Angels At Dawn! - The Los Banos Airborne Raid 60th Anniversary

Posted By Blackfive

Colin R. sent me a reminder of an important anniversary today.

Today is the 60th Anniversary of the 11th Airborne Division's Los Banos Raid. The 11th Airborne were known as "The Angels" and they completed a harrowing and successful Airborne, Sea, and Land Assault to rescue civilian and military Prisoners of War (POW). You may notice that I "borrowed" the 11th Airborne Division's patch for the Blackfive logo. 

Here is the story of the Los Banos Raid told from the perspective of one of the POWs, Robert Wheeler:

The Angels Came at Dawn 
by Robert A. Wheeler, Los Banos Internee

On February 23, 1945, the Marines raised the flag on Mt. Suribachi, on the island of Iwo Jima. On that same morning, about 25 miles south of Manila in the Philippine Islands, the 11th Airborne Division began an operation about which Army Chief of Staff Colin Powell proclaimed, “I doubt that any airborne unit in the world will be able to rival the Los Banos prison raid. It is the textbook airborne operation for all ages and all armies.”

As that day dawned at Los Banos Civilian Internment Camp, it held two thousand one hundred and forty-six US, British, Canadian, French and other Allied civilian prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Forces. After several years of imprisonment, they were the remaining survivors, who were slowly but surely going to join their predecessors in starving to death. Among the remaining survivors were my father, mother, younger brother and myself.

We were down to one official meal a day; living on a bug-filled rice mush (mostly water) called lugau, banana tree stalks, papaya tree roots, slugs and in some cases, dogs and cats.

My father, who was almost six foot tall, weighed about 90 pounds, and my mother as she recalled said, “I stopped weighing myself when I weighed 80 pounds”. I myself weighed about seventy-nine pounds.

As we went to bed the night before, little did we know that as we slept, the men of the Recon Platoon of the 511th were sneaking up to their positions at key points outside the camp – the men of the 187th and 188th Regiments were busy keeping the Japanese troops occupied in a diversionary operation. The Men of the 672nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion were making their way in the dark with hand-held compasses across Laguna de Bay transporting the balance of the First Battalion of the 511th Regiment, and that “B” Company 511th was getting a little sleep at Nichols Field under the wings of the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron’s C-47s that were to carry them to their moment of history.

That morning, as I walked out of the barracks with my family to line up for 7:00 AM roll call, I looked up into the sky over a field near our camp and saw several C47 transport planes.

Suddenly, the sky filled with the “Angels”; the men of “B” Company of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, floating down as if from heaven in their white parachutes.

At that same moment, the Recon Platoon, which as I mentioned previously had infiltrated in during the night, hit the guard posts and began the race to the guard room where the off-duty guards had their rifles stored. Those guards were outside doing their regular 7:00 AM morning exercises.

By the way, the troopers won the race.

We all ran back into the barracks. With bullets flying just over my head through the grass mat walls, I lay on the floor under my bunk, eating my breakfast. I was so hungry that not even bullets could keep me form that pitifully meager portion of watery, buggy rice mush.

Soon one of the “Angels” came into our barracks shouting, “Grab only what you can carry and hurry outside to the Amtracs”.

Those Amtracs were manned by the men of the 672nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion which had brought the balance of the attacking force across Lake Laguna de Bay.

They had to get us back safely across the lake to US lines, before two thousand crack Japanese troops of the infamous Tiger Division, just over the hill, found out what was going on.

On that day, all 2,146 of us, including a newly born baby girl who was carried out in a helmet liner, were saved. All of us were rescued!  Not one of us was lost!

Some time later, I read that they had come to get us because General Douglas MacArthur had received information, from three men who had escaped from our camp, that our guards had been making preparations to dispose of us – digging trenches for our graves and placing oil barrels which could be rolled down the hillside onto the barracks to set them afire – then machine-gunning any of us who ran outside.

I also read that this execution had been scheduled for that very morning of February 23, 1945.

To this day, fifty-seven years later, this singular event of history, this magnificent military operation, this unmatched rescue of starving civilian prisoners of war from behind enemy lines, has been overshadowed by a flag raising; which although meaningful and representing a terrible battle was, as has been reported – the replacement of a previously placed flag by a larger one.

They were and are a special breed, those men who came that day. Superbly trained, thank God – men who went home after they served – going on with their lives – not complaining, humble, proud that they served.

