Jose Calugas
Jose Calugas, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| File:Jose Calugas.jpg | |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Philippine Scouts 88th Field Artillery |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Jose Calugas (December 29, 1907 - January 18, 1998) was a member of the Philippine Scouts during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Battle of Bataan.
Biography
Calugas was born on December 29, 1907 in Barrio Tagsing, Leon, Iloilo, Philippines.
Calugas was a Sergeant in Battery B of the 88th Field Artillery of the Philippine Scouts when he was awarded the medal on January 6, 1942 at Culis in the Bataan Province. When he witnessed that a nearby Scout gun position was put out of commission due to heavy Japanese bombing, Calugas ran over 1000 yards across open field, gathered a volunteer squad and used the gun against oncoming Japanese units.
Calugas eventually retired from the army with the rank of captain and settled in the U.S. at Tacoma, Washington. He died in Tacoma in February 1998 at age 90. He is buried at Mountain View Memorial Park in Tacoma, Washington.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Battery B, 88th Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts. Place and date: At Culis, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands, January 16, 1942. Entered service at: Fort Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands. Born: December 29, 1907, Barrio Tagsing, Leon, %Iloilo, Philippine Islands. G.O. No.: 10, February 24, 1942.
Citation:
- The action for which the award was made took place near Culis, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands, on 16 January 1942. A battery gun position was bombed and shelled by the enemy until 1 gun was put out of commission and all the cannoneers were killed or wounded. Sgt. Calugas, a mess sergeant of another battery, voluntarily and without orders ran 1,000 yards across the shell-swept area to the gun position. There he organized a volunteer squad which placed the gun back in commission and fired effectively against the enemy, although the position remained under constant and heavy Japanese artillery fire.
See also
References
- "World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient: Army Sgt. Jose Calugas, Philippine Scouts", MedalofHonor.com. (URL accessed May 10, 2006)
- Williams, Rudi. "Medals of Honor Bestowed on 10 Asian Pacific Americans", American Forces Press Service, 14 Jan 2003. (URL accessed May 10, 2006)
- Pierce County, Washington obituaries