By John Patterson

Jose Calugas, Sr., had a long and illustrious career with the U.S. Army, first as a Philippine Scout and then in a range of assignments after the war until his retirement with the rank of captain. It was as a Scout that Calugas was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on January 16, 1942, at Culis, Bataan Province. As a Sergeant in Battery B of the 88th Field Artillery (PS), Calugas witnessed the Japanese bombing and shelling of a nearby Scout gun position until it was put out of commission and its crew members killed or wounded. Calugas from his own battery, in the words of the Medal of Honor citation, "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."

I met Jose Calugas and his family in Tacoma, Washington, during a reunion of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society. It was a great honor to speak with him and to be in his presence. Jose Calugas, Sr. passed away in 1999. He is remembered in many ways including Calugas Circle, a section of family quarters at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. After the dedication of Calugas Circle in 1999, Jose Calugas, Jr., and the entire family presented the Medal of Honor to the Fort's museum for safekeeping and display. It will always be symbol of an extraordinary man who went to extraordinary lengths to defend his country and his fellow man.

Medal of Honor Citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes the pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to CALUGAS, JOSE

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Battery B, 88th Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts. Place and date: At Culis, Bataan Province, Philippine Islands, 16 January 1942. Entered service at: Fort Stotsenburg, Philippines. Born: 29 December 1907, Barrio Tagsing, Leon, Iloilo, Philippines. G.O No.: 10, 24 February 1942.

Citation: 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. Sgt. 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.