When I meet one of my “Angels” for the first time, I take his hand and say, “Thank you for my life”. To a man, they immediately insist, “I was just doing my job. You guys were the heroes”.

But for the pilots and crews of the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, the troopers of the 11th Airborne and the men of the 672nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, I would not have survived Los Banos Internment Camp. There would have been no opportunity for me to have a wife, son, daughter and nine wonderful grandchildren.

The Wheeler family – as it exists today – would never have been. I WILL NEVER FORGET.

Robert Wheeler

And here's a photo of B-511th PIR putting on their parachutes in preparation for the Los Baños jump.  Here's one of the jump.  And an artist's rendition of a recon scout taking out a Japanese sentry.

Last, here's a link (thanks, Colin) to another survivor story that provides more information about the Raid.

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Comments

[liberty]

Way to make me cry.

I don't know why I have always been so deeply touched by the stories of civilian internees in the Japanese held Pacific.

I have never met anyone who was interned there. However, a family member told of his experiences as a Navy Medic treating Internees who were freed. He said that while he knows that the Holocaust was a greater horror - the fact that he saw the half starved internees himself means that it will always be somehow more important to him. He really hated that it seems like very few people know of the horror stories of both Japanese POW and Internment camps.

[Ben Bauman]

The 11th Airborne was a real bunch of tough guys. My best friend's father served in the 11th from it's formation until the end of hostilities. He was one tough guy. John Sr made that jump. Read the book on the raid if you want to know more.

[james zobel]

The MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, VA will be dedicating a plaque to the Los Banos internees and their liberators on 23 April 2005. On the same day we will also open our new exhibit "Behind Barbed Wire" telling the story of all civilian internees in the PhilippinesWe will have many former internees on hand for the dedication. We are now looking for any surviving 11th Airborne men. We have many 1st Cavalry Div. (Santo Tomas liberation) and many 37th Div. (Bilibid liberation) members coming, but none from the 11th Airborne. Do you have any ideas how we can get a hold of former 11th Airborne men?

thanks

James Zobel
archivist
MacArthur Memorial

[Phoenix]

According to a realitive, my grandfather might have been in the Los Banos Raid. Does anyone have any idea how we could find out if he was? Thanks

[Bob]

The History Channel had the story of the Los Banos Raid on today.

There are three additional points.
1. A diversionary attack was launched to freeze the Tiger Division.
2. About 1,500 filipino Los Banos villagers were killed by the Japanese in retaliation for the raid.
3. The Camp Commander escaped the raid and led the slaughter of the villages. Later, after the Japanese had surrendered, he was spotted on a POW work detail. He was conviced of war crimes and hanged.

[fr3rd L.Nichol]

Sounds like what my Father told us (only if we asked).
He was haunted for years from the experiance.
died of alcohol over dose age 58

[Penny Kelly-Manzi]

My Father Richard Henry Kelly (Lt at the time) was in the liberation of Los Banos. I have some memorabilia of his including photographs of a couple, (Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Nash) and one of their sons who were liberated from there. The photograph was taken when they reunited in 1959 by the local Newspaper along with the article. (I have his Parachute, jump boot, military photographs etc. - My eldest sister was born in Sendai, Japan 1947 and my middle sister was born at Fort Bragg N.C.) Unfortunately Dad passed August. 19 2001, however my Mother is still living with my family.

The Nash's became my first music teachers when I was 3. I am told Mrs. Nash is still living.

Warm Regards,

Penny Kelly-Manzi

[Impacted Wisdom Truth]

Phil Johnson of Pyromaniac has a great post regarding the story of a missionary couple imprisoned at Los Banos.

The account can be read here:

http://phillipjohnson.blogspot.com/2005/10/monday-menagerie-xviii.html

[Greg Carras]

My dad was in the 11th Airborne from late 1943 to the end of the war. His name was Anthony Gregory Carras. He was from New York City. He never told me anything of his experiences in WWII. He died on May 6, 2003 exactly one week after being diagnosed with Lung Cancer.

If anyone has any information or can provide a contact who might have some information regarding my dad, please contact me at gregcarras@juno.com

Thank you.

Greg Carras

[scott likes]

my dad and uncle were both in the 11th during the korean era.......cancer has almost ended my dads life, at 77, my uncle is doing well..

