[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 9 (Monday, January 23, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E56]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF RETIRED SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE RAMON V. 
                                  DIAZ

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 23, 2012

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service 
of retired Superior Court of Guam Judge, Ramon Valero Diaz. Judge Diaz 
passed away on January 15, 2012 at the age of 93.
  Judge Diaz was born on October 13, 1918 in Manila, Philippines and is 
the son of Dr. Vicente Lozada Diaz and Bibiana Valero Diaz. He came to 
Guam in 1951 to work and make a living for his family. In 1956, he was 
admitted to the Guam Bar Association, and in 1958, became a naturalized 
U.S. citizen.
  In 1980, Judge Diaz became the first person of Filipino descent to be 
appointed as a judge for the Superior Court of Guam. After 15 years of 
government service, he retired as a family court judge.
  Judge Diaz graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, 
Philippines. In 1941, in the wake of World War II, he was commissioned 
as an officer in the Philippine Army and was soon inducted into the 
United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) as an infantry line 
officer. On April 9, 1942, he was captured by Japanese Forces in the 
province of Bataan, Philippines, and was held as a prisoner of war in 
the Capas Concentration Camp. Later that year he was released as a POW 
and resumed his military duties shortly thereafter. In 1945, he 
completed studies from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General School for 
commissioned officers at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Upon his 
return from JAG school, he assumed the role of Chief of Claims Branch 
under JAG, Philippine Army, where he was responsible for the 
adjudication of all types of war claims in favor of heirs.
  In 1951, Judge Diaz retired from the Philippine Army as Captain. 
Throughout his distinguished military career, he received various 
awards, including the United States and Philippine Presidential Unit 
Citation and the Philippine Presidential Military Merit Medal.
  Judge Diaz was involved in many community organizations throughout 
his life. He was among the first ordained permanent deacons in the 
Archdiocese of Agana and was instrumental in organizing the Knights of 
Columbus, Guam Council and Assembly. Further, he was a founding member 
of the Catholic Social Services, and was active in the establishment of 
St. Dominic's senior care home and the Dominican Catholic schools on 
Guam.
  Judge Diaz was also heavily involved in the founding of the Filipino 
Community of Guam, where he served as President. He also helped 
establish the Marianas Audubon Society, the UST Alumni Association of 
Guam, and the Chapter of Bataan-Corregidor Veterans on Guam.
  Judge Diaz was married to Josefina de la Concepcion for 66 years and 
together they raised 10 children: Marilu Martinez, Carl Diaz 
(deceased), Mariles Benavente, Marilen Artero, Maribel Chandler, 
Mariann Carr, Maricar Davis, Tony Diaz, Vicente Diaz, and Ramon Diaz 
Jr., and have been blessed with 19 grandchildren and 13 great 
grandchildren.
  I join our community in mourning the loss of Judge Ramon Diaz. His 
contributions to the Guam Judiciary and our community will be 
remembered by the many citizens he helped throughout his life. We 
extend heartfelt condolences to his many family, friends, and loved 
ones.
  God bless Judge Diaz. He will be missed.

                          ____________________