Mary Grace Baloyo
Encyclopedia
Mary Grace Baloyo was a First Lieutenant
in the Philippine Air Force
who received the Philippine's highest military award for valor
- The Medal of Valor
. The circumstances in which she was awarded the medal is unique in that it was not given for actions against enemy forces but rather for self sacrifice. On March 26, 2001, the plane in which she was flying was experiencing engine trouble and rapidly descending into a heavily populated area. Rather than ejecting, she chose to stay on board and diverted the plane before it crashed subsequently killing her. To date, Baloyo is one of only 4 recipients of the medal from the Philippine Air Force and the only female recipient of the medal. She was also posthumously promoted to rank of Captain.
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the Philippine Air Force
Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force is the air force of the Republic of the Philippines, and one of the three main services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas....
who received the Philippine's highest military award for valor
Valor
Valor or valour may mean:* Valor , by J. W. Cockerill* Courage, a similar meaning* Valor , roughly "courage in defense of a noble cause"* Valor , a DC Comics superhero...
- The Medal of Valor
Philippine Medal of Valor
The Philippine Medal of Valor is the highest military award given to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and allied military personnel. It is awarded by the President of the Republic of the Philippines to military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including recognized...
. The circumstances in which she was awarded the medal is unique in that it was not given for actions against enemy forces but rather for self sacrifice. On March 26, 2001, the plane in which she was flying was experiencing engine trouble and rapidly descending into a heavily populated area. Rather than ejecting, she chose to stay on board and diverted the plane before it crashed subsequently killing her. To date, Baloyo is one of only 4 recipients of the medal from the Philippine Air Force and the only female recipient of the medal. She was also posthumously promoted to rank of Captain.