The principal moving spirit behind the Hunters organization was its commander, Col Eleuterio Adevoso. Known as Terry Magtangol during the guerrilla days, he placed his stamp of personality in every activity of his unit, so much so that it was sometimes called Terry's Hunters. From the moment he began acting as Executive Officer of the organization on January 15, 1942 and through the period that he commanded it in the dark days of the enemy occupation and during the height of the liberation campaign, Col Adevoso exhibited organizational ability and courageous leadership in pulling the Hunters unit through the numerous trials and hardships that it encountered in its existence. "For his meritorious and valuable service in a position of major responsibility from January 15, 1942 to January 30, 1945," Adevoso was awarded the Distinguished Service Star..

The outstanding achievement of Col Adevoso as guerilla leader is recited in the following citation for his DSS:

"As E-O and later CO of the Hunters ROTC Guerillas, Adevoso helped organize the unit to a high peak of training and discipline that won the admiration and complete confidence and faith of the civilian population. He led his organization, after the death of its leaders through all conceivable ordeals, trials, and tribulations during the dark and frightful years of Japanese domination. With his sterling devotion to duty, cause and country, dogged patience and determination, he inspired the organization to grow to a compact, disciplined, well-trained, well-organized unit which is one of the largest guerrilla units in Luzon. The accuracy of the intelligence reports submitted by the ROTC Hunters Guerrilla units and the effectiveness of its counter intelligence enabled the 11th Airborne Division to advance rapidly after their parachute landings in Nasugbu and Tagaytay. He flew with the first plane into Lucena in the combined airborne-amphibious operations of the 11th Airborne Division. This assistance rendered contributed materially to the early defeat of the Japanese in southern Luzon."