Advertisement

SSGT Ysmael Reyes Villegas

Advertisement

SSGT Ysmael Reyes Villegas Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Casa Blanca, Riverside County, California, USA
Death
20 Mar 1945 (aged 20)
Philippines
Burial
Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA GPS-Latitude: 33.8842, Longitude: -117.2754
Plot
Section 5 Grave 1178 (next To Grave 585!!)
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during World War II in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant in Company F, 127th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands on March 20, 1945. His citation reads "He was a squad leader when his unit, in a forward position, clashed with an enemy strongly entrenched in connected caves and foxholes on commanding ground. He moved boldly from man to man, in the face of bursting grenades and demolition charges, through heavy machinegun and rifle fire, to bolster the spirit of his comrades. Inspired by his gallantry, his men pressed forward to the crest of the hill. Numerous enemy riflemen, refusing to flee, continued firing from their foxholes. S/Sgt. Villegas, with complete disregard for his own safety and the bullets which kicked up the dirt at his feet, charged an enemy position, and, firing at point-blank range killed the Japanese in a foxhole. He rushed a second foxhole while bullets missed him by inches, and killed 1 more of the enemy. In rapid succession he charged a third, a fourth, a fifth foxhole, each time destroying the enemy within. The fire against him increased in intensity, but he pressed onward to attack a sixth position. As he neared his goal, he was hit and killed by enemy fire. Through his heroism and indomitable fighting spirit, S/Sgt. Villegas, at the cost of his life, inspired his men to a determined attack in which they swept the enemy from the field". His Medal was posthumously awarded on October 19, 1945.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during World War II in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant in Company F, 127th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands on March 20, 1945. His citation reads "He was a squad leader when his unit, in a forward position, clashed with an enemy strongly entrenched in connected caves and foxholes on commanding ground. He moved boldly from man to man, in the face of bursting grenades and demolition charges, through heavy machinegun and rifle fire, to bolster the spirit of his comrades. Inspired by his gallantry, his men pressed forward to the crest of the hill. Numerous enemy riflemen, refusing to flee, continued firing from their foxholes. S/Sgt. Villegas, with complete disregard for his own safety and the bullets which kicked up the dirt at his feet, charged an enemy position, and, firing at point-blank range killed the Japanese in a foxhole. He rushed a second foxhole while bullets missed him by inches, and killed 1 more of the enemy. In rapid succession he charged a third, a fourth, a fifth foxhole, each time destroying the enemy within. The fire against him increased in intensity, but he pressed onward to attack a sixth position. As he neared his goal, he was hit and killed by enemy fire. Through his heroism and indomitable fighting spirit, S/Sgt. Villegas, at the cost of his life, inspired his men to a determined attack in which they swept the enemy from the field". His Medal was posthumously awarded on October 19, 1945.

Bio by: RPD2


Inscription

MEDAL OF HONOR
S SGT US ARMY
WORLD WAR II



Advertisement

Advertisement

How famous was SSGT Ysmael Reyes Villegas ?

Current rating: 4.21212 out of 5 stars

66 votes

Sign-in to cast your vote.

  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Jun 2, 2000
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9705/ysmael_reyes-villegas: accessed ), memorial page for SSGT Ysmael Reyes Villegas (21 Mar 1924–20 Mar 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 9705, citing Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, California, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.