Gold Cross * Distinguished Service Star, *Long Service medal * Military Commendation ribbon * Army Commendation ribbon *Philippine Republic Presidential citation badge *Distinguished Unit Badge *Luzon Campaign medal * Philippine Defense medal and ribbon * Philippine Liberation medal and ribbon * Anti-dissidence Campaign ribbon * American Defense Services medal and ribbon * Asiatic-Pacific War Theater Campaign medal and ribbon * World War II Victory medal and ribbon * Order of Military Merit (Taiguk), Republic of Korea *Order of the White Elephant, Thailand * Military Merit Medal (degree of the commander).
Vargas was a World War 2veteran. He served in the Philippine Army from 1937 to 1951.
PC, 1930-1935; aide-de-camp to the Philippine President and Commanding Officer, President Guard Battalion, 1943; Executive Officer, Ground Force, 1947-1948; Superintendent, Manila ROTC, 1948-1949; Commander, 5th Battalion Combat Team (Huk campaign), 1949–50;
Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP 1950-1951; Vice Chief of Staff, AFP, 1951-1953; Chief of Staff, AFP, 1953-1956; military adviser, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), 1954-1956; retired Lieutenant General, Armed Forces of the Philippines; Secretary of National Defense, 1957-1959;
Board Chairman, National Waterworks & Sewerage Authority, 1957–59; president, Philippine American Management & Financing Company, 1961–65; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, 1962–65; and secretary-general, SEATO, 1965-72.
Medals and awards
Gold Cross, Distinguished Service Star, Long Service medal, Military Commendation ribbon, Army Commendation ribbon, Philippine Republic Presidential citation badge, Distinguished Unit Badge. Luzon Campaign medal, Philippine Defense medal and ribbon, Philippine Liberation medal and ribbon, Anti-dissidence Campaign ribbon, American Defense Services medal and ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific War Theater Campaign medal and ribbon, World War II Victory medal and ribbon, Order of Military Merit (Taiguk), Republic of Korea; Order of the White Elephant, Thailand; and Military Merit Medal (degree of the commander).
Personal life
Vargas was married to Rosalina Morillo in 1931[1] and had four children. Their names are Jesus Jr., Nandy, Francisco, Teresa and Baby Vargas.