Col. Jesus Rodriguez Jenny Franco

March 16, 1920 - July 17, 2006

One of the few remaining heroes of the Second World War, Col. Jesus Franco, a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March, died in his home in Vallejo, Calif., last Monday, July 17, 2006.

During the liberation of Manila from the Japanese forces, Col. Jesus Franco and his men were instrumental in the rescue of 276 American internees at the University of Santo Tomas Education Center, among whom were Mrs. Seana Morgan Ward, wife of Lt. Col. Olin Samuel Ward Jr., Assist. Army Attache of the U.S. Embassy; Capt. Frank Graziani and the family of the wife of Col. Osias E. Labao (PC, GSC).

For his military service and acts of heroism and bravery during the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Silver Medal, three Purple Hearts, Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Pistol Marksmanship, POW Medal and Combat Infantry.

He was born in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines on March 16, 1920 of Spanish and German parentage. His father, Gen. Ramon Franco, was a brother of Generallisimo Franco of Spain. He immigrated to the United States in 1989. He had been an active member of several Filipino Community societies in Vallejo, pushing for reforms for improvement of the living conditions of the elderly. He was also an active member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Narcisa Franco; four daughters, Carmen Goco, Soledad Ruivivar, Rosario Enriquez and Purificacion Valerozo; five sons, Jesus Jr., Manuel, Luis, Salvador and Ramon; 29 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. A son, Francisco, died earlier in 1998.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. today at St. Basil's Catholic Church, Vallejo. Burial with military honors will be at All Souls Catholic Cemetery, Vallejo.