John Gerber Posthumously Given National Award
Local Marine Receives Praises from Governor, Commander
Immediate Release: March 10, 2011
John Gerber, the late veteran activist and outspoken former Marine sergeant will be nationally recognized in April. Today, it was announced that Gerber will posthumously receive the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Colonel John H. Magruder Award. The national honor is bestowed to one individual or organization annually for outstanding contributions through a public exhibit pertaining to Marine Corps history.
“When John opened his museum, he told Guamanians, ‘We must never forget.’ I would like to say a prayer for my friend, and let him know that we will never forget him, or what he did for our island, and for the Marines,”Governor Calvo said. “His legacy will live on in this award, in his museum, and in everyone whose lives he touched.”
Gerber is known locally and among the military community for founding the Pacific War Museum. He spent 20 years collecting artifacts from the Pacific War, going so far as salvaging parts of structures that now comprisethe framework of the museum. Its collection includes U.S. and Japanese weapons of all sizes and shapes, restored war vehicles, letters and memoirs of soldiers, uniforms and countless pictures.
But Gerber is also known as being an outspoken Marine. In 2004, he embarked on a 27-mile walk from Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo to Naval Station in Santa Rita as a way to lobby the Guam Legislature to rename Route 1 “Marine Corps Drive.”
“Without question, there has been no greater standard-bearer for the United States Marine Corps and our reputation on Guam than John Gerber. Over the course of the past two decades he has served as the Corps’ greatest champion and advocate, not only for those Marines who are still living or still serving, but perhaps most importantly, for those 1,548 US Marines who gallantly gave their lives in the liberation of Guam during July and August of 1944. I am honored to serve in John’s company here on Guam,” Col. Robert Loynd, Officer in Charge of Marine Forces Pacific (Fwd) Guam & CNMI said.
Each year, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation presents a series of awards to both Marines and civilians, to recognize their exemplary work in advancing and preserving Marine Corps history. Individuals are honored atthe Foundation’s annual Awards Ceremony in April.
