Vicente T. Blaz
| Vicente T. Blaz | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam's At-large district |
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In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993 Delegate |
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| Preceded by | Antonio Borja Won Pat |
| Succeeded by | Robert A. Underwood |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Vicente Tomás Garrido Blaz February 14, 1928 Agana, Guam |
| Died | January 8, 2014 (aged 85) Fairfax, Virginia |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Republican Party of Guam |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Evers Blaz (widowed) |
| Residence | Ordot |
| Alma mater | Notre DameThe George Washington University |
| Awards |
Legion of Merit Bronze Star |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | "Ben" |
| Allegiance |
  United States of America
|
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1951–1980 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | 9th Marine Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
Korean War Vietnam War |
Brigadier General Vicente Tomás Garrido Blaz (February 14, 1928 – January 8, 2014), also known as Ben Blaz, was a Guamanian United States Marine Corps Brigadier General from the United States territory of Guam. Blaz served in the Marine Corps from 1951 until July 1, 1980. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C..
Blaz was elected the delegate to Congress from Guam in 1984 as a Republican. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1985 until 1993.
Vicente Tomás Garrido Blaz was born on February 14, 1928 in Agana, Guam with his father Vicente "Dero" Cruz Blaz and his mother Rita Pangelinan Garrido. His siblings are Rosario Blaz Cruz, Maria Blaz, Emilia Blaz Rios, Alfred Gregorio G. Blaz, Joaquin G. Blaz, Patricia Blaz Borja and Frank G. Blaz. He was living on the island during the three years of Japanese occupation during World War II. During the occupation he was forced to work in labor battalions building aviation fields and planting rice.
In 1947, he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.
At the beginning of the Korean War, Blaz joined the Marine Corps Reserve and attended Officer Candidate School. He graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps after graduation. He subsequently attended George Washington University, Washington, D.C., where he received a Master of Arts degree in 1963.
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