In the book “Tabunan: The Untold Exploits of the Famed Cebu Guerillas in World War II” by Cebu War Hero, Colonel Manuel F. Segura (first printed in 1975) he printed the citations of the awards bestowed on some of the gallant Cebuano soldiers, among them is Captain Fernando Villamor. The citation read:
“CAPT. FERNANDO VILLAMOR, G-3, Cebu Area Command, took every opportunity to display courage and leadership. He also got the Gold Cross Medal under GO No. HPA 22 July 1945. His citation reads: AS AC of S, G-3, Villamor assisted in the command and direction of units committed to launch an assault with the mission to destroy enemy pillbox and capture Baksan Hill near Cebu City. He led parts of the units of his command up the steep slopes and over rugged terrain under heavy enemy fire. When they were only 100 yards off, he was wounded in the arm by enemy fire. Disregarding the wound, Villamor continued supervising the assault.”
Captain Villamor was part of the Lawaan-Minglanilla Ambush on October 7, 1942 led by Colonel James Cushing (major at that time), David Rivera, Lt. Simeon Labajo, and Captain Manuel Segura, where 55 Japanese soldiers were killed and three guerillas wounded. This was how Segura, who was part of ambush team, narrated the event: “Early the next morning, 7 October, we took our ambush positions in Lawaan. The site was the portion of the road leading away from the south end of the Mananga River Bridge. The road curved into a lazy S at a fairly steep gradient so that we were sure that loaded trucks would slowly crawl up in low gear at this point. Lt. Villamor commanded the men on the east side along the curve on the embankment overlooking the road on the south as soon as firing started on the main body of the convoy of trucks…
Villamor’s men had a field day when the firing finally began as two of the trucks stopped right in front of them at point-blank range; his platoon accounted for most of the Japanese killed.”
Captain Villamor led the Battle of Babag Ridge from January 5 to 6, 1944. He likewise led the attack on a Japanese camp in Pandan, Naga, on January 7 to 11, 1945 were the guerillas killed 35 Japanese soldiers and burned three buildings. Villamor was joined by captains Acebes and Mascarinas. In that assault, Private Constancio Rabana was killed.
Snappy salute to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. for having reprinted a new edition (2018) of Segura’s book, it has a critical introduction by National Artist Resil B. Mojares and edited/annotated by Erlinda Kintanar-Alburo. The book is available at the Casa Gorordo Museum, Eduardo Aboitiz Street, Cebu City.