Political Quotes

“today I wish to honor Joseph Guio, Jr., a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice saving the lives of his fellow crewmembers aboard the USS Monaghan during World War II. Gunners Mate Third Class Guio was one of the hundreds of men who were lost at sea during Typhoon Cobra, which struck Task Force-38 in December of 1944. Task Force-38 consisted of 7 fleet carriers, 6 escort carriers, 8 battleships, 15 cruisers, and 50 destroyers that had been operating in the Philippine Sea conducting air raids against Japanese airfields. Survivors of the event reported that Joe freed a raft from the sinking ship and was injured in the process. Regardless, he continued to pull his fellow men to the safety of the raft and saved many lives. Aboard the raft, his grateful comrades tried to comfort Joe in his last moments, and he thanked them for doing so before he passed on. When the Monaghan sank, 256 crewmembers were lost. Twenty held on to the raft for some time, but after days at sea, exhausted, injured, and struggling against 50-foot waves, that number dwindled to six. The USS Brown rescued the six survivors 3 days later. Joe's body was never recovered, but his name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila, Philippines. He was 25 years old. Born in Hollidays Cove in beautiful Hancock County, WV, no one would have expected less from Joe. He died as he lived, helping others with the utmost respect for our home State and our Nation.…”