Laurence Narag Sr.
Laurence M. Narag, Sr. was a corporal in the Philippine Marine Corps. He died on April 3, 2000, in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, during a battle against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He served as a radioman with the 61st Marine Company, Force Recon Battalion.
During a ten-hour fight at Sitio Illan, Delabayan, Narag scouted an entrenched MILF position and was spotted, taking sniper fire that wounded him. He kept his radio working and coordinated close air support from a Philippine Air Force OV-10 Bronco. When medic Corporal Ernesto Layaguin tried to reach him, Layaguin was killed by sniper fire. Narag crawled to cover and continued firing, relaying enemy positions and directing air strikes. Despite his own wounds, he refused evacuation until the commanding officer dragged him to a medevac vehicle. He died later in hospital.
His actions helped his unit endure the attack and contributed to the MILF’s losses from the air strike he helped call in. For acts of conspicuous courage, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor, the Philippines’ highest military honor. He is survived by his wife, Leset Narag, and their three children, including Laurence Jr.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:22 (CET).