Private Villalva was a member of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on 20 October 1950 and returned to duty later that day. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on 20 May 1951.

Villalva was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.