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 machine-gun 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 one 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.

From: https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/ysmael-r-villegas

Riverside National Cemetery

S/Sgt.  Villegas - I am eternally grateful as are all Americans for your your selfless actions on the Villa Verde Trail in the Philippine Islands in May of 1945.  Although your heroic actions occurred almost 80 years ago, your sacrifice is honored on this Memorial Day in 2025. 

SSG Villegas, thank you for your incredible bravery, your uncompromising sense of duty, and especially for your valorous service to our country.  Visiting your final resting place was incredibly humbling. While we can never repay you for your sacrifice, we promise to tell your story and to keep alive your legacy. 

Many others and I, during this Memorial Day, have decided to write this tribute. Many of these people, just like me, have probably never known a veteran who has passed. So instead of writing about any deceased veteran or one that was famous, I decided to choose a veteran who was a true hero, but forgotten to history for most people. Ysmael R. Villegas was born on March 21st, 1924. He enlisted for the United States Army in July 1944, and was assigned to the invasion of the Philippines.   On March 20, 1945, he was ordered to lead his squad to capture a hill. When they arrived, they found themselves outnumbered by enemy soldiers entrenched. With disregard to his own life, under heavy fire, he moved bravely from foxhole to foxhole, killing 1 of the enemy, in rapid succession 5 times. His bravery inspired his squad, and they captured the hill in return for a life. He was later awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions that day.

YSMAEL R VILLEGAS

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