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Jesus Vargas (general)

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Jesus Vargas
General Jesus Vargas in Bangkok 1969
Secretary General of SEATO
In office
1 July 1965 – 5 September 1972
PresidentFerdinand Marcos
Diosdado Macapagal
Preceded byKonthi Suphamongkhon
Succeeded bySunthorn Hongladarom
Secretary of National Defense
In office
August 28, 1957 – May 18, 1959
PresidentCarlos P. Garcia
Preceded bySotero Cabahug
Succeeded byAlejo Santos
Chief of Staff, Philippines Armed Forces
In office
December 30, 1953 – December 29, 1956
PresidentRamon Magsaysay
Preceded byCalixto Duque
Succeeded byAlfonso Arellano
Vice Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
1951–1953
PresidentElpidio Quirino
Deputy Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office
1950–1951
PresidentElpidio Quirino
Personal details
Born
Jesus Miranda Vargas

22 March 1905
Manila
Died25 March 1994
CitizenshipPhilippines
NationalityFilipino
EducationPhilippine Constabulary Academy (BS)
Alma materField Artillery School
US Command Staff College
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).
Military service
Branch/servicePhilippine Army
Philippine Constabulary
Years of service1937 - 1956 (PA)
1929 - 1937 (PC)
RankLieutenant General Lieutenant General
Battles/warsWorld War II
Hukbalahap Rebellion

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

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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

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Vargas with US President Richard Nixon in 1969

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

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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

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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

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References

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  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.