US House passes bill to rename Barrigada Post Office in honor of John Gerber

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1843, a bill to designate the Guam Main Facility (GMF) U.S. Post Office in Barrigada, as the “John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building.” The House passed H.R. 1843, by a vote of 414 yeas to three noes. The bill was passed under Suspension of the Rules, which requires a 2/3 majority of members voting in the affirmative for passage. John Gerber, a proud Marine and veteran of the Vietnam conflict, passed away on May 4, 2010.

Congresswoman Bordallo introduced H.R. 1843 on May 11, 2011, in honor of John Gerber, who dedicated his life to helping his fellow Marines, veterans, and servicemembers. He worked to educate the public about Guam’s importance in the War in the Pacific, as well as the Marine Corps’ role in the Liberation of Guam. Many remember him for his hospitality and generosity; throughout his life, he hosted fiestas for more than 20,000 servicemembers at his home in Ordot.

In 2004, he led an effort to rename Route 1 from Marine Drive to Marine Corps Drive to commemorate the 1,548 Marines who lost their lives, and 6,000 Marines who were wounded, during the Liberation of Guam. For 27 miles, on the road from Andersen Air Force Base to Naval Base Guam, he pulled a cart, strapped with a billboard that read: “This road was paved with the blood of 1,548 Marines. Let us never forget.”

Later, he established the Pacific War Museum, which opened its doors on July 21, 2008, the 64th anniversary of the Liberation of Guam. He opened this museum to educate the public about the War in Pacific, showcasing his personal collection of relics from World War II that he collected and restored over the years.

John Gerber was the 2011 recipient of the Colonel John H. Magruder Award. The award was posthumously bestowed on Mr. Gerber by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in recognition for his excellence in depicting and perpetuating Marine Corps History.

“John was a tireless advocate for his beloved Marines who liberated Guam 67 years ago and for all veterans on Guam,” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “He will always be remembered for educating the public about Guam’s strategic importance during World War II and for ensuring that the sacrifices of those who fought to liberate our island are never forgotten. I thank my colleagues for their support of H.R. 1843, and I hope that this will serve as a lasting tribute to John’s contributions to our island, our nation, and the United States Marine Corps.” [I](Office of Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo)[/I]