November 17, 1922 – May 14, 2019
2nd Lieutenant, USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East),
Department of Defense, United States of America
Avelino, is known to most of his relatives, and friends as, “Lynn”. He was born on, November 17, 1922, in Magoong, Linamon, Lanao del Norte. Lynn was married to Mary Besiledes Villalba Pajo, and is now with the LORD when He called her home, on, December 02, 2017. Lynn and Bessie have six children (Virginia, Benjamin, Remedios “Remy”, Clifford, Avelino Jr., and Daniel)…. 11 grandchildren…. and, 1 step-granddaughter.
Lynn and Bessie immigrated here in America, on September 11, 1983 – wherein, six months after being here in America, Lynn was immediately granted an American citizenship, by virtue of his being a USAFFE Veteran.
Both Lynn and Bessie were active members (1985-2010), at West Side Presbyterian Church; Bessie as a choir member, while, Lynn did the posters of the church, during his early years at West Side Presbyterian Church.
Prior to immigrating here in America, Lynn, was inducted as, 2nd Lieutenant, under USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East) of the United States of America, on December 7, 1941, while going through an advance, Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. Lynn and his troop were directed to go to Luzon/Bataan, as reinforcement of the troops.
While on the way to Luzon/Bataan, from Cebu, the two shipload of soldiers were torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Fortunately, and by the saving grace of GOD, Lynn was not scheduled to be on board on either of those ships – but was scheduled on board on the next ship that was to come.
On April 9, 1942, when the USAFFE headed by Commanding General Wainright was attacked and surrounded by the Japanese armies. General Wainright ordered the entire members of USAFFE to surrender peacefully. Upon hearing this, Lynn, who is also a commanding officer of his own troop, did not comply to this order to surrender – but instead -- ordered his men to go on board, via a “banca” from Cebu to Davao (a part of the Mindanao Island), where Lynn immediately organized the guerilla movement with the purpose of continuing to fight and defend the country -- but his troop were in constant communication with General Douglas MacArthur, until, such time that General Douglas MacArthur came back to the Philippines to fulfill his promise of, “I SHALL RETURN!” to the USAFFE troop, and the Filipino people.
As soon as he came back to the Philippines, all Japanese armies from all over the country surrendered, and the USAFFE members who were imprisoned by the Japanese Army at the time, were soon released.
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