Initiatives Overview

NOCVA has undertaken a variety of initiatives to serve Chamorro veterans. Any activity that NOCVA engages in is reviewed at the national office to ensure that it is consistent with fulfilling NOCVA’s mission in the following areas:

Advocacy

Serve as the voice of Chamorro veterans at national-level events, advocating on their behalf to defend their rights, protect their interests, and promote their achievements

Recognition

Honor the memory and service of Chamorro veterans through commemorative events and initiatives and maintain a website that features information of interest to Chamorro veterans

Outreach

Prepare informational presentation to Chamorro veterans to explain how the U.S. political process affects them; encourage active participation to leverage political power in order to influence legislation that affects them and the Chamorro people

Networking

Establish a network of members throughout the 50 states, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands — connected by regional coordinators and linked nationally — to help share information, effectively organize, and build coalitions with similar groups to build political power

Research & Analysis

Monitor services delivered by government agencies and organizations that serve veterans to ensure that they are meeting the unique needs of Chamorro veterans; monitor current legislation for its impact on Chamorro veterans and develop appropriate responses

Chamorro Veterans Commemoration Ceremony

On 24 March 2012, despite a steady rain, more than 50 people gathered in the Nation’s capital to participate in a historic event on behalf of the Chamorro people. For the first time, a commemoration ceremony was held to honor the 70 servicemen from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands who died during the Vietnam War.

This event, organized under the direction of the National Organization of Chamorro Veterans in America (NOCVA), in coordination with the National Park Service, hosted visiting Chamorro veterans to participate in a solemn and deeply moving event. The ceremony was initiated, planned, and conducted entirely by 15 Chamorro veterans working together on behalf of the Chamorro people from Guam and the CNMI.

Because of the great distance to Washington, D.C., family and friends in the islands, as well as throughout the country, often cannot travel to see the names of their loved ones on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. For this reason, NOCVA (a newly established national advocacy organization for Chamorro veterans) chose to conduct this ceremony as its first initiative.

In spite of their small population, the young men from Guam and the CNMI had the highest casualty rates during the Vietnam War, compared to all the other states and territories. These fallen heroes made it possible for us to enjoy the freedom of living in the greatest country in the world – the United States of America. As US citizens proud of their Chamorro ancestry and heritage, Chamorro veterans have no greater honor than to ensure that the sacrifices of their Chamorro brothers will never be forgotten.

The hour-long ceremony consisted of the following: opening remarks by Cel Aguigui; the Pledge of Allegiance led by Larry Cruz; the playing of the Guam Hymn; a memorial prayer read by Terri Guevara Smith; a recitation of the 70 names of the fallen by Joe Torres, Joseph Damian, Mariano Cruz, Joaquin Nauta, Jose Meno, Tom Muna, Gregorio Concepcion, and Frank Blas; a wreath laying by Frank Blas, Leonard Ranches, Jose Meno, Pedro Iriarte, and Roque Acfalle; and a final sounding of Taps by Jaime “Jim” Padre.

Various news media in Guam and the CNMI wrote articles about the event, which is of great interest to the Chamorro people and the families and friends of the fallen soldiers.

NOCVA created a video (DVD) of the ceremony, which allows us to share the experience with the largest number of people possible, especially those who were not able to attend, senior Chamorros, families of the fallen, and their children. Copies of the DVD were given to our regional coordinators as well as selected representatives throughout the 50 states, Guam, and the CNMI, so they can show it at their gatherings. The DVD is available for purchase to everyone who is interested By reaching out to as many people as possible, we can ensure that the sacrifices made by our Chamorro brothers are finally recognized and respected.

Many helped to make this special event possible, especially the visiting Chamorro veterans from North Carolina and Florida, the local Washington metro-area Chamorro community under the direction of the Guam Society of America, and the National Park Service.

