Ysmael R. Villegas


Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas, was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor – the United States' highest military decoration for his actions during World War II.

Early years

Villegas was a Mexican-American born and raised in Casa Blanca, the Hispanic section of Riverside, California. There he received his primary and secondary education and joined the United States Army in July 1944. After he finished his basic training, he was assigned to Company F, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division which was assigned to the invasion of the Philippines.

World War II

On March 1, 1945, Villegas' company found itself engaged in combat against Japanese forces at Villa Verde Trail on Luzon Island in the Philippines, in what is known as the Battle of Luzon. His squad was attacked by an enemy machinegun nest. Villegas took it upon himself to save his squad by destroying the nest and its occupants. For his actions he was awarded the Silver Star medal.
On March 20, 1945, Villegas was ordered to lead his squad in an advance which would result in the taking of a hill. They confronted an enemy which was entrenched and who attacked them with heavy machinegun and rifle fire. He led his men towards the crest of the hill and then upon his own initiative attacked five enemy foxholes, killing all of its occupants. Villegas was mortally wounded when he attacked the sixth foxhole.
On October 19, 1945, President Harry S. Truman posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Villegas, presenting the medal to his surviving family.

Medal of Honor citation

Honors

Villegas was the first Riverside County resident to ever receive the Medal of Honor and the first veteran to be buried at the Riverside National Cemetery when the cemetery opened in 1978. The Veterans of Foreign Wars named Post #184 in Riverside the "Ysmael R. Villegas Memorial Casa Blanca Post" in his honor. A statue by sculpture Gary Coutrer, called Villegas Memorial, was dedicated on May 27, 1995, and is located on Main Street Civic Center Courtyard in Riverside. The Ysmael R. Villegas Middle School in Riverside is named in his honor.

Awards and decorations

Among Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas' decorations and medals were the following: