ORDOT, Guam — Marines from 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, flew to Guam on May 12 to perform a special mission to honor a man that did many things for the Marine Corps and the island of Guam.
The Marines were there to give Sgt. John Gerber military honors as attendees paid him their last respects at San Juan Bautista Church, May 15.
Gerber treated everyone the same from the commandant to the lance corporal, said Col. Robert D. Loynd, the officer in charge of the funeral procession and liaison to Guam for Marine Forces Pacific (Forward).
“I knew John Gerber for a little over a year,” he added. “He was full of compassion, dedication and commitment.”
Over the years, Gerber showed his dedication to the Corps by establishing the Pacific War Museum, a collection of military equipment and vehicles dating back to the 1940s, and being the driving force behind getting Route 1 – the island’s most travelled highway
formerly known as Marine Drive – renamed to Marine Corps Drive.
The battle to liberate Guam from the Japanese in World War II claimed 1,548 Marine lives. It is because of Gerber, his museum and his efforts that the Marines’ legacy is remembered so vividly in Guam today.
“He was a great man,” said Manny Santos, Gerber’s brother-in-law. He was also a great Marine and deserved to get full military honors, he said.
Gerber enlisted in the Corps June 4, 1969, and served honorably until June 1975. During his active duty time, he saw combat in Vietnam while serving with the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions. Since his separation from the active ranks, Gerber had made his home in Guam. His most lasting contribution to the island, The Pacific War Museum, showcased the Marines’ efforts to liberate the island during World War II, while also cementing Gerber’s name into the island’s history.
Guam Congresswoman Madelline Bordallo issued a statement recognizing Gerber’s passing.
“I join the people of Guam in mourning the loss of John Gerber, a leader in our veteran community,” the statement read. “John was a history buff whose personal collection of World War II memorabilia and equipment was the basis for his Pacific War Museum.
“He is one of Guam’s most famous Marines, and he is a friend to many leaders in the Marine Corps, including several Commandants. John was an effective advocate for our veterans and in taking care of his fellow veterans he lived the Marine Corps motto ‘Semper Fidelis,’” it continued.
“He will be missed dearly by his family, loved ones and friends. We are grateful for his service to our nation and our island and we will always remember him,” Bordallo’s statement concluded.
The Okinawa Marines stood guard over Gerber’s body during his wake May 13 and continued to guard his remains as family and friends paid their respects during the memorial service.
Instead of a traditional hearse, Gerber’s family opted for an old, military two-and-a-half-ton truck to transport his remains from the church to the Guam Veteran’s Cemetery in Piti.
Once in place, Gerber’s body was blessed by a priest and the flag that lay on his Marine Corps-themed coffin was folded in precise detail by the Marines from 7th Communications Bn. The flag was then presented to Gerber’s wife, Mela Gerber.
“Semper Fidelis, Marine,” said Loynd, during the memorial service. “It was an honor and a privilege to have known you.”