Rafael Ileto

Rafael Manio Ileto
LtGen Rafael M Ileto AFP
Nickname(s)	Rocky Father of the Scout Rangers
Born	October 24, 1920 San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Philippine Islands
Died	June 19, 2003 Philippine Heart Center, Quezon City, Philippines
Allegiance	Republic of the Philippines
Service/branch	Philippine Army
Years of service	1943-1978
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	1st Filipino Infantry Regiment Alamo scouts 1st Scout Ranger Regiment
Commands held	Vice Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Battles/wars	Raid at Cabanatuan Invasion of Lingayen Gulf World War II Hukbalahap Rebellion
Other work	Secretary, Department of National Defense Director, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency

Rafael Manio Ileto (October 24, 1920 – June 19, 2003) served as the 22nd Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) of the Philippines. He also became the Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He also served as Philippine Ambassador to Turkey, Iran, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.

Rafael Ileto was born on October 24, 1920 in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. He took up his primary education in his hometown, and finished his secondary education in Nueva Ecija High School in Cabanatuan City.

Ileto then entered the University of the Philippines pursuing an Engineering degree for the first two years, but later entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1940. Topping his class in PMA, Ileto gained his appointment to the United States Military Academy in West Point, through the Foreign Cadet Program. He finished with the accelerated Class of 1943 (which actually graduated in 1942), along with prominent members such as Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, Maj. Gen. Harold Parfitt, Brig. Gen. Robert F. McDermott, and Gen. Bernard W. Rogers.

Upon graduating from West Point, 2nd. Lt. Ileto entered the Infantry School for three months in Fort Benning, Georgia. From there he joined the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment in Camp San Luis Obispo, California, which departed on September 19, 1943, to join the Pacific Theater of Operations - beginning with the New Guinea Campaign.