High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas (March 21, 1924 born in Casa Blanca, California, died March 20, 1945 in Luzon, Philippines), was a United States Army soldier who posthumously received the Medal of Honor - the United States` highest military decoration for his actions during World War II. On March 20, 1945, at age 20, Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas was killed in action during the Battle of Luzon in the Philippines. Villegas single-handedly cleared five enemy foxholes that had his squad pinned down.