The Fat Electrician sent me and I must say, thank you for keeping this history alive not only to honor these men but to also teach so many valuable lessons to us younger folk!
My dad was with Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 511th and was assigned to raid on Los Banos because additional machine gunners were needed. I heard stories growing up about the 11th airborne island hopping through New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon, and landing in Japan. He talked about how low they jumped at Los Banos and that he was on the ground shortly after his chute opened. He also spoke about the condition of the people in the camp. He said they were walking skin and bones. My dad would appreciate seeing that the Pacific fighting stories are being told and not forgotten. At times he would look at me and say that if "the bomb" hadn't been dropped on Japan I wouldn't be here, because he and many others wouldn't have survived the invasion of Japan. My dad and mom went to many 11th Airborne reunions over the years and enjoyed being with close friends. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 70, to soon. He walked with a cane his last 8 years because of broken ankle complications from a combat jump years before.
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
60 thousand people just learned about the 11th airborne and your channel. And its only been up for an hour. There's over a million more who will be hearing about your work for the first time in the next few weeks.
@@jeremycholm Sir I had no idea. I haven't been to the McArthur memorial since I was a very young man. I certainly didn't know anything about this raid or any of the 11th Airborne. I hope there are still some survivors to see that they are not overlooked any longer. The video you helped him create was getting over a 1000 views a minute. I'm going to be bingeing on your videos this evening but I need a moment to compose myself. It was the first TFE video I watched that had me in tears at the end. Very powerful stuff. Thank you for all your work to preserve you Grand Father's and his compatriots legacies.
@@foxmustang80 They are indeed both great videos to watch but they do leave me with one question. Does the 11th Airborne chew nails and spit razor blades or chew razor blades and spit nails?
Here from The Fat Electrician! Thank you for doing this! My mother is from the Philippines and as a kid she told me stories what my Grandfather and Uncles did in WW2. When I got older I pieced together they were hunting Japanese Soldiers and may have taken part in this.
Thank you liberator of the Philippines. Thank you for your retelling of this rescue and thank you for your Grandfather and his group of rescuing angels.
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
The "Gravitationally Challenged Electrician" sent me here as well. I knew a little bit about this raid, but it's good to get all of the details behind the history. As a Marine I'm saddened that the 11th AB's raid remained mostly unknown because of the flag raising on Iwo 23 Feb. 1945 because these men deserved as much recognition as my Corps received. Kudos to your Grandfather Jeremy and my condolences.
Marines are always welcome here, and thank you for the condolences. The Angels truly were an elite group of men and I agree, their story deserves to be told and retold
Yet another incomer from The Fat Electrician. Id heard of this unit but never knew of anything they had done. All i can say is wow, what a unit what a raid, what a worthy mission to be on. Straight up legends and badasses every single one of them. I dont have words enough to do these heroes justice, the sight of the internees must have been horrifying when they breached the camp. Thanks to all of them for the job they did and thank you for keeping the memory alive. I just dont have the words, nothing i could say would do them justice. Heroes and legends to a man.
Welcome to the channel! I actually just interviewed one of the last living internees and she talked about how emotional they all were once they reached friendly lines. She got choked up just talking about it
@@jeremycholm very glad to be here, I've subbed and signed the little bell so I don't miss any more of of these legends exploits. Once again thank you for keeping the memories alive. Love the content I've seen so far and no doubt I'll truck my way through it all soon enough. I can imagine the emotions ran very deep among those who suffered in those camps, and I just don't think anyone who hadn't lived that experience could truly fathom just how bad it could have been.
Labelled the greatest generation. Definitely the generation of their time. What a great innings 99. He may be gone but the legend lives forever. P.S. you're a gifted storyteller.
Salute to your grandfather and his band of brothers. I have read of this raid in multiple venues. TRUE HEROES! Jumping at 400 feet had to be INSANE. Not enough time to get full deployment of chutes in some cases I imagine. Hard landings in some cases. Outstanding report sir.
Thank you so much, Dennis! 400 feet meant no reserve, the guys didn't bother wearing them. They said it was all worth it, though, to see the smiles on the internees' faces. True heroes indeed!!
My father in law was mentioned by name in the film. He was one of the paratroopers in B Company who jumped on the Los Banos raid. I'm fortunate to have heard so many of these accounts first hand. Thx for honoring their memory and sacrifice!
Shout out to The Fat Electrician for sending me here. May your grandfather rest in peace and im sure i speak for everyone when i say we are thankful for his service.
