S/Sgt. Villegas charged an enemy position, then a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and, 5th firing at point-blank range, killing the Japanese in the foxholes. He was killed charging the 6th Foxhole

Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas (March 21, 1924 in Casa Blanca, California – March 20, 1945 in Luzon, Philippines) aka “Smiley” was the first Riverside County resident to ever receive the #MedalofHonorand the first veteran to be buried at the Riverside National Cemeterywhen the cemetery opened in 1978. As squad leader, Villegas charged and cleared five enemy foxholes before he was shot and killed.

Villegas was the oldest of 13 children and one of two who fought in World War II. When he was drafted into the Army in 1944, the 20-year-old didn’t complain, but he didn’t want to leave his family. He never talked about the Army when he wrote home and in his last letter, “He said, ‘I got the Purple Heart for just a little scratch on my ear, but don’t tell my mom because she would get worried.’”

Five days later and one day before his 21st birthday, Villegas was killed while helping his unit take a hill from the Japanese on Luzon, Philippines. It was March 20, 1945.

The news was delayed reaching Riverside, so when Villegas’ son was born April 1 – he had married his girlfriend while on leave in the fall – the family didn’t know he was dead. Though devastated by the loss, his loved ones were proud of his decorations, which also include the Silver Star.

“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.”

Riverside National Cemetary SOURCES: 
YSMAEL VILLEGAS’ MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE