PFC US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
DARIO R. VILLEGAS, JR. A decorated World War II Army veteran and brother of Riverside's Medal of Honor recipient Ysmael Villegas, died March 16 in Riverside. He was 83. Born in Riverside on June 2, 1925, Mr. Villegas led the family's efforts to honor Army Staff Sgt. Villegas who was killed the day before his 21st birthday in the fierce fighting in the Philippines in 1945. Ysmael "Smiley" Villegas is Riverside's only native born recipient of the nation's highest decoration for valor in combat. He was the first veteran buried at the Riverside National Cemetery during dedication ceremonies in 1978. Mr. Villegas joined the Army before his older brother was drafted, and both trained at the same time at Camp Roberts before Mr. Villegas was selected for airborne training. He made two combat jumps in the Philippines and received a number of decorations for his service. His younger brothers and other relatives honorably served during the Korean War. The Villegas family raised funds to erect a bronze statue at Riverside City Hall for the local war hero who later was honored with the naming of a city park and recreation area in his native Casa Blanca neighborhood. Mr. Villegas remained active in veterans issues until his death, participating in the annual Salute to Veterans Parade in downtown Riverside. He and his wife, Sara, who were married 61 years, resided in Riverside all their lives. After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Villegas was employed at San Bernardino's Norton Air Force Base as a civil service employee, and retired after 35 years. He maintained top physical conditioning after his Army days with daily push-ups and sit-ups until his later years. Mr. Villegas, who loved all sports, played recreational league softball until his late 40s. He also played tennis and basketball, and loved card games. Besides his wife, Mr. Villegas is survived by two sons, Carl of Riverside and Arnold of Anchorage, Alaska; one daughter, Amanda Gullett of Menifee; four brothers, Art and Rudy, both of Riverside, Robert of Anaheim, and Frank of Vacaville; six sisters, Rafaela Bebolla, Gloria Aguilar, Beatrice Zamora, Martha Diaz, all of Riverside, Elodia Manzanares of Beaumont and Petrea Prayor of Boise, Idaho; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews. Another son, Larry, died in 2008.
WORLD WAR II
DARIO R. VILLEGAS, JR. A decorated World War II Army veteran and brother of Riverside's Medal of Honor recipient Ysmael Villegas, died March 16 in Riverside. He was 83. Born in Riverside on June 2, 1925, Mr. Villegas led the family's efforts to honor Army Staff Sgt. Villegas who was killed the day before his 21st birthday in the fierce fighting in the Philippines in 1945. Ysmael "Smiley" Villegas is Riverside's only native born recipient of the nation's highest decoration for valor in combat. He was the first veteran buried at the Riverside National Cemetery during dedication ceremonies in 1978. Mr. Villegas joined the Army before his older brother was drafted, and both trained at the same time at Camp Roberts before Mr. Villegas was selected for airborne training. He made two combat jumps in the Philippines and received a number of decorations for his service. His younger brothers and other relatives honorably served during the Korean War. The Villegas family raised funds to erect a bronze statue at Riverside City Hall for the local war hero who later was honored with the naming of a city park and recreation area in his native Casa Blanca neighborhood. Mr. Villegas remained active in veterans issues until his death, participating in the annual Salute to Veterans Parade in downtown Riverside. He and his wife, Sara, who were married 61 years, resided in Riverside all their lives. After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Villegas was employed at San Bernardino's Norton Air Force Base as a civil service employee, and retired after 35 years. He maintained top physical conditioning after his Army days with daily push-ups and sit-ups until his later years. Mr. Villegas, who loved all sports, played recreational league softball until his late 40s. He also played tennis and basketball, and loved card games. Besides his wife, Mr. Villegas is survived by two sons, Carl of Riverside and Arnold of Anchorage, Alaska; one daughter, Amanda Gullett of Menifee; four brothers, Art and Rudy, both of Riverside, Robert of Anaheim, and Frank of Vacaville; six sisters, Rafaela Bebolla, Gloria Aguilar, Beatrice Zamora, Martha Diaz, all of Riverside, Elodia Manzanares of Beaumont and Petrea Prayor of Boise, Idaho; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews. Another son, Larry, died in 2008.
