Jesus Vargas (general) explained

Jesus Vargas
Birth Name:Jesus Miranda Vargas
Birth Date:22 March 1905
Birth Place:Manila
Death Date:25 March 1994
Serviceyears:1937 - 1956 (PA)
1929 - 1937 (PC)
Education:Philippine Constabulary Academy (BS)
Alma Mater:Field Artillery School
US Command Staff College
Office2:Chief of Staff, Philippines Armed Forces
Termstart2:December 30, 1953
Termend2:December 29, 1956
Office:Secretary General of SEATO
Termstart:1 July 1965
Termend:5 September 1972
Predecessor1:Sotero Cabahug
President:Ferdinand Marcos
Diosdado Macapagal
Successor1:Alejo Santos
President1:Carlos P. Garcia
Office1:Secretary of National Defense
Office3:Vice Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Termstart3:1951
Termend3:1953
President3:Elpidio Quirino
Office4:Deputy Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Termstart4:1950
Termend4:1951
President4:Elpidio Quirino
Citizenship:Philippines
Nationality:Filipino
President2:Ramon Magsaysay
Termstart1:August 28, 1957
Termend1:May 18, 1959
Branch:Philippine Army
Philippine Constabulary
Battles:World War II
Hukbalahap Rebellion
Awards:
  • Gold Cross
    * Distinguished Service Star,
    *Long Service medal
    * Military Commendation ribbon
    * Army Commendation ribbon
    *Philippine Republic Presidential citation badge
    *Distinguished Unit Badge
    *Luzon Campaign medal
    * Philippine Defense medal and ribbon
    * Philippine Liberation medal and ribbon
    * Anti-dissidence Campaign ribbon
    * American Defense Services medal and ribbon
    * Asiatic-Pacific War Theater Campaign medal and ribbon
    * World War II Victory medal and ribbon
    * Order of Military Merit (Taiguk), Republic of Korea
    *Order of the White Elephant, Thailand
    * Military Merit Medal (degree of the commander).
Predecessor:Konthi Suphamongkhon
Successor:Sunthorn Hongladarom
Predecessor2:Calixto Duque
Successor2:Alfonso Arellano

Lieutenant General Jesus Miranda Vargas (22 March 1905 – 25 March 1994) served as Secretary of National Defense and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In his later years, he was the Secretary-General of Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) which was based in Bangkok, Thailand.

Early life

Jesus Miranda Vargas was born on March 22, 1905 in Manila to Braulio Vargas and Petrona Miranda.

He finished his Bachelor of Science at the Philippine Constabulary Academy in 1929. He also graduated from the Field Artillery School in Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1940 and the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1947.

Career

Vargas was a World War 2 veteran. He served in the Philippine Army from 1937 to 1951.

PC, 1930-1935; aide-de-camp to the Philippine President and Commanding Officer, President Guard Battalion, 1943; Executive Officer, Ground Force, 1947-1948; Superintendent, Manila ROTC, 1948-1949; Commander, 5th Battalion Combat Team (Huk campaign), 1949–50;Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP 1950-1951; Vice Chief of Staff, AFP, 1951-1953; Chief of Staff, AFP, 1953-1956; military adviser, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), 1954-1956; retired Lieutenant General, Armed Forces of the Philippines; Secretary of National Defense, 1957-1959;

Board Chairman, National Waterworks & Sewerage Authority, 1957–59; president, Philippine American Management & Financing Company, 1961–65; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, 1962–65; and secretary-general, SEATO, 1965-72.

Medals and awards

Gold Cross, Distinguished Service Star, Long Service medal, Military Commendation ribbon, Army Commendation ribbon, Philippine Republic Presidential citation badge, Distinguished Unit Badge. Luzon Campaign medal, Philippine Defense medal and ribbon, Philippine Liberation medal and ribbon, Anti-dissidence Campaign ribbon, American Defense Services medal and ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific War Theater Campaign medal and ribbon, World War II Victory medal and ribbon, Order of Military Merit (Taiguk), Republic of Korea; Order of the White Elephant, Thailand; and Military Merit Medal (degree of the commander).

Personal life

Vargas was married to Rosalina Morillo in 1931[1] and had four children. Their names are Jesus Jr., Nandy, Francisco, Teresa and Baby Vargas.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. "Philippines Marriages, 1723-1957," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FNCT-SXB : 6 December 2014), Jesus Doegracias Vargas and Rosalina Morillo, 15 Aug 1931; citing Paco, Manila, Philippines, reference 94694; FHL microfilm 1,477,585.