| Percival "Percy" Pascua, M.D. Winniipeg Manitoba, Canada Brilliant Military Physician Achiever and Highlighter of Positive Filipino Image |
While most Filipino-American physicians who have distinguished
themselves in their respective fields have developed their career
serving the civilian populace, only very few respective fields have
in fact distinguished themselves by serving the needs of the
uniformed servicemen and women in the military, as one of our
awardees in this year's Twenty Outstanding Filipino Americans
in the U.S. and Canada. He is Dr. Percival "Percy" Pascua.
Most Filipino-American doctors' offices would be adorned with
their academic credentials. Dr. Pascua's office in his home city of
Topeka, Kansas is filled wth numerous awards and
commendations the United States military has accorded him for
more than a quarter century of dedicated service.
Specifically, Dr. Pascua served in the US Air Force for 28 years,
retiring last March with the rank of Colonel and also becoming the
first Filipno-American to obtain the highest rank in the Kansas Air
National Guard.
He and his wife Erlina, also a physician, after completing their
advanced medical studies in the late 60's joined the US Air Force
as commissioned officers in 1978. For the next six years they
themselves in their respective fields have developed their career
serving the civilian populace, only very few respective fields have
in fact distinguished themselves by serving the needs of the
uniformed servicemen and women in the military, as one of our
awardees in this year's Twenty Outstanding Filipino Americans
in the U.S. and Canada. He is Dr. Percival "Percy" Pascua.
Most Filipino-American doctors' offices would be adorned with
their academic credentials. Dr. Pascua's office in his home city of
Topeka, Kansas is filled wth numerous awards and
commendations the United States military has accorded him for
more than a quarter century of dedicated service.
Specifically, Dr. Pascua served in the US Air Force for 28 years,
retiring last March with the rank of Colonel and also becoming the
first Filipno-American to obtain the highest rank in the Kansas Air
National Guard.
He and his wife Erlina, also a physician, after completing their
advanced medical studies in the late 60's joined the US Air Force
as commissioned officers in 1978. For the next six years they
were assigned at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita where Dr. Pascua rose to the rank of Chief of Staff.
After his stint at McConnell, he joined the Kansas Air Force National Guard where his brillant career unfolded.
His achievements have brought him the honor of being the first Filipino-American State Air Surgeon in the
U.S. Alongside this distinction, numerous awards have come forth, notably being the first one in his rank to
receive the Surgeon General's Air National Guard Award during the convention of Military Surgeons of the U.S.
in Anaheim, California in 1999. As of today, there are only two other recipients of this award in the entire
United States. Earlier in his career, he was also the first Filipino-American and first minority to be appointed
to the Governor's Military Disabilty Board in 1993.
The accolades do not end here. Dr. Pascua, also the first Filipino-American and the first minority awardee to
receive the highest medal of honor, the Medal of Excellence, from General Gardner, on March 3, 2001. There
have only been six recipients of this award to date.
Simultaneously, he was also awarded the Legion of Merit in the Air National Guard, the seventh highest
military decoration given to deserving officers of the entire U.S. Armed Forces. This medal was also
presented to Dr. Pascua last March 2001.
Dr. Pascua's leadership skills have never gone unnoticed n any of his assignments. When he took
command of the 190th Air Refuel Group Medical Corp, the unit had previously receved unsatisfactory ratings.
Employing his capabilities as a leader, it didn't take long before the unit passed the very demanding Health
Service Readiness Inspection. For this acheivement, as well as for the outstanding service he provided
especially during the deployment of reservists for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he received the
Kansas National Guard's highest honor - the Distinguished Performance Award, presented during special
ceremonies by then Adjutant General James Rueger and State Governor Joan Finney. This award eventually
led to his being appointed "State Air Surgeon" by the Surgeon-General, the highest position n the medical
corps of the Kansas Air Natonal Guard, making Dr. Pascua the first Kansas physician to hold this title.
Having honored his leadership skills in the global arena, it was no surprise when he was appointed by the
Partnership Program for Peace of the Armed Services of the United States to be the Medical Detachment
Commander for the largest peace-keeping exercise in the world,"Peace Shield 2000", held in the Ukraine in
July 2000, and involving the armed forces of 26 nations (including NATO and non-NATO countries). From
2000-2001 Dr. Pascua was the first Filipino-American to be appointed as a member of the Resolution
Committee of the National Guard Association and member of the Executive Committee of the Reserve
Officers Association of the U.S.
His wife, a lieutenant colonel, succeeded him as commander of the 190th Air National Guard Medical Corp
and continues to serve as medical director for the Kansas Neurological Institute.
