Guam Midshipmen Graduate from the United States Naval Academy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—June 1 , 2006—Hagåtña, Guam .—

Four Midshipmen from Guam graduated from the Unites States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, this past Friday, May 26, 2006.  MIDN David Blas, son of Jose (deceased) and Mary Jane Blas of Barrigada; MIDN Joseph Brown, son of Mike and Rose Brown of Barrigada; MIDN Thomas Ham, son of Michael and Susan Ham of Hagåtña; and MIDN Charles Slater, son of Roger and Diana Slater of Tamuning, are among the 980 midshipmen who graduated this year and who have been commissioned as officers in the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. 

Friday’s ceremony marked the 156^th commencement exercises at the Academy and was attended by over 27,000 family, friends, faculty and staff members.  Several high-ranking officials and other dignitaries also attended the traditional exercises.  Vice President Dick Cheney addressed the class, the first to enter the academy after September 11, 2001, as this year’s commencement speaker.

All four of Guam’s graduates, as well as MIDN Jonathan Duenas, son of Ricardo Duenas of Hagåtña, of the Class of 2007, joined Congresswoman Bordallo for lunch at King Hall on the Annapolis campus earlier this month.

“Four outstanding young men from our island have graduated this year from the Untied States Naval Academy.  We extend to them our commendation and our congratulations.  They are great ambassadors for our island and our people and true role models for Guam’s youth,” Bordallo said.  “Our island and our nation are proud of these young men who were bestowed with the great honor of entering and now graduating from the prestigious United States Naval Academy.  I am confident that these young officers will carry on the great traditions of the Academy and uphold its hallmark values of honor, courage and commitment,” Bordallo stated.

Upon their commissioning in the officer corps, graduates from the United States Naval Academy pursue their career assignments, ranging in various fields like surface warfare, surface nuclear training, submarine nuclear training, and aviation training.

MIDN David Blas, who is a veteran and has prior service, will serve as the Electrical Officer onboard the U.S.S. O’ Kane in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  MIDN Thomas Ham and MIDN Joseph Brown will enter Naval Aviation Training in Pensacola, Florida.  MIDN Charles Slater will undertake Submarine Nuclear Power Training in Charleston, South Carolina.  MIDN Jonathan Duenas will graduate in 2007.

L-R:  MIDN Joseph Brown, MIDN Jonathan Duenas, MIDN David Blas, Congresswoman Bordallo, MIDN Charles Slater, and MIDN Thomas Ham at the United States Naval Academy.

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Contact:  Alicia Chon in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-1188 or Joseph E. Duenas at (671) 477-4272/4.

www.house.gov/bordallo

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