"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."
From S/Sgt. Villegas' Medal of Honor citation, awarded on October 19, 1945.
May you be at peace,
Brian & Mel
Memorial Statue in Riverside County, CA
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