[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 83 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E897-E898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING COLONEL DIRON J. CRUZ ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE GUAM ARMY 
                             NATIONAL GUARD

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 30, 2014

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize COL Diron J. 
Cruz on his retirement from the Guam Army National Guard. COL Cruz is 
the second son of Antonio Babauta Cruz and Guadalupe Santiago Cruz of 
Malesso, Guam. He was born in Tamuning, Guam and graduated from Father 
Duenas Memorial School in 1980. COL Cruz is the father of two 
daughters, Lenika and Nozomi.

[[Page E898]]

   COL Cruz earned his commission in the United States Army as a second 
lieutenant of Field Artillery from the University of Guam ROTC Program 
in 1984. In addition to his Bachelor of Arts in Business Management 
from the University of Guam, COL Cruz also holds a Master of Arts in 
Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. In 
1985, COL Cruz completed the Field Artillery Officers Basic at Ft. 
Sill, Oklahoma and then advanced courses in 1988.
   As a newly commissioned officer, his first assignments included 
battalion ammunition officer, service battery executive officer, 
howitzer platoon leader and nuclear weapons officer with 1st Battalion, 
36th Field Artillery in Augsburg, Germany from 1985 to 1988. He then 
served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from 1989 to 
1993. During his time in the 101st Airborne Division, COL Cruz's duties 
included targeting officer for 3rd Brigade, battalion fire support 
officer, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry during Operations Desert Shield 
and Desert Storm, and commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 
division Artillery. He then served his last regular Army assignment as 
Operations Advisor to the 479th Field Artillery Brigade in Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania from 1993 to 1994.
   In 1994, COL Cruz left the Army and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and 
worked as a territory sales manager for International Paper Co. until 
March 1996. He then returned to Guam and worked as general manager of 
Guam Freight Forwarders and then as operations manager for Flowco Sales 
and Service Co.
   In 1999, COL Cruz joined the Guam Army National Guard and began 
serving as operations officer of 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry and Guam 
National Guard training officer and domestic operations officer. He 
then served in different positions in both Hawaii and Virginia from 
2001 to 2008. COL Cruz has served as the chief of staff of the Guam 
Army National Guam since his return in 2008.
   COL Cruz was a respected leader in the Guam National Guard. As Chief 
of Staff, he undertook efforts to ensure the continued 
professionalization of enlisted and officers in the Guam National 
Guard. Further, he worked to ensure that staff collaborated as a truly 
Joint staff to push forward critical initiatives like a flying mission 
for the Guam Air National Guard; protection of critical force structure 
to support the rebalance and establishment of a light utility 
helicopter flying mission on Guam.
   On behalf of the people of Guam, I commend COL Cruz for his service 
to Guam and the United States. I further congratulate and offer my 
sincerest appreciation to him on his retirement.