Medal of Honor: Ysmael R. Villegas – U.S. Army – World War II

Name: Ysmael R. Villegas
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company F, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32d Infantry Division
Place: Villa Verde Trail, Luzon, Philippine Islands
Entered Service At: Casa Blanca, California
Born: Casa Blanca, California
G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945

Summary of Action

On 20 March 1945, along the Villa Verde Trail in Luzon, Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas led his squad against a heavily fortified enemy position entrenched in caves and foxholes on commanding ground.

As his unit advanced under intense fire from machine guns, rifles, grenades, and demolition charges, Villegas moved from man to man across the line—exposing himself to enemy fire to steady and inspire his soldiers.

His leadership ignited the attack.

As his men reached the crest, enemy riflemen continued firing stubbornly from their foxholes.

Villegas took the fight to them.

With complete disregard for his own safety, he charged the first position and killed the defender at point-blank range.

Then he moved to the next.

And the next.

Under increasingly intense fire, he attacked and destroyed enemy positions in rapid succession—third, fourth, fifth—closing the distance each time while bullets struck the ground around him.

Still he pressed forward.

Setting his sights on a sixth position, he advanced once more into the fire.

This time, he was struck and killed.

His assault shattered the enemy’s defense.

Inspired by his actions, his squad surged forward and cleared the remaining resistance, securing the objective.

Medal of Honor Citation

VILLEGAS, YSMAEL R.

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.