordnance Company as
Ordnance Chief and on November, 1998 reassigned back to the Infantry
weapons shop and OIC.
During his service with the Marine Corps, Arnold was awarded the
Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), the Marine Corps Commendation medal,
and the Marine Corps Achievement medal.
Wherever they happened to be stationed Master Sergeant Gogue and his
wife, Rita, have always promoted island culture. They coordinated
Liberation day festivities, promotion and farewell parties,
christenings, and novenas. The Gogues opened their homes, shared their
hospitality and welcomed families in the traditional Chamorro fashion.
Master Sergeant Gogue is slated to retire from the United States
Marine Corps this month. Although Arnold's well-earned break would be a
loss to the military community in Okinawa, his eventual return to the
island of Guam would be most welcome. I am sure that, as a resident of
Sinajana, he would be most active and productive.
I have always considered myself an educator--holding the teaching
profession with high regard. It is ironic that after working within the
Guam school system and the University of Guam for over 20 years in what
I consider a most honorable profession, I never earned the title
``Honorable Robert Underwood'' until I was elected to public office.
However, I am sure my colleagues in the teaching profession will agree
that the true measure of honor in our chosen field would be the
accomplishments of our students.
Students, like Arnold Gogue, have, over the years, made me proud to
have been a teacher. I commend him for his achievements and
congratulate him on his retirement. On behalf of the people of Guam and
the many families that he and his wife have assisted while in the
Marine Corps, I convey my appreciation for their share in promoting
Chamorro culture and values. Si Yu'os Ma'ase' Arnold and Rita.
____________________