RAMON A. ALCARAZ (1915-2009)
US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)
1st Lieutenant (Offshore Patrol, Philippine Navy)
Place of Birth: Quingua, Bulacan, Philippines
Military Honor: Silver Star
Service: After Ramon graduated from the Philippine Military Academy, he joined the USAFFE Offshore Patrol (the USAFFE consisted of US and Philippine military forces). Ramon earned a Silver Star for commanding a torpedo boat that shot down three Japanese planes attacking US and Filipino forces in Bataan.
Post-War: Ramon helped create a naval infantry force under the Philippine Navy that was modeled after the US Navy. He became known as the “Father” of the Philippine Marine Corps. An outspoken anti-Ferdinand Marcos regime activist, Ramon was forced to retire from the Navy and immigrated to the United States to continue with his anti-Marcos work.