Senate honors highest-ranking military officer from CNMI

The Senate last week honored U.S. Army Col. Harry Camacho Blanco with a commemorative resolution that applauded him for becoming the highest ranking U.S. military official from the CNMI.

Members of the Senate and family of U.S. Army Col. Harry Camacho Blanco, center, pose for a photo after 33-year veteran received a commemorative resolution last Friday from the upper chamber for being the highest ranking military officer from the CNMI. (Mark Rabago)

“The Senate of the 18th CNMI Legislature extends its heartfelt appreciation and support to Colonel Harry Camacho Blanco for his outstanding military and civic achievements …and expresses its pride, appreciation, recognition for his lifetime achievements as a civilian professional and an esteemed commissioner officer in he U.S. Army,” the resolution read.

Blanco received an early commission as officer in 1984 and was assigned to Echo Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, U.S. Army Reserve Component of Guam.

That started a very decorated career in the military that reached its peak with his promotion as colonel. After 33 ½ years, Blanco retired from the U.S. Army last June and returned home to his native Saipan.

In an interview with media following the event at the Senate, Blanco said the presentation was supposed to happen a year ago when he was promoted to colonel.

“The date that I was supposed to get this resolution was the day I got my promotion from lieutenant colonel to colonel. It feels great to be honored not only by the Senate and the House but also the entire community here,” he said.

Blanco said it was always been a childhood dream of his to become a soldier.

“From the village of Chalan Kanoa, District 1 growing up as a kid I always wanted to become a member of the military, the army particularly. It’s always been a dream and I fulfilled the dream in joining the military. And when I became a member of the U.S. Army I tried to fulfill more goals and I became an officer. When I became an officer I pursued step-by-step up the ranks to become where I am right now.”

He added that the CNMI is always a good source of recruits for the military and that he is encouraging the young people of the islands to enlist.

“I’ve been taking to kids around here and try to mentor them a little bit. I encourage them to go to school and become an officer. It’s always a dream from people from here and we have a lot of capable kids from here that can go to school and kill two birds with one stone—be a commissioned officer and get their degree,” said the alumnus of the University of Guam.

Blanco said being in the military for more than 30 years he always made it a point to tell everyone he knows where he came from in an effort to somehow put the CNMI in the map.

“I always make my peers aware where I come from. We’re part of the American family but a lot of them don’t know where Saipan is or where the Northern Marianas is. That’s always what I try to do and let them know where I come from and I’m from Saipan.”
Blanco said now that he’s back home with family and friends he’s trying to figure things out on what the best way to contribute to the community.