Jesus Villamor was a pilot who fought the Japanese in World War II and is the only Filipino to receive the Distinguished Service Cross twice.

JESUS ANTONIO VILLAMOR

Jesus Villamor joined the Philippine Army Air Corps Flying School in 1936 and was sent to the United States for training, and after three years, began flying B-17's as part of the US Air Force's Strategic Bombing Squadron. Upon his return to the Philippines, Villamor was assigned to lead the 6th Pursuit Squadron (now 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron) shortly before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December 1941.

In the skies above Zablan and Batangas Fields, his squadron of P-26 fighters engaged Japanese Zeros. He was twice cited by the United States Army for bravery, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for actions on 10 December 1941 and an Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a second award of the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for actions on 12 December 1941 making him the only Filipino to receive the DSC twice.

After his squadron was destroyed, Villamor continued his war against the Japanese as an intelligence officer. On 27 December 1942 Villamor was part of a team inserted by submarine into the Philippines. Establishing a chain of direct communication from the Philippines with General MacArthur in Australia, he coordinated the activities of various guerrilla movements in Luzon, Mindanao and the Visayas.

For his bravery as a pilot and ingenuity as an intelligence officer, President Magsaysay awarded Villamor the Medal of Valour, the highest Philippine military bravery decoration.

7 November 1914 to 28 October 1971