"Chelu, We Remember You" Project

The “Chelu, We Remember You” Project is a NOCVA initiative that grew out of the historic Chamorro Veterans Commemoration Ceremony that was held in the Nation’s capital on 24 March 2012. The ceremony honored the 70 fallen heroes from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands who died during the Vietnam War with a Recitation of Names and a Wreath-Laying at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. On that day, NOCVA National Coordinators were presented with an extraordinary gift.

National Park Service Ranger Donald S. Adam had made rubbings of the names of all 70 casualties from Guam that are etched on the Wall. He then presented the original rubbings to NOCVA coordinators, to be given “to the families.”

These rubbings are traditionally made when a visitor to the Wall finds the name of a loved one and wants to remember the experience with a keepsake. Visitors are allowed to place a sheet of paper over the name and rub it with pencil; the rubbing that is created is the exact replica of the name as it appears on the Wall. For many, this is treasured item that keeps the memory of their loved one alive.

For family and friends in the islands who cannot easily travel to Washington, DC, obtaining such a memento in person is often difficult or impossible. Therefore, as part of its mission to recognize and honor the service of Chamorro veterans, NOCVA has started to search for the families of our fallen brothers — our chelus. This effort is known as the “Chelu, We Remember You” Project.

NOCVA is dedicated to locating the family of each of the 70 soldiers from Guam* whose name appears on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Once a family member is identified, NOCVA will present them with the following:

  • The original rubbing of the name as it appears on the Wall
  • A complimentary DVD of the Chamorro Veterans Commemoration Ceremony held in Washington, DC, on 24 March 2012
  • A letter from NOCVA explaining the “Chelu, We Remember You” Project

To assist in this project — either by providing contact information for any of the 70 names or to participate in presenting materials once the family is located — please contact us.

*NOCVA recognizes that the list of 70 does not include Chamorros who entered military service outside of Guam; as we receive additional information, they will also be honored in this initiative.

