Vicente Rico Barros (July 27, 1887 – May 2, 1966) was a Filipino U.S. Army major who played a major role in the formation of the first federalized army of the Philippines at the end of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

(1917–18). Barros was formerly an officer of the Philippine Scouts (a defunct division of the U.S. Army). He was a decorated soldier and a veteran of the Philippine Constabulary (1907–1911) during the

Moro Rebellion The Moro Rebellion (1902–1913) was an armed conflict between the Moro people and the United States military during the Philippine–American War. The rebellion occurred after the conclusion of the conflict between the United States and Fir ...

before being absorbed by the U.S. Army's Philippine Division. Former Governor General of the Philippines Francis B. Harrison cited Barros for his role in a brief history of the Philippine National Guard, "The Division was commanded by Brigadier-General F.R. Day, U.S.A.; all officers above the grade of Major, by insistence of the army, were Americans, except Lieutenant-Colonel Vicente R. Barros, a West Point graduate."

Early life and education

Vicente Barros was born on July 27, 1887 in the town of

Lopez, Quezon Lopez, officially the Municipality of Lopez (), is a municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 94,657 people. History There was a flourishing coastal settlement somewhere in the ...

province (formerly Tayabas province). He is the son in a brood of ten of Don Pedro Jose Moran Barros and Honorata Rico of Arayat, Pampanga. Pedro Barros owned a large coconut plantation in Lopez and because of his political influence and official capacity, he was able to change the name of sitio Tinalpok to Concepcion in honor of his beautiful daughter. Vicente's father Pedro was also the Deputy Municipal Treasurer of the province of Tayabas and a judge. Vicente has a brother of prominence in Philippine literature, Salvador Barros, a writer and poet who died of dysentery and tuberculosis in 1940. Barros got his degree in education from

Philippine Normal School The Philippine Normal University (PNU; ) is a public coeducational teacher education and research university in the Philippines. It was established in 1901 through Act No. 74 of the Philippine Commission ''"for the education of natives of the ...

in 1906. He was a teacher for a year at

before joining the military.

Military career

Barros started his military career with the

Philippine Constabulary The Philippine Constabulary (PC; , ''HPP''; ) was a gendarmerie-type military police force of the Philippines from 1901 to 1991, and the predecessor to the Philippine National Police. It was created by the Insular Government, American occupat ...

in 1907 as a commissioned officer (Second-Lieutenant). He was later assigned to command a company in Mindanao and saw action in the

. The war took a heavy toll with more than a thousand casualties on the side of the government's two forces, the

and the

Philippine Scouts The Philippine Scouts ( Filipino: ''Maghahanap ng Pilipinas''/''Hukbong Maghahanap ng Pilipinas'') was a military organization of the United States Army from 1901 until after the end of World War II. These troops were generally Filipinos and ...

. His heroics in the battle earned him merits and medals, having injured from the fight. He survived the massacre of the Moros in 1911. In 1912 First-Lieutenant Barros was accepted in the U.S. Army as a Second-Lieutenant of the

Published works

Barros has published a number of books, including amendments to the Civil Service Code and a number of Philippine Laws and Regulations, after retiring from military career. * ''Social and Political Thoughts and Other Writings'' (1961) * ''War Maxims of Great Generals'' (1934)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barros, Vicente 1887 births 1966 deaths People from Quezon 20th-century Filipino military personnel Philippine Normal University alumni Recipients of the Silver Star Burials at the Libingan ng mga Bayani