Lt. Jose C. Gozar
A hero is a person who in face of danger, combats adversity through impressive feats of ingenuity, bravery, or strength, after sacrificing his own. personal concerns for the greater good”.
Lt. Jose Conco Gozar was one of the Five Filipino pilots headed by Capt. Jesus Villamor engaged the vastly superior Japanese Air Force that invaded and destroyed the American and Philippine Air Force on December 8, 1941. For his gallantry in his service to his country, he was awarded posthumously with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Star. He was also honored by the Bureau of Post by printing commemorative airmail stamps with Gozar as an aviation hero. A Radar Station in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro was named Gozar Station (1961).
Lt. Jose Conco Gozar was born and raised in Calapan. He graduated from Mindoro High School as Salutatorian, next to his Sister Estronica who was the class valedictorian (1936).
Despite their poverty, Estronica (Nene) and Jose (Pepe) pursued studies in Manila through scholarship. Pepe enrolled at the University of the Philippines at the College of Liberal Arts (Pre-Law) and Nene went to a Pharmaceutical College.
As a pre-law student, Gozar responded to a government’s call for trainees at the pioneering Flying School of the Air Corps. Philippine Army in 1938. He qualified as a flying instructor after completing the course.
Written by Mr. Florante D. Villarica
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