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Headstone of Jose Calugas
U.S. Army · United States United States

Jose Calugas

Captain
1907 – 1998
Captain
Medal of Honor - Army
Life Keepsakes Service Medal of Honor Decorations Shadow Box In Our Keeping

Sergeant Jose Calugas served the 88th Field Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts) for 27 years. Jose served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Jose was 90 years old.

How He Died
Manner Natural
What Happened
A mess sergeant of the 88th Field Artillery Regiment, Philippine Scouts. At Culis on Bataan on 16 January 1942 he ran a thousand yards across shelled ground to a gun position whose crew had been killed, organised a scratch detachment and brought the gun back into action under fire. He survived the Bataan Death March, escaped, and fought with the guerrillas until the Americans returned. He stayed in the Army until 1957 and died in Tacoma at ninety.
Keepsakes
Jose Calugas
Jose Calugas
Service Record
U.S. Army
88th Field Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts)
Sergeant
1930 – 1957
A mess sergeant when he won the Medal of Honor at Culis. Later the 38th Field Artillery; retired a captain in 1957.
Conflicts
World War II Korean War Vietnam War Cold War
Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
16 January 1942 · At Culis, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands · Sergeant, U.S. Army, Battery B, 88th Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts.

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. Sergeant. 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.

10, 24 February 1942.
Awards & Decorations 1

For valor

Medal of Honor - Army January 16, 1942 · At Culis, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands · Sergeant, U.S. Army, Battery B, 88th Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts. 10, 24 February 1942.
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. Sergeant. 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.
In Our Keeping
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Record added August 7, 2026 neuraweb.nw
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Last updated September 17, 2026

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Shadow Box
Jose Calugas
Captain
U.S. Army
1930 - 1957
88th Field Artillery Regiment (Philippine Scouts)
Captain
Medal of Honor - Army

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