Pelagio A. Cruz
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Pelagio A. Cruz was born on June 16, 1912, in Baliuag, Bulacan. He entered the Philippine Military Academy
in 1932, and was commissioned as Third Lieutenant upon graduation in 1935. He earned his wings in September 1936 at the Philippine Army Air Corps
(PAAC) Flying School in Camp Murphy
.
At the outbreak of World War II
, Major Cruz was assigned as an Executive Officer
of the PAAC Provisional Regiment in Bataan
and joined the Bulacan Guerilla Unit after the surrender of the Philippines to the Imperial Japanese Army
.
After World War II, he went on to take refresher course in Goodfellow Field in Texas
, USA, and was later assigned as the Executive Officer of PAAC from March to May 1946. He became the Commanding Officer of Lipa Air Base
from August 1946 to 8 June 1947, and further the Acting Chief of the Philippine Air Force
from 9 June 1947 to 27 October 1947 at the temporary rank of Colonel. He assumed the post as the Commanding Officer of the PAF from 28 October 1947 to 16 March 1951 and was promoted with a temporary rank of BGen on 20 May 1949.
General Cruz then entered the Command General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth
, USA in September 1951. Upon his return to the Philippines he was assigned as Commandant of Command and General Staff School at Fort McKinley
, Taguig.
He again took command of the PAF as Commanding General, from 3 November 1953 to 31 July 1956, and his promotion to Brigadier General
was confirmed on 10 March 1954.
From 2 June 1958 to 31 December 1958, he became the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary
and was promoted to Major General
on 1 January 1959. He was commissioned as the Vice Chief of Staff for the AFP from 1 January 1959 to 30 December 1961, and eventually the Chief of Staff, AFP from December 1961 to 30 August 1962. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
on 1 January 1962.
He retired from the active military service on 1 Sep 1962.
Philippine Military Academy
The Philippine Military Academy or PMA, is the Philippine military school for the Armed Forces of the Philippines . PMA was established on December 21, 1936 by the virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 1 . PMA is located in Baguio, Benguet province...
in 1932, and was commissioned as Third Lieutenant upon graduation in 1935. He earned his wings in September 1936 at the Philippine Army Air Corps
Philippine Army Air Corps
The Philippine Army Air Corps was created by the Philippine National Assembly's National Defense Act of 1935. By 1940, the corps had around 40 aircraft and 100 pilots, 500 personnel, and six squadrons...
(PAAC) Flying School in Camp Murphy
Camp Aguinaldo
Camp Aguinaldo is the military headquarters of the Philippine Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines and is located in Quezon City in the Philippines. It is along Epifanio de los Santos Ave. , in front of Camp Crame, the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police...
.
At the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Major Cruz was assigned as an Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of the PAAC Provisional Regiment in Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
and joined the Bulacan Guerilla Unit after the surrender of the Philippines to the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
.
After World War II, he went on to take refresher course in Goodfellow Field in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA, and was later assigned as the Executive Officer of PAAC from March to May 1946. He became the Commanding Officer of Lipa Air Base
Fernando Air Base
Fernando Air Base was originally constructed by the Japanese Imperial Army over an area of a wide sugar cane plantation before the Second World War. It is 1,220 feet above sea level and is situated on a plateau overlooking Taal Volcano with an area of 288 hectares of land, about 45...
from August 1946 to 8 June 1947, and further the Acting Chief of 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....
from 9 June 1947 to 27 October 1947 at the temporary rank of Colonel. He assumed the post as the Commanding Officer of the PAF from 28 October 1947 to 16 March 1951 and was promoted with a temporary rank of BGen on 20 May 1949.
General Cruz then entered the Command General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, USA in September 1951. Upon his return to the Philippines he was assigned as Commandant of Command and General Staff School at Fort McKinley
Fort Bonifacio
Fort Bonifacio is a highly urbanized district in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. The district is named after the main Philippine Army camp in Metro Manila, Fort Andres Bonifacio, which in turn was named after the famous Philippine revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio...
, Taguig.
He again took command of the PAF as Commanding General, from 3 November 1953 to 31 July 1956, and his promotion to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
was confirmed on 10 March 1954.
From 2 June 1958 to 31 December 1958, he became the Chief of the Philippine Constabulary
Philippine Constabulary
The Philippine Constabulary ' was the oldest of four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was a gendarmerie type para-military police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority replacing the Guardia Civil...
and was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
on 1 January 1959. He was commissioned as the Vice Chief of Staff for the AFP from 1 January 1959 to 30 December 1961, and eventually the Chief of Staff, AFP from December 1961 to 30 August 1962. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
on 1 January 1962.
He retired from the active military service on 1 Sep 1962.
Awards
- Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
- Gold Cross medal
- Distinguished Unit Badge w/Two Oakleaf Clusters
- Philippine Defense Ribbon with Two Bronze Victory Ribbon
- Philippine Liberation Ribbon
- Distinguished Service StarDistinguished Service StarThe Distinguished Service Star is the third highest military award of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It is awarded for eminently meritorious and valuable service rendered while holding a position of great responsibility. -Description of the award:...