Ben Garrido Blaz

Republican Delegate of Guam

Delegate
Guam
January 3, 1985 - January 3, 1987
Delegate
Guam
January 6, 1987 - January 3, 1989
Delegate
Guam
January 3, 1989 - January 3, 1991
Delegate
Guam
January 3, 1991 - January 3, 1993

Congresses Served

January 1, 1928 (86 years old)

Birthday

January 1, 2014

Death

Served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 until 1980, retiring as a Brigadier General.
Was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. before retiring.
Elected as the delegate to the U.S. Congress from Guam in 1984, serving until 1993.
Born and raised in Guam, lived through three years of Japanese occupation during World War II.
Awarded a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame in 1947.
Received a Master of Arts degree from George Washington University in 1963.
Attended several service schools, including the Navy’s School of Naval Justice and the Naval War College, where he was a Distinguished Graduate.
Served as Commanding Officer of the 9th Marine Regiment, involved in the liberation of Guam during World War II.
Represented the Joint Chiefs of Staff in international negotiations and was an action officer on Law of the Sea matters.
Awarded a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Guam in December 1974.
Ran for Congress in 1982, was defeated, but won in a rematch in 1984 under the slogan “Right Man, Right Now.”
Served on the Armed Services, Resources, and Foreign Affairs Committees in Congress, advocating for strong national defense and the political development of Guam.
Introduced legislation to expand eligibility under the G.I. Bill during his first term.
Died on January 8, 2014, in Fairfax, Virginia, of acute respiratory failure and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with valor device, and several service and campaign medals.
Honored by the Notre Dame Alumni Association with the Corby Award for distinguished military service.
Namesake of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Dededo, activated in October 2020.