While living a demanding career and occupying such a key position in the State of Kansas, Dr. Pascua has
never forgotten his Filipino roots. He has been active in various socio-civic organizations. For instance, he
was a pionering member of the Board of the Filipino-American Association of Topeka, Kansas. Both he and
his wife are acive in the Kansas National Guard Museum, Kansas Family Initiative Multi-Cultural Advisory
Committee, International Drug Strategy Institute, the Topeka Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars,
the Reserve Officers Association of Kansas, among others.
When asked about the primary driving force for these achievements, Dr. Pascua modestly says,"It's not the
awards, the medals or commendations that matter; it's helping people. I was fortunate to serve the needs of
military personnel and their dependents during my active duty as well as that of the public in my present
capacity at Menninger Clinic."
Reflecting on the future, Dr. Pascua says," am looking forward to serving the Lord, my country and helping
preserve my Filipino heritage. Concretely, to me it translates into promoting mentoring to the younger
generation and helping them become outstanding leaders of my State and the whole nation." #
After his stint at McConnell, he joined the Kansas Air Force National Guard where his brillant career unfolded.
His achievements have brought him the honor of being the first Filipino-American State Air Surgeon in the
U.S. Alongside this distinction, numerous awards have come forth, notably being the first one in his rank to
receive the Surgeon General's Air National Guard Award during the convention of Military Surgeons of the U.S.
in Anaheim, California in 1999. As of today, there are only two other recipients of this award in the entire
United States. Earlier in his career, he was also the first Filipino-American and first minority to be appointed
to the Governor's Military Disabilty Board in 1993.
The accolades do not end here. Dr. Pascua, also the first Filipino-American and the first minority awardee to
receive the highest medal of honor, the Medal of Excellence, from General Gardner, on March 3, 2001. There
have only been six recipients of this award to date.
Simultaneously, he was also awarded the Legion of Merit in the Air National Guard, the seventh highest
military decoration given to deserving officers of the entire U.S. Armed Forces. This medal was also
presented to Dr. Pascua last March 2001.
Dr. Pascua's leadership skills have never gone unnoticed n any of his assignments. When he took
command of the 190th Air Refuel Group Medical Corp, the unit had previously receved unsatisfactory ratings.
Employing his capabilities as a leader, it didn't take long before the unit passed the very demanding Health
Service Readiness Inspection. For this acheivement, as well as for the outstanding service he provided
especially during the deployment of reservists for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he received the
Kansas National Guard's highest honor - the Distinguished Performance Award, presented during special
ceremonies by then Adjutant General James Rueger and State Governor Joan Finney. This award eventually
led to his being appointed "State Air Surgeon" by the Surgeon-General, the highest position n the medical
corps of the Kansas Air Natonal Guard, making Dr. Pascua the first Kansas physician to hold this title.
Having honored his leadership skills in the global arena, it was no surprise when he was appointed by the
Partnership Program for Peace of the Armed Services of the United States to be the Medical Detachment
Commander for the largest peace-keeping exercise in the world,"Peace Shield 2000", held in the Ukraine in
July 2000, and involving the armed forces of 26 nations (including NATO and non-NATO countries). From
2000-2001 Dr. Pascua was the first Filipino-American to be appointed as a member of the Resolution
Committee of the National Guard Association and member of the Executive Committee of the Reserve
Officers Association of the U.S.
His wife, a lieutenant colonel, succeeded him as commander of the 190th Air National Guard Medical Corp
and continues to serve as medical director for the Kansas Neurological Institute.
While living a demanding career and occupying such a key position in the State of Kansas, Dr. Pascua has
never forgotten his Filipino roots. He has been active in various socio-civic organizations. For instance, he
was a pionering member of the Board of the Filipino-American Association of Topeka, Kansas. Both he and
his wife are acive in the Kansas National Guard Museum, Kansas Family Initiative Multi-Cultural Advisory
Committee, International Drug Strategy Institute, the Topeka Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars,
the Reserve Officers Association of Kansas, among others.
When asked about the primary driving force for these achievements, Dr. Pascua modestly says,"It's not the
awards, the medals or commendations that matter; it's helping people. I was fortunate to serve the needs of
military personnel and their dependents during my active duty as well as that of the public in my present
capacity at Menninger Clinic."
Reflecting on the future, Dr. Pascua says," am looking forward to serving the Lord, my country and helping
preserve my Filipino heritage. Concretely, to me it translates into promoting mentoring to the younger
generation and helping them become outstanding leaders of my State and the whole nation." #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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