[R Urista]

Can you tell me the name of the Los Banos Survivor who was about 15 when rescued and lives in Glendale Arizona? I read the story but now I can not find the story or his name. He was an air force pilot for 20 or 30 years.

[Maureen Oleyar]

My aunt, Margaret(Teddy) Williamson who was British was a nurse interned at Santo Tomas and may have been at Los Banos. I believe she had joined with the US military nurses in 1941 or early 1942.She died in 1972 but I am gathering family history and would be interested in hearing if anyone (perhaps children in the camp)
knew of her.

[Betty Scroggins]

Was so interested in this. First knowledge of this. All I know my brother Pvt. Carroll Jack Watson was in the Ra 14502316, Co. H, I believe, 511th A. I. R. 11th Abn Div. He was so enthused with what he was doing and felt he could definitely be a contribution to our country. But he never has a chance, his life was taken by means of a motorcycle accident in Ausburg, Germany March 3, 1957. So sad, he was going to be the best. We still miss him and wonder what he could have accompolished. The reason I am writing this is because he knew there was and never would be an "outfit" such as the 11th Abn. Div. Thank you I need to remember when I can. God bless all that serve for freedom.

[Rick Zator]

I was scanning the net and I ran across this site and read the article. My father, PFC Theodore E. Zator was a member of the 11th Airborne Division during WWII and am sure that he was involved in the raid of Los Banos. My father never spoke much of the war until he became older and I returned from the Army in 1971. He did tell me that freeing the prisoners was the greatest joy he had during WWII and how sorry for the conditions that the prisoners were subject to. I know that my father was a humble man about his exploits during the war but after reading this article, I see that not only myself knew that he was a hero but also others. My father passed away a few years ago and his memory will never leave the family.
I and the entire Zator family would like to thank the writer of this article sharing the real truth about the heros of the 11th Airborne Division, but you are just reinforcing what our whole family has always known about my father.
If there are any survivors of the 11th that are still with us, I would welcome corresponding with them.

[Bob Wells]

The commander of the operation was Colonel Bob Soule who as a Major General commanded the 3rd Division into and in the Korean War. I just read a book titled WONJU written by an E.M. who was in the 187th. He was too young to have been in WWII.

I knew General Soule pretty well, and regarded him a wonderful soldier in every way.

[Louise Horn Anderson]

My father, Billy J. Horn, served in the 11th Airborne, participated in the Los Banos raid, and was first trained at Camp Toccoa located near Toccoa, Georgia. I live in Clarkesville, Georgia which is less than 15 miles from the Camp Toccoa site and have become a member of the Stephens County Historical Society, Toccoa Georgia.

The Stephens County Historical Society will be having another reunion to honor the 4 Airborne divisions that trained there this year October 13-15. www.camptoccoareunion.com is the website that will give more details. For the past 3 years the emphasis has been on the 3 Airborne divisions involved in the D-Day invasion, but when my dad attended the last two years, no mention has been made about the contributions of the 511th, but he shook hands with the other paratroopers and said that we are all a band of brothers no matter what division they were in.

He died from lung cancer March 16, 2006 and I am glad that the Stephens County Historical Society will be including a remembrance of the 511th this year. At their last meeting I attended, vice-president Bucky Simmons said that they still needed a guest speaker for the 511th remembrance.

If you would like to speak at this event or know of someone who would, please email Bucky at bucky@camptoccoareunion.com.
Thank you,
Louise Horn Anderson

[Helen Wong]

I will be working with members of the 11th Airborne who live in the S.F. Bay Area to get their military histories for the Stories of Service Project produced by the Digital Clubhouse in San Jose. Unfortunately, Dale Yee, who was my 11th Airborne contact passed away some years ago but his wife has been a volunteer at the V.A. Hospital (where I met them 18 years ago), and is still active with the local Airborne group. They have a meeting coming up in November. If anyone is looking for friends, I will pass that information on. If any veterans are interested in having their stories digitally recorded, also let me know, and I will get you connected with the Digital Clubhouse. Thank you.