PFC US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
DARIO R. VILLEGAS, JR. A decorated World War II Army veteran and brother of Riverside's Medal of Honor recipient Ysmael Villegas, died March 16 in Riverside. He was 83. Born in Riverside on June 2, 1925, Mr. Villegas led the family's efforts to honor Army Staff Sgt. Villegas who was killed the day before his 21st birthday in the fierce fighting in the Philippines in 1945. Ysmael "Smiley" Villegas is Riverside's only native born recipient of the nation's highest decoration for valor in combat. He was the first veteran buried at the Riverside National Cemetery during dedication ceremonies in 1978. Mr. Villegas joined the Army before his older brother was drafted, and both trained at the same time at Camp Roberts before Mr. Villegas was selected for airborne training. He made two combat jumps in the Philippines and received a number of decorations for his service. His younger brothers and other relatives honorably served during the Korean War. The Villegas family raised funds to erect a bronze statue at Riverside City Hall for the local war hero who later was honored with the naming of a city park and recreation area in his native Casa Blanca neighborhood. Mr. Villegas remained active in veterans issues until his death, participating in the annual Salute to Veterans Parade in downtown Riverside. He and his wife, Sara, who were married 61 years, resided in Riverside all their lives. After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Villegas was employed at San Bernardino's Norton Air Force Base as a civil service employee, and retired after 35 years. He maintained top physical conditioning after his Army days with daily push-ups and sit-ups until his later years. Mr. Villegas, who loved all sports, played recreational league softball until his late 40s. He also played tennis and basketball, and loved card games. Besides his wife, Mr. Villegas is survived by two sons, Carl of Riverside and Arnold of Anchorage, Alaska; one daughter, Amanda Gullett of Menifee; four brothers, Art and Rudy, both of Riverside, Robert of Anaheim, and Frank of Vacaville; six sisters, Rafaela Bebolla, Gloria Aguilar, Beatrice Zamora, Martha Diaz, all of Riverside, Elodia Manzanares of Beaumont and Petrea Prayor of Boise, Idaho; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews. Another son, Larry, died in 2008.
WORLD WAR II
DARIO R. VILLEGAS, JR. A decorated World War II Army veteran and brother of Riverside's Medal of Honor recipient Ysmael Villegas, died March 16 in Riverside. He was 83. Born in Riverside on June 2, 1925, Mr. Villegas led the family's efforts to honor Army Staff Sgt. Villegas who was killed the day before his 21st birthday in the fierce fighting in the Philippines in 1945. Ysmael "Smiley" Villegas is Riverside's only native born recipient of the nation's highest decoration for valor in combat. He was the first veteran buried at the Riverside National Cemetery during dedication ceremonies in 1978. Mr. Villegas joined the Army before his older brother was drafted, and both trained at the same time at Camp Roberts before Mr. Villegas was selected for airborne training. He made two combat jumps in the Philippines and received a number of decorations for his service. His younger brothers and other relatives honorably served during the Korean War. The Villegas family raised funds to erect a bronze statue at Riverside City Hall for the local war hero who later was honored with the naming of a city park and recreation area in his native Casa Blanca neighborhood. Mr. Villegas remained active in veterans issues until his death, participating in the annual Salute to Veterans Parade in downtown Riverside. He and his wife, Sara, who were married 61 years, resided in Riverside all their lives. After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Villegas was employed at San Bernardino's Norton Air Force Base as a civil service employee, and retired after 35 years. He maintained top physical conditioning after his Army days with daily push-ups and sit-ups until his later years. Mr. Villegas, who loved all sports, played recreational league softball until his late 40s. He also played tennis and basketball, and loved card games. Besides his wife, Mr. Villegas is survived by two sons, Carl of Riverside and Arnold of Anchorage, Alaska; one daughter, Amanda Gullett of Menifee; four brothers, Art and Rudy, both of Riverside, Robert of Anaheim, and Frank of Vacaville; six sisters, Rafaela Bebolla, Gloria Aguilar, Beatrice Zamora, Martha Diaz, all of Riverside, Elodia Manzanares of Beaumont and Petrea Prayor of Boise, Idaho; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, plus many nieces and nephews. Another son, Larry, died in 2008.
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