The Fat Electrician sent me! To learn more about The Angels who saved my family in the Philippines 😇✨💖✨😇 My mom was born 1/27/45, and they were near Santo Tomas. She nearly got a bullet in the head, but my grandmothers arm relaxed holding her and the bullet hit granny’s watch… My Aunt Teresita was interned in Santo Tomas Thank you for this🙏🤗
You're very welcome, and welcome to the channel! The Angels never really get proper credit for their fighting around Santo Tomas, which paved the way for the rescue there. So thank you for sharing your family's story with us!
I have many stories from the Philippines, pre occupation through post liberation. Those war stories gave me a ton of perspective, and humanities resilience. The atrocities committed were so horrific, but the stories of survival in a group of 20 are incredible. It saddens me most people don’t know Real Life Angels saved a country! Makes me wonder why the Pacific theatre of war is not common knowledge as much as we talk about WWII…especially since Japan hit us not Germany 🤷🏻♀️ Thank you for educating this new generation on uncommon truths🙏🙏🙏✨🇺🇸✨🙏🙏🙏
Excellent job, Jeremy! My dad was in the 101st and used to say that he had immense respect for those who served in the Pacific. I am going to write a story on this in my blog and attribute you and your book - which I am going to buy as soon as I finish writing this comment. Thanks for putting this great story together. Dan Hoffman
I think more will come. I've published three books now on the Angels in World War II and with the Division's reactivation in Alaska I think the 11th will become more of a focus
My Dad John C. Jones was at Los Banos with 457th PFAB D Battery lots of good stories. I have his Samurai Sword and Japanese Flag he got in Leyte. Thank you for doing these Videos. He would enjoy these. He passed away in 2009
7:55 I wonder if there was a Fort Worth resident there that gave the rest of the camp that name. Los Baños is now an unofficial sister city to mine. Also here from TFE, thank you for the additional context!
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
@@jeremycholm I am a ww2 enthusiast but a 101st ABN nut. Was married to a 2nd 506 co E veteran. Vietnam veteran that is. I watch everything airborne that I see
You've gained a subscriber Sir. Great video, no ego, no bravado, just straight facts given in an even and amazing tone very similar to Dr Mark Felton. Thank you. Also, the obese sparky sent me here and Ill be keeping an eye out for your book, have already made a space available next to my copy of Band of Brothers for it.
I am strongly looking to join the 11th. Is there any way to increase my chances of being stationed in Alaska? Passed MEPS/Airborne Physical already, awaiting a waiver which will pass for certain.
Not sure if he was part of the Los Banos inturnies, But one of our neighbors, Ray Pasco, Had been through the batan death March. His heart had never fully recovered and he died in 1976.
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
@@tonyfalcon8041 Well, before the Spanish American war, The islands were under control of Spain. Los Banos In spanish, Translates literally to "the toilet". How pleasant things must have been there, eh?!
@@billt6116 Los Baños is derived from Spanish for "the baths", also referring to the hot springs. It was named as such in 1589 when Fr. Pedro Bautista built public baths in the present-day town.🤪
@@tonyfalcon8041 well, say where's "the pooper" in spanish, See how it comes out..? ( Probably kind of spicy, And on the express..😄) que esta los banos?
I would like to thank your Grandfather for helping liberate my family and make this first gen American a reality. Without their bravery, my husband would not have his son, and my son would not be alive. Nor would I. Thank you, American Military in all branches, but especially these brave men who cared so much for humanity 🙏😇🙏
Thank you for sharing your family's story with us! All the Angels I've ever talked to said the raid was a risk worth taking, and they were willing to give their lives to rescue the internees
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
@@tonyfalcon8041 I also learned that the grounds of the camp is now known today as the University of the Philippines Los Baños Campus. I've been there several times (although I wasn't a student), unaware that it was a site of so many horrors.
I was NOT sent by #TheFatElectrician... but by the Osprey Publishing book about the raid, which was part of their "Raid" series. The Los Baños Internment Camp is now part of the University of the Philippines College of Agriculture campus. BTW, the tree that bore witness to these events is still there, as are several buildings there, like the gym. I read on that Osprey book that, some of the internees were disappointed that their rescuers were Army paratroopers, not Marines (yeouch!)
Actually only one of them was, her name is Patty Stevens and we just had a delightful chat about her time in the camp last week. She laughed and said the Paratrooper was almost insulted when she asked if he was a Marine lol
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
My father in law went through airborne training during WWII and was deployed to Europe ultimately to finish up with the 82nd Airborne Division by war’s end. He was in the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. For unknown reasons has individual photo, in dress uniform, taken when he graduated jump school shows him wearing the 11th Airborne patch on his sleeve. Any ideas why this happened?
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
Konishi escaped. He returned a few days later with a force of men, but by then the camp was empty. The Japanese massacred some 1,500 men, women, and children in adjacent towns which they suspected of collaborating with the liberators
