[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20225]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING JOYCE I. MARTRATT ON 50 YEARS OF CIVILIAN 
                    SERVICE WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2015

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate 
Mrs. Joyce I. Martratt on her 50 years of civilian service with the 
United States Air Force. Joyce has served in numerous capacities with 
the Air Force on Guam, and she has dedicated much of her professional 
life to furthering its mission and providing critical support to our 
Airmen.
  Joyce was born to Jesus San Nicolas and Rosario Castro Camacho of 
Hagatna on August 28, 1939. She is the eldest of five children and 
endured the atrocities of war during the occupation of Guam during 
World War II. As a survivor of the war, she and her family relocated to 
the village of Mongmong, where they settled and began to rebuild their 
lives and homes. In 1955, Joyce was adopted by her Aunt Maria and Uncle 
Peling Castro in order for her to further her education as they moved 
to Washington, D.C. before resettling in San Francisco in 1956. She 
attended Oakland Community College while working for the Gallop Poll. 
She then moved back to Guam to attend the University of Guam. While at 
the University of Guam, she met her late-husband Herbert Sablan Leddy, 
and together they started a family. In 1984, Herbert passed away and 
Joyce later remarried Charlie Martratt.
  Joyce began working at the Andersen Air Force Base in 1965. She was 
first hired for a temporary job at the Civilian Personnel Office as a 
clerk typist. She went on to work as a secretary and clerk-stenographer 
and continued to progress professionally. She served in several 
capacities, including work for the commander of the 43d Combat Support 
Group, Vice Commander of HQ Eighth Air Force, command of the 3rd Air 
Division, and the 43rd Bombardment Wing (Hvy) (SAC), the 633d Air Base 
Wing (PACAF), and the 13th Air Force (PACAF). Joyce worked with the 
13th Air Force until the headquarters moved to Hickam in 2005. After 
the move, Joyce transferred to the 36th Air Base Wing Commander, where 
she is currently employed.
  During her 50 years of service, Joyce was privileged to be involved 
in many historic events and assisted and coordinated the visits of 
distinguished guests to the island. She supported efforts after the 
fall of Saigon during the Vietnam War when the people of Guam and the 
U.S. Air Force provided humanitarian aid to over 111,000 Vietnamese 
refugees who were temporarily housed on Guam during Operation New Life. 
She has also supported numerous U.S. Air Force missions, including the 
evacuation of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his 
family from the Philippines in 1986, and care for 6,600 Kurdish 
refugees who were brought to Guam as part of Joint Task Force Operation 
Pacific Haven in 1996. For several years, Joyce wrote a column about 
the local culture for the AAFB newspaper called ``Ask Joyce.''
  Joyce has been a hallmark of Andersen Air Force Base and our 
community in Guam. She has always been a dedicated worker who puts her 
whole heart into what she does. Joyce is a true professional and her 
knowledge and background has helped the constant rotation of Commanders 
better understand the challenges and opportunities at Andersen Air 
Force Base. Her institutional knowledge is so critical to the entire 
team at Andersen Air Force Base. Additionally, Joyce is heavily 
involved in her parish of San Isidro as the director of faith formation 
and as a catechist. She serves in the community whenever called upon 
and is dedicated to her family.
  I join the United States Air Force and the people of Guam in thanking 
Joyce I. Martratt for her 50 years of service to our nation, our 
island, and our Airmen in the U.S. Air Force. She represents the very 
best of our civilian workforce and is symbolic of the great patriotism 
that exists on Guam. I commend her for her outstanding career and 
tireless work in all that she has accomplished. Thank you (Si Yu'os 
Ma'ase), Joyce.

                          ____________________