José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde (February 21, 1888 in Caraguatay – September 7, 1940 in Altos) was a Paraguayan military officer, politician and president. He was Commander in Chief of the Paraguayan Army during the Chaco War (1932-1935), and later served as President of Paraguay from August 15, 1939, until his death in a plane crash on September 7, 1940. He is known for being one of the military officers of the Paraguayan Army who led Paraguay to victory in the Chaco War against Bolivia, having been an excellent military strategist during the conflict and becoming a war hero, being posthumously promoted to the rank of Field Marshal by Decree-Law No. 2984 of the Government of Higinio Morínigo, in date September 7, 1940. Early life Estigarribia was of humble origin, the son of a peasant and silversmith, Mateo Estigarribia, and Casilda Insaurralde. He was born in the rural town of San Roque near Santa Elena, Cordillera Department, Paraguay. He went to the elementary school of his hometown and in 1908, he went to study at Trinity College of Agriculture. However, after he had obtained his diploma, Estigarribia switched careers and in 1910 joined the army with the rank of lieutenant of infantry. Early career Educated as an agronomist, he joined the National Army in 1910 and spent time in Chile and in Saint Cyr's military academy in France for additional training. He commanded the First Infantry Division during the Chaco War and was promoted successively to brigadier, division general, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. In 1935, he made a victorious return to Asunción as "Hero of the Chaco War" and was awarded a lifetime pension of 1,000 gold pesos a month. He was dismissed from the position of armed forces chief after President Eusebio Ayala was overthrown in the Febrerista Revolution by Rafael Franco, but served as Paraguay's ambassador to the United States. He completed courses in Chile, from 1911 to 1913, the Military School of Bernardo O'Higgins. In 1917 he was promoted to captain. Played an important role in the revolution of 1922 in Paraguay and was later promoted to Major. For their skills was selected to attend the course staff, three-year at the École Supérieure de Guerre at Paris, where he was a disciple of General Maurice Gamelin and Marshal Foch. Estigarribia graduated there with top notes. On his return in 1928 was appointed Chief of Staff of