Porterville man in famous wartime rescue raises scholarship funds

Porterville resident Jim Innis was a teenager when the US Army’s 11th Airborne Division (Paratroopers) assisted by Philippine Guerrilla Forces carried out a lightning swift raid 40 kilometers behind Japanese lines and rescued 2,147 American and Allied civilian prisoners of war, men, women and children on February 23,1945 at the height of World War ll.

The 55th anniversary of that event was marked last month. The story of the rescue made military history and was memorialized in the History Channel special, “Rescue at Dawn.” Innis was among those interviewed for the documentary film.

The rescue is still clearly marked in Innis’ mind as he and his family were among those held as civilian prisoners by the Japanese at the Los Banos internment camp that opened in May 1943. Moved to Los Banos from Tomas Internment Camp were 800 male interns and by 1945 it had over 2000 people who were on the brink of starvation. The camp was set up on a 60 acre site of Los Banos Forestry School.

During the rescue raid, most of the Japanese garrison was killed, the rest scattered. No allied prisoner was killed or seriously wounded. Not one paratrooper of the battalion directly involved was killed but two Filipino guerrilla lost their lives. Tragically, after the rescue, the Japanese returned and wreaked vengeance with the massacre of 1500 helpless Filipino civilians.

According the Innis, there were rumors of a rescue, but when the parachutes were first spotted, the people at Los Banos thought that food was being dropped to them. “The skies were filled with parachutes and when the shooting began we knew we were being liberated,” said Innis. “We were not out of danger as yet. Many of those rescued were almost skeletons, as we had little food over the three years internment.”

“Many of those rescue at first wanted to take all their belongings, like my father who wanted to take the sterling silver pieces he had hidden under the bed,” recalls Innis,  “I was exhausted carrying the family silver to safety. Finally, to get the prisoners to move more quickly, the military torched the barracks we all lived in and began loading the women and children first on to military vehicles and to safety.”

Innis has never forgotten the bravery and persona of the members of the 11trh Air Borne Division. He attends as many of their functions as possible and also has brought their deeds of rescue before the public.

The 11th Airborne Division rightfully takes tremendous pride in the liberation of the Los Banos Internment Camp as does the Hunters, ROTC Philippine guerrillas and other guerilla units commemorating the freeing of the prison camps.
To keep the memory and meaning of the Los Banos rescue alive, Innis in 2001 organized and now operates a non-profit, tax exempt corporation “Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation” for the purpose of granting scholarships to students of Philippine citizenship enrolled at the Rural High School of the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, so they can complete the high school program.

To receive a grant, a student is required not only to demonstrate financial need but show academic achievement. They must also produce and present in public some original work of scholarly or artistic nature.

The scholarships are granted only out of interest income generated by investments, not out of the principal of the endowment itself. The Foundation awarded its first two scholarships in 2003, with two grants of $250 each and it has increased the number of grants each year. In the 2007-2008 year, ten students received scholarships. Girls and boys are equally assisted.

Since the scholarship fund was established almost 100 different individuals and groups have donated to help build the permanent endowment fund. An appeal is made to all those having served in the 11th Airborne Division, Hunters, ROTC and other Philippine guerrilla forces, to all the families and survivors of these groups to keep the memory of this event alive.

Those wishing to donate to the fund that is fully tax deductible. Make checks payable to “Los Banos Memorial Scholarship and mail to J. Innis, 1148 W. Glenn Ct., Porterville, CA 93257. More information about the scholarship program is available online at RememberLosBanos1945.com.

Terry Bergfalk is a freelance reporter. Send e-mail in care of recorder@portervillerecorder.com.