Cmdre. Ramon A. Alcaraz, PN

Commodore Ramon A. Alcaraz, PN was born on 31 August 1915 in Quingua, Bulacan. Monching was a writer for the PMA publication "Corps" and the bantam weight boxing champion in 1937 and 1938. After graduation, he became the Captain of Q-112 torpedo boat and saw gallant action during WW II under the direct command of MacArthur. He was awarded the Silver Star for shooting down 3 low flying Japanese planes off Bataan in 17 January 1942 and won a field promotion.

After the fall of Bataan, he became a POW and was interned in Capas. After his release as POW, he joined the guerillas in Bulacan where he became a Regimental Commander. After the war, he rejoined the OSP and helped in building a new and bigger navy. He organized the Marines in 1950 on orders of the then defense secretary Magsaysay. He held various key positions and was promoted to Commodore, the highest navy rank in 1965. In 1966, Monching was relieved summarily as Fleet Commander.A controversy on the issue of honor was raised by Alcaraz. It escalated into a Congressional Investigation which cleared him of any wrong doing.

After retirement, he and his pharmacist wife, Conching, whom he married in 1960 established a chain of drug stores they called Commodore Drug. When Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, Monching went to California where he became a successful realtor.

Sources

• "Funeral set for Commodore Alcaraz, former POW and pillar of veterans’ cause". Philippine Defense Forces Forum. http://bit.ly/1cJRWuw. Date posted: 6 May 2012. Date accessed: 25 February 2014.
• "Philippine Military Academy Class of 1940". http://bit.ly/1fNkp02. Date accessed: 24 February 2014.