JOSE CABALFIN CALUGAS (1907-98)
Philippine Scouts; US Army
Captain
Place of Birth: Leon, Iloilo, Philippines
Military Honor: Medal of Honor
Service: Jose served in the Philippine Scouts under the US Army. He was a mess sergeant in Bataan when they were attacked in 1942. Jose was taken prisoner by Japanese soldiers and survived the Bataan Death March. He became the first Filipino American to receive a Medal of Honor in World War II.
Post-War: Jose was assigned to occupation duty on Okinawa, Japan, where he fulfilled the requirements to earn US citizenship. He retired from the US Army in 1957 and moved to Tacoma, Washington. He worked for Boeing in his 50s and used the GI Bill to earn a business degree from the University of Puget Sound. He also had a vegetable farm when he retired.