Reminiscing with John Potpolak

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John and fellow Gilbert Home alumnus Larry Robertson organized several of the last annual get-togethers for the former home residents, and the number of photographs and documents they were able to gather in preparation of this event always impressed me. There aren’t enough survivors to hold these gatherings any more, and I guess John needed someone to reminisce with when he shared with me his personal collection of memorabilia. These fall into two main categories: clippings and photos from Happy Valley, and an aspect of his life that I had been unaware of, namely books and documents depicting his military service during World War II.

He had mentioned that he had been a paratrooper in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War, but not much more than that. Now that I have read the history of his outfit, I realize that here is another of those quiet, unassuming veterans whose military exploits generally are never spoken of, but who was directly responsible for far-reaching international consequences.

John was an original member of the 11th Airborne Division, activated in February 1943, one of 20,000 volunteers who, by the end of training, would number only half that. They arrived in New Guinea in May 1944, and began jungle training in anticipation of the liberation of the Philippines.

They stormed ashore on Leyte Beach Nov. 11, to become the first airborne unit to make an amphibious assault. The Leyte campaign was to last three months, during which time they killed almost 6,000 Japanese while suffering only light casualties. They went back to New Guinea for a short rest, and on Jan. 26, 1945, chalked up the second amphibious landing at Nasugubu Beach, Luzon, and started an unbelievably rapid drive toward Manila. They averaged taking 14 miles of enemy real estate a day, going over some of the most heavily defended terrain in the Pacific.

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A Philippine scout brought word that the Japanese commandant of a prison camp at Los Banos was preparing to massacre the 2,147 allied internees held there. Realizing that time was of the essence, members of the 511th stealthily surrounded the camp.

At dawn most of the Japanese were in formation holding reveille. Another group guarded some of the POWs, who were digging a huge trench, presumably for a mass grave. Suddenly there was a roar of aircraft, and prisoners and guards alike stood dumbfounded as a column of C-47s came in at 300 feet. Troopers tumbled out the doors, hitting the ground almost simultaneously with the opening of their chutes.

They opened fire from where they landed, still wearing the cumbersome parachute harness. The support group outside the fence joined the fight and in a matter of seconds, the entire enemy garrison was annihilated.

A strange silence settled over the compound. Suddenly one voice was heard. An American nurse who’d been held prisoner started sobbing with relief. "Oh look at those angels — look at those beautiful guys — they’re angels!" Over and over she repeated the phrase. The paratroopers shuffled their feet in embarrassment, took off their harnesses and began handing out candy and cigarettes to the prisoners. From that day forward, the 11th has been known as The Angels From Hell.

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It is believed that the precision and bravery with which the troops executed the Los Banos rescue are in keeping with the very highest tradition of the United States Army, worthy as an example for the emulation of all soldiers, and worthy of citation. As general of the Army, Douglas MacArthur radioed to the division: "An operation such as that performed today will gladden the hearts of soldiers throughout the world."

Two humorous anecdotes are told of the historic raid. The first involves a little old lady who seemed sad as the soldiers entered the camp — though she was packed and ready to leave. Questioned on her lack of enthusiasm, she glumly replied: "Night after night I’ve dreamed of this day, and in all my dreams I was rescued by Marines. You’re not Marines!"

The other tells of one quite opposite lady who joyfully threw her arms around the neck of the first paratrooper she saw and commenced to thank him profusely. The busy soldier gave one short hug and said: "Hold your horses a second sister, and I’ll be right back." As the excitement died down, the soldier, a devout Catholic, turned to greet the now shy nun who had greeted him so happily and bestowed upon him such un-nun-like affections.

By June 1945, all but mop-up action against the Japanese was completed on Luzon, and their eyes turned toward the main islands of Japan, where the most intense fighting of the war was sure to occur. Then we dropped an atomic bomb, followed immediately by another. It seemed to be even rougher on the Japanese than the Angels. There was general relief that no parachute jumps would be necessary on the Japanese home islands.

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The 11th Airborne, because of their outstanding battle records while liberating the Philippines, were assigned the honor of being the first unit to occupy and secure Japanese territory. They supplied the honor guard for General MacArthur when he arrived at Atsugi Airdrome outside of Tokyo. Eventually they, and other units of the American armed forces, occupied all the territory of the Japanese home islands, where they remained until occupation ended and Japan ratified a new democratic constitution in 1947.

Most of you probably have never seen or heard of John Potpolak, a quiet man living with his daughter in Winsted, but whether you know him or not, we all owe him a vote of gratitude for a life well spent and a job well done.