[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 115 (Thursday, July 28, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H5726-H5727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JOHN PANGELINAN GERBER POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1843) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 489 Army Drive in Barrigada, Guam, as the ``John
Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1843
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. JOHN PANGELINAN GERBER POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 489 Army Drive in Barrigada, Guam, shall
be known and designated as the ``John Pangelinan Gerber Post
Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. LANKFORD. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. LANKFORD. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1843, introduced by the gentlelady from Guam (Ms.
Bordallo), would designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 489 Army Drive in Barrigada, Guam, as the ``John
Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building.'' The bill was introduced on
May 11, and was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform on June 22--and I look forward to hearing the gentlelady say the
name correctly.
Sergeant John Gerber was born on May 31, 1951, in Ordot, Guam. He was
not only known for serving in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam war,
but also for his hospitality and assistance towards his fellow marines
in later years. During Operation Desert Storm, Sergeant Gerber assisted
our troops by offering to host any individual or group associated with
the 3rd Marine Division who was en route to the Middle East. His offer
was accepted by many marines, and over time, nearly 20,000 marines had
visited him.
Later in life, Sergeant Gerber led a campaign to rename Route 1 in
Guam from ``Marine Drive'' to ``Marine Corps Drive'' to recognize the
1,548 marines who had lost their lives and the 6,000 marines who were
wounded during the Liberation of Guam. In 2008, he established the
Pacific War Museum on Guam to display World War II memorabilia and
educate the public on the War in the Pacific.
As a result of his dedication in educating citizens on Marine Corps
history, Sergeant Gerber was the 2011 recipient of the Colonel John H.
Magruder Award. Sadly, he received the award following his death in
2010 at just 58 years old. He is survived by his wife, Mel, and his
four children.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. It is my pleasure now to yield such time as
she may consume to the author of this measure, the delegate from Guam
(Ms. Bordallo).
Ms. BORDALLO. I thank the chairman and the ranking member.
I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1843, a bill that
honors the life and the service of John Vincent Pangelinan Gerber. This
bill would rename the ``Guam Main Post Office Facility'' to be the
``John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building'' as a tribute to his
tireless work of advocating for veterans on Guam and for educating the
public of Guam's importance during World War II and of the role of the
United States Marine Corps in liberating our island. John, himself a
proud marine and lifetime resident of the village of Ordot, Guam, died
on May 4, 2010, at the age of 58.
John was a patriotic American who took pride in his island and his
Chamorro heritage. After graduating from high school, he quickly
enlisted in the Marine Corps and completed basic training at the Marine
Corps Depot in San Diego. He was subsequently deployed to Vietnam where
he served with the Fleet Logistics Command in support of the 1st and
3rd Marine Divisions. When he completed his tour in Vietnam, John was
assigned to the Bravo Company at Marine Barracks Guam, where he
remained until he was honorably discharged as a corporal on June 3,
1975.
Following his service in the Marine Corps, John worked as a radio
disc jockey. His show, ``Wireless Rock,'' was the most popular of its
time on Guam. He opened the Wireless Rock Music Box, a record store in
Guam's capital city of Hagatna, and later established a charter boat
tour company. He led tourists through the island's best fishing and
dive spots, making him one of the pioneers of what is now recognized as
``culture-based eco-tourism'' on Guam. John then attended the
University of Guam where he received a degree in public administration.
The marines, however, were never, ever far from his mind.
In 1992, John joined the Guam Chapter of the 3rd Marine Division
Association, and devoted his time to helping his fellow marines and
veterans. He strove to promote and preserve the story of the 3rd Marine
Division to memorialize its role in the War in the Pacific and
particularly with regard to the Liberation of Guam during World War II.
John extended this generosity to active duty marines and
servicemembers who visited Guam on temporary duty or other deployments.
With help from the Guam Chamber of Commerce's Armed Services Committee
and other veteran organizations on the island, John hosted numerous
fiestas at his home in Ordot, welcoming more than 20,000 marines,
sailors, soldiers, airmen, and guests to partake in the Chamorro
culture and hospitality.
His home, which became known as Gerber's Ranch, contained his
collection of World War II vehicles, weapons, uniforms, and artifacts.
These items would later be transferred to the Pacific War Museum, which
John established to educate the public about the Marine Corps' role in
the Liberation of Guam. John opened the museum to the public on July
21, 2008, for the 64th anniversary of the Liberation of Guam.
In 2004, John led the effort to rename Guam's main thoroughfare,
Route 1, from ``Marine Drive'' to ``Marine Corps Drive'' in order to
ensure that the sacrifices of the marines who liberated
[[Page H5727]]
Guam are never forgotten. He saw this opportunity to honor the 1,548
marines who lost their lives and the 6,000 marines who were wounded
during the Liberation of Guam from enemy forces during World War II.
The defining moment in this effort came when he pulled a handcart with
a billboard--demanding action--the entire 27 miles from Andersen Air
Force Base to Naval Base Guam. In doing so, he rallied support for his
issue and spurred many Guam residents to advocate for recognizing those
who fought and died for Guam.
{time} 1830
On the day after his march, Route 1 was officially named Marine Corps
Drive.
A year after this victory in 2005, the Department of Defense
announced that the marines from the 3rd Expeditionary Force would be
relocating from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam. So John, along with many
others on Guam, viewed this relocation as a homecoming, and he was the
first to defend the Marine Corps and the strategic importance of this
realignment.
Although John will not be able to greet these marines as he had done
for so many servicemembers who had visited Guam, his legacy will
continue through his work with our community and in the Pacific War
Museum.
These efforts were recognized this year when the Marine Corps
Heritage Foundation bestowed on John the Colonel John H. Magruder Award
for his excellence in depicting and perpetuating Marine Corps history.
Mr. Speaker, John Gerber was an extraordinary man whose greatest
dream was to ensure that our veterans, those who made the greatest
sacrifices for our country, would not be forgotten. Renaming the Guam
main post office facility will serve as a permanent tribute to his
legacy. I urge my colleagues to cast their vote to support this bill.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I want to thank the gentlelady for her
introduction of this measure. I urge its passage.
I yield back the balance of our time.
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I join the others that have already stood
before you to support the passage of H.R. 1843, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1843.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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