May 27, 2022

Congressman Castro Holds Posthumous Medal Presentation Ceremony for WWII Veteran Basilio R. Ybarra

SAN ANTONIO — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) held a posthumous medal presentation ceremony for U.S. Army Sergeant Basilio R. Ybarra, a San Antonio soldier who served in World War II. 

 

First image: Rep. Castro presents the late Sgt. Ybarra’s medals to his son, Edward C. Ybarra. Second image: Rep. Castro with members of the Ybarra family.

To download high-quality images from today’s ceremony click, here and here.

“One of my greatest honors as a member of Congress is the opportunity to recognize the sacrifice and bravery of our nation’s veterans and fallen servicemembers,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “Sergeant Ybarra’s bravery, courage and commitment to his country will never be forgotten. During today’s ceremony, it was an honor to remember and celebrate his service by presenting his family with the medals he earned during his years in the Army.”

"My father was a good son, husband and a caring father,” said Edward C. Ybarra. “He served in the U.S. Army, a proud soldier, who obeyed orders and did his job well. When he was ordered to fight in the China, Burma, India Campaign in WWII he never thought about the medals he would be awarded. When he was honorably discharged in 1945, my dad just wanted to come home to his family. My Father is our hero."

During the ceremony, Congressman Castro awarded the Ybarra family with the following medals:

  1. Bronze Star Medal: The Bronze Star Medal recognizes service members who show acts of heroism in the field, or who are meritorious in their work. To qualify, service members must perform these acts during an armed conflict against an enemy of the United States. The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a decoration presented to recognize all military members who have served in active duty during a declared "national emergency".
  2. Good Conduct Medal: The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States Armed Forces. The Army Good Conduct Medal is given to any enlisted U.S. Army personnel who carry out three consecutive years of "honorable and faithful service”. 
  3. American Campaign Medal: The American Campaign Medal - WWII is granted to personnel who served one year of consecutive duty between December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946, and within the continental borders of the U.S., as well as to those who served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty outside the borders of the U.S. but within the American Theater of Operations.
  4. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 bronze service stars: The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is awarded to any member of the United States Armed Forces who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Bronze Service Stars also known as Campaign Stars are worn on campaign and service medals to denote participation in a named campaign. 
  5. World War II Victory Medal: The World War II Victory Medal is presented to all members of the U.S. military who served in active duty or as a reserve during the period of December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946. 
  6. Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award: The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers who personally fought in active ground combat while as an assigned member of either infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size or smaller, any time after December 6, 1941. 
  7. Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII: The Honorable Service Lapel Button, colloquially called "Ruptured Duck" by the members of the military, is a lapel button awarded for honorable Federal military service between 1925 and 1946. The award was issued to wear on the left lapel of civilian clothing upon discharge.

Background:

Biographical details provided by the Ybarra family.

Basilio R. Ybarra was born in San Marcos, Texas on August 16, 1922, and attended Brackenridge High School in San Antonio. As an adult, he and his wife, the late Victoria C. Ybarra, welcomed three children — Julia, Joann, and Edward.

Ybarra was a staunch patriot with an enduring commitment to his nation. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 8, 1942, and served as a squad leader in the China, Burma, India Theater. His unit, the 124th Cavalry Regiment of the Texas National Guard, along with the 475th Infantry Regiment combined to become the MARS Task Force. Also known as MARSmen, their mission was to drive Japanese soldiers from north Burma and to help clear a land route to China. Sgt. Ybarra was honorably discharged on November 29, 1945. Upon returning from the Army, Ybarra worked for Nabisco. He passed away from a stroke on May 4, 1983, at the age of 60.