Heroes of World War II: Ramon A. Alcaraz
- museomaritimo
- Sep 22
- 3 min read
September 20, 2025 – Manila, NCR, Philippines
An Article by Ibarra Bacani
The Pacific War (a theater of the Second World War) between the United States and Japan is well documented. American soldiers, sailors, pilots and marines continually faced a stubborn and determined enemy that would stop at nothing to protect their Asian holdings and Japan from eventual Allied invasion. As many will know, the Philippines too played a role in fighting in the war, usually in the form of guerrilla fighters when the Japanese occupied the country from 1942 to 1945. Yet, we should not overlook the contributions made by other Filipinos, especially those who served in the armed forces before the occupation. One person that deserves mention is Ramon A. Alcaraz, also known as “Monching”. Born on August 31, 1915, in Plaridel, Bulacan, Alcaraz joined the Philippine Military Academy in 1936, becoming a commissioned officer in 1940. He would later join the newly formed Off Shore Patrol (OSP, the predecessor to the Philippine Navy), which was part of the United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE).
When the war reached the Philippines, Alcaraz, commanding Q-112 “Abra” (a torpedo boat) shot down three Japanese dive bombers near the straights between Bataan and Corregidor island. For this distinction, General Douglas MacArthur, commander of all Philippine and American forces, awarded Alcaraz the Silver Star and a promotion to first lieutenant in 1942. When the Philippines fell, Alcaraz was captured by Japanese forces, before being released and ordered to undergo retraining as a police officer. Yet, Alcaraz was subtlety resisting the Japanese occupation, making secret contact with guerilla groups while also building his secret network of informants to give the Japanese a false sense of security. Through this, Alcaraz gathered and passed on information to the exiled USAFFE in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines.
After the war, Alcaraz continued serving in the armed forces, eventually becoming head of Naval Operating Forces until he retired in 1966. Throughout his career in the armed forces, Alcaraz received several awards such as the World War II Victory Medal, the Gold Cross and the Philippine Independence Medal. Alcaraz would later settle in the United States during the Martial Law era. During his time in the United States, Alcaraz supported Filipino veterans, eventually persuading the United States Congress to enact the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill. The bill, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, gave veterans a one-time, lump-sum of $198 million as payment and recognition for their services during the Second World War. Shortly after the bill was passed, Alcaraz passed away on June 25, 2009. He was 93 years old. The legacy of Alcaraz was evident in the form of a ship named after him (BRP Ramon Alcaraz), a Hamilton-class cutter in the Philippines Navy. The actions of Ramon A. Alcaraz, alongside the thousands of Filipino fighters, should never be forgotten—a constant reminder that they sacrificed so much for future generations to live in relative peace and freedom.
Sources:
“About Ramon A. Alcaraz,” The Philippine Diary Project. Accessed 9 September, 2025. https://philippinediaryproject.com/about-the-philippine-diary-project/about-the-diaries/about-ramon-a-alcaraz/.
Ramon Farolan. “Ramon Alcaraz and national defense.” Inquirer.Net, 4 August, 2013. Accessed 11 September, 2025. https://opinion.inquirer.net/58115/ramon-alcaraz-and-national-defense.