[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 3586] [From the U.S. 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. 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. ____________________