FALLEN HEROES FROM GUAM AND CNMI*

VIETNAM WAR

AGUON, JOSE QUINATA, PSG, ARMY

ASANOMA, FRANCISCO M, SGT, ARMY

BENAVENTE, DAVID GUERRERO, SSGT, MARINE CORPS

BIAGINI, MARK FREDERICK, SGT, ARMY

BLAS, ANTHONY MARTIN M, SP5, ARMY

BLAZ, JAMES LUJAN, LCPL, MARINE CORPS

BORJA, JUAN SANTOS, SSG, ARMY

CABRERA, JOAQUIN PALACIOS, SSG, ARMY

CAMACHO, DAVID BITANGA, SSG, ARMY

CARTER, DONALD SUMINGUIT, PFC, ARMY

CASTRO, JUAN PASCUAL R, SSG, ARMY

CEPEDA, JUAN DUENAS, SGT, ARMY

CRUZ, EDWARD CRUZ, PO2, NAVY

CRUZ, ENRIQUE SALAS, SSG, ARMY

CRUZ, JOSEPH AGUIGUI, PFC, MARINE CORPS

CRUZ, JOSEPH WILLIAM, SP4, ARMY

CRUZ, PEDRO AFLAGUE, SSG, ARMY

CUASITO, RONALD PEREZ, PFC, MARINE CORPS

DAMIAN, ALLAN JAMES, LCPL, MARINE CORPS

DELA-CRUZ, FREDERICO V, CPL, ARMY

DELEON, HERMAN BORJA, PFC, ARMY

DIAZ, EDWARD REYES, SP5, ARMY

DOYLE, ALBERT BARCINAS, SGT, ARMY

DUENAS, JOSE BAMBA, SSG, ARMY

EAY, RUDY EDEJER, CPL, ARMY

ESCANO, JUANITO MAIQUEZ, SGT, ARMY

ESPINOSA, VICENTE T, SGT, MARINE CORPS

ESTEVES, FERNANDO BARCINAS, SGT, ARMY

EUSTAQUIO, JOSEPH MARTIN, SGT, ARMY

FINNEY, HAROLD JAMES JR, SP4, ARMY

FLORES, BENNY SAN NICOLAS, SGT, ARMY

FLORES, DAVID CRUZ, SP4, ARMY

FUNES, DAVID JOHN, SGT, ARMY

GORTON, DAVID ATOIGUE, SP4, ARMY

GUERRERO, PEDRO ROSARIO, SSG, ARMY

GUERRERO, VICENT FEJA, CPL, ARMY

HERRERA, JOSE BABAUTA, PFC, ARMY

MARIANO, JESUS ROSA, SP4, ARMY

MENDIOLA, ROBERT LG, SP4, ARMY

MENO, JESUS QUINENE, PFC, ARMY

MESA, TOMAS REYES, SP4, ARMY

MOREHAM, VICENT PINAULA, CPL, ARMY

NEDEDOG, EMILIO NINAISEN, SGT, ARMY

PANGELINAN, GREGORIO L, CPL, ARMY

PANGELINAN, PEDRO CABRERA, SSG, ARMY

PEREDA, HENRY PANGELINAN, SGT, ARMY

PEREZ, JOHN ANTHONY, SP4, ARMY

PEREZ, VICENTE DUENAS, SFC, ARMY

QUENGA, JOHNNY CRUZ, PSG, ARMY

QUIDACHAY, JESUS AQUININGOC, SP4, ARMY

REYES, TOMAS GARCIA, SSG, ARMY

RIPPEL, EUGENE RAYMOND, SP4, ARMY

RIVERA, THOMAS SALAS, SP4, ARMY

RODRIGUEZ, LUCAS HERRERA, PFC, ARMY

SABLAN, ANTONIO QUICHOCHO, SFC, ARMY

SABLAN, IGNACIO ESPINOSA, LCPL, MARINE CORPS

SABLAN, JOHN TENORIO, PFC, ARMY

SABLAN, THOMAS QUICHOCHO, SSG, ARMY

SANCHEZ, GEORGE SANTIAGO, CPL, ARMY

SAN NICOLAS, RUFO SANTOS, LCPL, MARINE CORPS

SAN NICOLAS, VICTOR P, SP4, ARMY

SANTOS, ENRIQUE ROSARIO, SGT, ARMY

SANTOS, ERNEST PABLO, PFC, ARMY

SANTOS, JAMES EDWARD ANDER, SP4, ARMY

SANTOS, RAFAEL SALAS, SSG, ARMY

TAITAGUE, JOHNNY SALAS, SP4, ARMY

TORRE, FRANCIS SAN NICOLAS, SGT, MARINE CORPS

TORRES, PRISHARDO JOSE T, SP4, ARMY

VIOLETT, JAMES EDWARD, CPL, MARINE CORPS

YOKOI, RALPHAEL SGAMBELLURI, PFC, MARINE CORPS

UMATAC

INARAJAN

DEDEDO

MANGILAO

YONA

DEDEDO

AGANA

MERIZO

TAMUNING

DEDEDO

MONGMONG

DEDEDO

INARAJAN

SANTA RITA

MERIZO

AGANA HEIGHTS

AGANA

TAMUNING

AGANA

AGANA

AGANA

PITI

MERIZO

TOTO

TAMUNING

AGANA

MERIZO

MERIZO

YONA

ASAN

MERIZO

AGANA

BARRIGADA

TALOFOFO

BARRIGADA

SINAJANA

AGAT

MANGILAO

AGANA

INARAJAN

AGAT

SINAJANA

AGAT

MONGMONG

AGANA

AGANA

DEDEDO

MONGMONG

AGAT

UMATAC

AGANA

DEDEDO

AGAT

AGAT

YIGO

SANTA RITA

AGANA

YIGO

UMATAC

SINAJANA

INARAJAN

SINAJANA

TALOFOFO

DEDEDO

AGANA

TALOFOFO

MANGILAO

AGANA

YONA

MONGMONG

*At the time of the Vietnam War, the military recruiting station was located in Guam; therefore, those who enlisted were recorded as having Guam as their home-state-of-record, regardless of whether they were originally from the surrounding islands of Saipan, Rota, or Tinian, now referred to as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.