The first paratrooper to be awarded the Individual Military Medal in the Ifni-Sahara campaign has passed away

The first paratrooper to be awarded the Individual Military Medal in the Ifni-Sahara campaign, Commander Ángel Canales López, passed away on the 23rd of May at 87 years old in the city of Murcia.

With his passing, one of the great chapters in Spanish military history comes to an end. His passing is also particularly significant for paratrooper units: he was the first paratrooper to be awarded a medal of this kind, which is awarded for acts of irrefutable bravery.

Commander Canales recieved the award in 1959, two years after he risked his life to save his comrades in the 9th Company of the 2nd Paratrooper Unit after an accident in the Junker-52 plane in which they were travelling, which crashed in the Ifni territory because of an engine failure shortly after taking off.

Those who did not die in the accident and were not burnt in the flames tried to get out of the plane, but the parachutes and the equipment made it very difficult. Despite the fire and explosions, Canales, then a lance sergeant, did not hesitate to help them free themselves and saved several of his comrades. He suffered serious burns to the face, hands and legs, and the prognosis was very bad. Although his life was at risk for several days, he managed to recover and, after a long convalescence, he rejoined the unit where he remained for many years.

In 2003, Commander Canales was also named by the King as a Knight of the Royal Military Order of San Fernando. In fact, upon hearing the news of his passing, King Felipe sent the Army Chief of Staff a message of condolence to the military family for its loss.