[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 144 (Tuesday, September 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5243-H5244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING AND HONORING SERGEANT MAJOR JUAN OGO BLAZ, A PROUD SON OF 
                                  GUAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Guam 
(Mr. Moylan) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor Sergeant Major 
Juan Ogo Blaz, a proud son of Guam who sadly passed away on September 
3, 2024.
  Sergeant Major Blaz served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Vietnam 
where he experienced intense combat and served gallantly. During a 1969 
incident, Sergeant Major Blaz' platoon came under attack, instantly 
incapacitating the platoon leader. Sergeant Major Blaz took immediate 
command of his unit and moved to drag other wounded men into positions 
of safety.
  While evacuating the wounded, Sergeant Major Blaz himself was injured 
in his right shoulder but refused medevac at that moment. The platoon 
continued receiving fire from enemy bunkers, and when close air support 
arrived, they struggled to place rockets on target. Despite his 
injuries, Sergeant Major Blaz made a series of solo charges at enemy 
positions marking them with smoke for attack by aircraft. Only once 
these enemy positions were neutralized did Sergeant Major Blaz accept 
medical care.
  Based on these actions, Sergeant Major Juan Ogo Blaz has earned 
himself a place among the pantheon of Guam's heroes. His life and 
military career stand as an example of patriotism and the people of 
Guam will always be proud of his legacy. Although in his

[[Page H5244]]

life Sergeant Major Blaz was only awarded the Distinguished Service 
Cross for his actions in Vietnam. As honorable as this distinction 
holds, many would agree that his acts of valor mirrored those 
throughout the Nation who were recognized with the Congressional Medal 
of Honor, the highest of honors bestowed to military heroes.
  Since the start of my term, I have prioritized ensuring that Sergeant 
Major Blaz and two other Guam heroes, who also qualify for the 
Congressional Medal of Honor for their acts of heroism from the Vietnam 
conflict, are indeed recognized so that a chapter spanning nearly six 
decades would finally be close to a conclusion.


            Honoring Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients

  Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, and I am happy to share that 
earlier this year an amendment I was able to offer was successfully 
included in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which would 
award the Congressional Medal of Honor to Sergeant Major Juan Ogo Blaz, 
Army Command Sergeant Martin Manglona, and the late Army Specialist 
Joseph Perez. I was even more humbled when I saw the joy in the eyes of 
Sergeant Major Blaz when I shared the news in person and advised that 
we are almost there.
  Sadly, the Sergeant Major passed away, and while he may not be here 
with us to accept his much-deserved Congressional Medal of Honor, if 
language remains in the final version of the NDAA, he will be here in 
spirit. More importantly, he will be smiling down on the island and 
Nation which he proudly and faithfully served.
  I am committed to getting this job done.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that in these historic Halls, I would like to take 
this time to ask for a moment of silence to honor the late Sergeant 
Major Juan Ogo Blaz, a man of family, faith, patriotism, and a true 
hero of this Nation.
  May he rest in peace.

                          ____________________