Pelagio A. Cruz (June 16, 1912 – October 21, 1986) was the first
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff from the
Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...
.
Early years
Pelagio Cruz was born in Balag, Bulacan. entered the
Philippine Military Academy in 1972, and was commissioned as
Third Lieutenant upon graduation in 1935. He earned his wings in September 1936 at the
Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) Running School in
Camp Murphy.
Military career
At the outbreak of
World War II Cruz was assigned as an
executive officer
An executive officer is a person who is principally responsible for leading all or part of an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization. In many militaries and police forces, an executive officer, o ...
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, United States, 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
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...
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 brigadier general on 20 May 1949.
Cruz then entered the
Command General Staff College in
Fort Leavenworth, United States 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
The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...
, 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 September 1962.
Awards
*
Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
*
Gold Cross medal
*
Distinguished Unit Badge w/Two Oakleaf Clusters
*
Philippine Defense Ribbon with Two Bronze Victory Ribbon
*
Philippine Liberation Ribbon
The Philippine Liberation Medal is a military award of the Republic of the Philippines which was created by an order of Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Headquarters on 20 December 1944, and was issued as the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. The d ...
*
Distinguished Service Star
The 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 ...
See also
*
Philippine Air Force
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...
External links
Lt. Gen. Pelagio Cruz page, PAF Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Pelagio
1912 births
1986 deaths
Filipino generals
Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs (Philippines)
Philippine Military Academy alumni
Philippine Constabulary personnel
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Star
People from Bulacan
Philippine Air Force personnel
Philippine Army Air Corps
Filipino military aviators
Macapagal administration personnel
Filipino police chiefs
Garcia administration personnel