[Mark Alaniz]

My dad was with the 11th airborne. He actually started with the 82nd in 1954 then at some point went to the 11th. I know he spent several years in Germany. He loves telling his stories of the 11th. If anyone is interested in speaking to my dad, please let me know. You can contact me at zinala469@yahoo.com

[Bruce Fournier]

My father in-law was in the 11th Airborne. William Anton. My mother in law met a lady and man one day at lunch. They got to speaking about the war. Turned out her husband was liberated from Los Banos.
Bill was with the engineers. He has told me few stories about this time in his life. I am in awe of the men who fought. Joining the Airborne for an $50 pay.
My respects and admiration to all who served!

[kevin miller]

My Uncle received the silver star fror his role in the los banos raid. He was featured in the history channel special rescue at dawn. His name is Roger Miller he retired a Lt Coronel. Currently lives in Alabama.

[Robert Morris]

On 20 March 2007 (only five days ago) I enjoyed a pleasant meeting with Mrs. Grace C. Nash. She signed a copy of her book, entitled "That we Might Live," a story of her experiences as a civlian internee in the Phippines during World War II. At age 97, she retains a vivid recall of her experiences and is sharp and alert. She resides in a retirement residence her in Tallahassee. Robert Morris, WWII Military History fan.

[Amy Schell becker]

My late father, Theodore H. Schell, earned the Bronze Star for his participation in the Los Banos Raid. This was the mission he was most proud of during his service in the South Pacific Theatre of Operations. He spoke of it in only the most sketchy terms, of how it went off perfectly and no prisoners were killed. Seeing the History Channel documentary really filled in the details for me, and left me in awe of what my father and his comrades achieved. Of course the terrible irony of this story is that Japan, unlike Germany, was never made to fully pay for its war crimes. Twenty years ago, now, when Mitsubishi first introduced it's cars to the U.S., my dad looked under the hood of one at a car show, and said, "Yeah, those were the guys who were trying to kill me."

[Peter Casanave]

I just came across this site while browsing. I was born in Los Banos Jan 9 1945. My father, mother and whole clan had been at Santo Tomas in Manila and transferred there. Thanks to all the vets.

Pete Casanave

[Scott MacWilliam]

I was nearly three years of age when rescued from Los Banos, with my parents Jean and Dick MacWilliam. We had been interned since just after the Japanese invaded the Philippines at Bacolod City and Santo Thomas before being transported to Los Banos in April 1944.
I discovered this web site today when searching for some information to help one of my sons doing a school project understand some of the main events of World War 11.
After all these years, I'd like to say thank you very much to the men of the 11th Airborne Division and all the others who rescued my parents and I. Many times my mother told of that wonderful morning when the sky was full of parachutes, and then of the events which followed as we all escaped. I wish they both were here now to share my pleasure at knowing the heroes who took part in that amazing rescue are still remembered.
Scott MacWilliam
264 Duffy St
Ainslie
ACT 2602
Australia

[Kellie Lombardi]

My father, Duane Forrest Smith was involved with the Los Banos Raid. He is 84 years old and still very healthy even after having colon cancer. From 1943-1946 he was in the 11th Airborne Division - 511th Parachute Regiment, HDQ 2nd BN, 4th squad.

I never knew he was in the Los Banos Raid until he mentioned that it was on the History Channel.

My email is Kellielombardi@comcast.net

[Jennie]

I am just now researching my two grandfather's military experience and I have no idea of where to start. Can anyone help me? My grandfather Ramon Honore` is still alive and said that he was a member of the 11th airborne, does this name ring a bell to anyone?

[Cesar Maligalig]

Thank you for those soldiers who liberated Los Banos. I was born in 1953, but my parents told me that during that time they evacuated to Mamatid, Cabuyao, Laguna. When they returned to Los Banos, the San Antonio Crossing was burned to the ground. My heartful thanks.

Cesar

[Chuck]

I joined the 11th in November 1945 in Japan as a replacement. I spent nearly a year in Japan with the AG office before being discharged.

[LcplFindley]

Dear Members,

My name Is Lance Corporal Donald James Findley, I am a direct decendant of Lt.Col Kenneth Abagis that served with the 11TH Airborne division. I thought it fitting in rememberance of Him and the rest of the 11th who served in the pacific, to inform those who have survived through you their children or directly to you if you are a part of this site. That Lt. Col. Abagis has gone to be with the Lord. March 1st 2008. As a member of the Marine Corps I am honored to serve a country that my grandfather and you have built with blood sweat and tears. If anyone has served with my Grandfather i would love to know your stories and receive any pictures of him if you have to spare.

Thankyou
God Bless
and
Semper Fidelis