Mary Grace Baloyo

Mary Grace P. Baloyo
Air Force Captain Mary Grace Baloyo in the uniform of an Aviation Cadet
Nickname(s) "Amazing Grace"
Born 1973
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
Died 26 March 2001
Mabalacat, Pampanga
Burial Site Bacolod City
Allegiance Philippines Philippines
Service/branch Philippine Air Force
Years of service 1995 - 2001
Rank Captain
Unit 15th Strike Wing
Awards Medal of Valor

Mary Grace Baloyo was a First lieutenant in the Philippine Air Force who posthumously received the Philippines' highest military award for courage - the Medal of Valor.[1] The circumstances in which she was awarded the medal is unique in that it was not given for actions against enemy forces but rather for self-sacrifice. On 26 March 2001, the plane she was flying, a North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, experienced engine trouble and rapidly descended into a heavily populated area. Instead of ejecting, she chose to stay on board and diverted the plane before it crashed, thereupon killing herself. To date, Baloyo is one of only four recipients of the medal from the Philippine Air Force and the only female recipient of the medal. She was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Gomez, Carla (4 April 2001). "Gloria Confers Medal of Valor on Heroine Pilot". Philippine Daily Inquirer. pp. A4. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Gomez, Carla (9 April 2001). "She Showed All of Us How a Soldier Should Die". Philippine Daily Inquirer. pp. A6. Retrieved 1 September 2015.


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