To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 489 Army Drive in Barrigada, Guam, as the "John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building".

I thank the chairman and the ranking member.

I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1843, a bill that honors the life and the service of John Vincent Pangelinan Gerber. This bill would rename the ``Guam Main Post Office Facility'' to be the ``John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building'' as a tribute to his tireless work of advocating for veterans on Guam and for educating the public of Guam's importance during World War II and of the role of the United States Marine Corps in liberating our island. John, himself a proud marine and lifetime resident of the village of Ordot, Guam, died on May 4, 2010, at the age of 58.

John was a patriotic American who took pride in his island and his Chamorro heritage. After graduating from high school, he quickly enlisted in the Marine Corps and completed basic training at the Marine Corps Depot in San Diego. He was subsequently deployed to Vietnam where he served with the Fleet Logistics Command in support of the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions. When he completed his tour in Vietnam, John was assigned to the Bravo Company at Marine Barracks Guam, where he remained until he was honorably discharged as a corporal on June 3, 1975.

Following his service in the Marine Corps, John worked as a radio disc jockey. His show, ``Wireless Rock,'' was the most popular of its time on Guam. He opened the Wireless Rock Music Box, a record store in Guam's capital city of Hagatna, and later established a charter boat tour company. He led tourists through the island's best fishing and dive spots, making him one of the pioneers of what is now recognized as ``culture-based eco-tourism'' on Guam. John then attended the University of Guam where he received a degree in public administration. The marines, however, were never, ever far from his mind.

In 1992, John joined the Guam Chapter of the 3rd Marine Division Association, and devoted his time to helping his fellow marines and veterans. He strove to promote and preserve the story of the 3rd Marine Division to memorialize its role in the War in the Pacific and particularly with regard to the Liberation of Guam during World War II.

John extended this generosity to active duty marines and servicemembers who visited Guam on temporary duty or other deployments. With help from the Guam Chamber of Commerce's Armed Services Committee and other veteran organizations on the island, John hosted numerous fiestas at his home in Ordot, welcoming more than 20,000 marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, and guests to partake in the Chamorro culture and hospitality.

His home, which became known as Gerber's Ranch, contained his collection of World War II vehicles, weapons, uniforms, and artifacts. These items would later be transferred to the Pacific War Museum, which John established to educate the public about the Marine Corps' role in the Liberation of Guam. John opened the museum to the public on July 21, 2008, for the 64th anniversary of the Liberation of Guam.

In 2004, John led the effort to rename Guam's main thoroughfare, Route 1, from ``Marine Drive'' to ``Marine Corps Drive'' in order to ensure that the sacrifices of the marines who liberated

Guam are never forgotten. He saw this opportunity to honor the 1,548 marines who lost their lives and the 6,000 marines who were wounded during the Liberation of Guam from enemy forces during World War II. The defining moment in this effort came when he pulled a handcart with a billboard--demanding action--the entire 27 miles from Andersen Air Force Base to Naval Base Guam. In doing so, he rallied support for his issue and spurred many Guam residents to advocate for recognizing those who fought and died for Guam.

On the day after his march, Route 1 was officially named Marine Corps Drive.

A year after this victory in 2005, the Department of Defense announced that the marines from the 3rd Expeditionary Force would be relocating from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam. So John, along with many others on Guam, viewed this relocation as a homecoming, and he was the first to defend the Marine Corps and the strategic importance of this realignment.

Although John will not be able to greet these marines as he had done for so many servicemembers who had visited Guam, his legacy will continue through his work with our community and in the Pacific War Museum.

These efforts were recognized this year when the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation bestowed on John the Colonel John H. Magruder Award for his excellence in depicting and perpetuating Marine Corps history.

Mr. Speaker, John Gerber was an extraordinary man whose greatest dream was to ensure that our veterans, those who made the greatest sacrifices for our country, would not be forgotten. Renaming the Guam main post office facility will serve as a permanent tribute to his legacy. I urge my colleagues to cast their vote to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1843) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 489 Army Drive in Barrigada, Guam, as the ``John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building''.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1843, introduced by the gentlelady from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 489 Army Drive in Barrigada, Guam, as the ``John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building.'' The bill was introduced on May 11, and was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 22--and I look forward to hearing the gentlelady say the name correctly.

Sergeant John Gerber was born on May 31, 1951, in Ordot, Guam. He was not only known for serving in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam war, but also for his hospitality and assistance towards his fellow marines in later years. During Operation Desert Storm, Sergeant Gerber assisted our troops by offering to host any individual or group associated with the 3rd Marine Division who was en route to the Middle East. His offer was accepted by many marines, and over time, nearly 20,000 marines had visited him.

Later in life, Sergeant Gerber led a campaign to rename Route 1 in Guam from ``Marine Drive'' to ``Marine Corps Drive'' to recognize the 1,548 marines who had lost their lives and the 6,000 marines who were wounded during the Liberation of Guam. In 2008, he established the Pacific War Museum on Guam to display World War II memorabilia and educate the public on the War in the Pacific.

As a result of his dedication in educating citizens on Marine Corps history, Sergeant Gerber was the 2011 recipient of the Colonel John H. Magruder Award. Sadly, he received the award following his death in 2010 at just 58 years old. He is survived by his wife, Mel, and his four children.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I join the others that have already stood before you to support the passage of H.R. 1843, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

It is my pleasure now to yield such time as she may consume to the author of this measure, the delegate from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

I want to thank the gentlelady for her introduction of this measure. I urge its passage.

I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.