A People’s History of the Inland Empire Digital Archive

2010 Calendar page 3, March

2021.003.003

Document

A calendar cover page for March/Marzo 2010 presents photos of Ysmael Villegas, a WWII Army veteran originally from Casa Blanca, California. The 6 photos are in black and white, presumably from his days serving under the navy during WWII (1939-1945). There is a photo of his Army portrait, his medal with the caption reading "Dedication: His courage will always be and inspiration to all for he is our hometown hero, who left us so long ago," his gravestone and burial, a certificate of recognition under the county of Riverside from Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge on March 21st, 2004 stating "STAFF SERGEANT YSMAEL VILLEGAS DAY shall be recognized annually on March 21st in the City of Riverside, and on behalf of all our citizens, do hereby pay tribute to the bravery and spirit of Ysmael Villegas and all that it represents to the City and to our country," and of the Ysmael R. Villegas Middle School from present day. The memorial description of his wartime life at the top center reads, "SMILEY'S BRAVERY On March 20, 1945 his unit was in a forward position when they clashed with a strongly entrenched unit of the Japanese Army. Moving from man to man, while under scathing and direct fire, he encouraged his men to drive forward. Smiley took the initiative himself and in a rapid succession made direct frontal attacks on six fox holes containing Japanese gunners. He killed the occupants of the first five holes and was on his way to the sixth when a hail of enemy bullets killed him. Inspired by his gallantry, his men gained the crest of the heavily defended hill and swept the Japanese from the field. U.S. Army tersely-worded report."

World War II;
United States Military Personnel;
Mexican-American Military Service;
U.S. Military;
Commemoration; Memorial; Dedication

World War II

Mexican American Military Service

U.S. Military

Commemoration

Memorial

Veteran

20th Century

Linda Salinas-Thompson

2010; 1945

Riverside County Mexican American Historical Society (RCMAHS)

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Spanish; English