Years of service 1995 - 2001 | Name Mary Baloyo Allegiance Philippines | |
 | ||
Burial Site Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte Awards Philippine Medal of Valor | ||
Place of burial Dipolog, Philippines | ||
Mary Grace Baloyo was a First lieutenant in the Philippine Air Force who posthumously received the Philippines' highest military award for courage - the Philippine Medal of Valor. The circumstances in which she was awarded the medal is unique in that it was not given for actions against enemy forces but rather for self-sacrifice. On 26 March 2001, the plane she was flying, a North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, experienced engine trouble and rapidly descended into a heavily-populated area. Instead of ejecting, she chose to stay on board and diverted the plane before it crashed, thereupon killing herself. To date, Baloyo is one of only four recipients of the medal from the Philippine Air Force and the only female recipient of the medal. She was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain.
