Col. Melchior A. Acosta, PA

Col. Melchior A. Acosta, PA was born on 06 January 1915 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. A combined law and business student before entering PMA, his opinion was invariably sought for and esteemed by his classmates. Mel was also the flyweight boxing champion of PMA in 1936-37. After graduation, he attended the Infantry School at Camp Murphy. Afterwards, he was assigened to the UP ROTC, Los Baños. On 19 July 1941, he married Lourdes Isla and five months later, Mel was fighting the enemy in Bataan. He was taken POW, joined the Death March and was incarcerated in Capas. After his release as a sick POW, he joined the USAFIPNL guerillas where he won a Gold Cross Medal for gallantry in action. After the war, he was sent to the Infantry School in Ft. Benning, GA. He served in various positions of responsibility in the new PA. In 1966, Mel joined the private sector to become a successful insurance underwriter. He died on 9 Jan 1983, three days after his 68th birthday.

Sources

• "Philippine Military Academy Class of 1940". http://bit.ly/1fNkp02. Date accessed: 24 February 2014.