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.
Jesus Vargas | |
|---|---|
.jpg) General Jesus Vargas in Bangkok 1969 | |
| Secretary General of SEATO | |
| In office 1 July 1965 – 5 September 1972 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos Diosdado Macapagal |
| Preceded by | Konthi Suphamongkhon |
| Succeeded by | Sunthorn Hongladarom |
| Secretary of National Defense | |
| In office August 28, 1957 – May 18, 1959 | |
| President | Carlos P. Garcia |
| Preceded by | Sotero Cabahug |
| Succeeded by | Alejo Santos |
| Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | |
| In office December 30, 1953 – December 29, 1956 | |
| President | Ramon Magsaysay |
| Preceded by | Calixto Duque |
| Succeeded by | Alfonso Arellano |
| Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | |
| In office 1951–1953 | |
| President | Elpidio Quirino |
| The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines | |
| In office 1950–1951 | |
| President | Elpidio Quirino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jesus Miranda Vargas 22 March 1905 Manila |
| Died | 25 March 1994 |
| Citizenship | Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Education | Philippine Constabulary Academy (BS) |
| Alma mater | Field Artillery School US Command Staff College |
| Awards |
|
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Philippine Army Philippine Constabulary |
| Years of service | 1937 - 1956 (PA) 1929 - 1937 (PC) |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | World War II Hukbalahap Rebellion |
Early life
editJesus 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
edit
This biographical article is written like a résumé. (June 2023) |
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
editGold 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
editVargas 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.