Vision And Mission
“We hear now that MacArthur’s giving us internees war ribbons, I don’t want mine; it’s embarrassing as the deuce to be decorated for sitting around waiting to be rescued. Our rescuers, or the boys who died in the Bataan death march, are the ones who should be decorated. I’m sure eager to get back to the States and to school and work again. Even a few days of good food and rest (Filipinos do most of our work, such as sweeping, etc) has fixed us up fine, Gee, this life is luxurious! All we do is eat, sleep, loaf around, draw on our supplies (candy, cigarettes, clothes, etc) listen to music, go to movies (every night on the old baseball field); what a life!”
On February 28, 1945, at age 16 my uncle Jim sent a letter from Muntinlupa to his grandmother in Portland, Oregon
The Innis brothers in the 1990’s.
The Innis Family, April 1945, two months after being rescued.
The Story
As the President of the Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation, I am the humble descendent of 9 family members – Great-grandpa Joseph Boomer, Great Aunt Charmian Boomer Mock, her husband Charlie Mock, Grandpa and Grandma David and Frances Innis, Uncles Jim, Don and Charlie and my father, Frank who were interned in Santo Tomas and later Los Banos during World War II.
Vision Statement
The Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation honors the courage, hope and memory of the liberators, citizens of Los Banos and internees.
Mission Statement
Liberation of Los Baños
The liberation of Los Baños came at the end of the Second World War. While more than 2000 prisoners were rescued, many of the Japanese were killed during the rescue, with no prisoners harmed. With the help of the US Army and local fighters, the liberation was a success and to this day, family members and living ex-prisoners of the camp wish to honor the sacrifices of those involved in the rescue by giving back to the Los Baños community.
Remember
Honor
Pay It Forward
Our Members
The Los Baños Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation The Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit tax-exempt corporation organized and operated for educational purposes in California. It was founded in 2003 to honor the courageous survival of the people who were held captive in an internment camp of the Japanese during the Second World War.
R. Kate Laferriere
President
Daughter of internee, founding member and past president, Joseph F. Innis
Marcia Shapiro
Vice-President
Daughter of 11th Airborne Paratrooper Herbert Shapiro
Karla Barde
Secretary
Daughter of internee, founding member and past president, James Innis
Thomas Patrick Innis
Treasurer
Son of internee, founding member and past president, Joseph F. Innis.
Brian Innis
Director
Son of internee Donald Innis
Marya Innis
Director, Past Treasurer
Daughter of internee, founding member and past president Jim Innis.
Keane Ellis
Director
Grandson of internee and founding member, Jim Innis
Grant G. Innis
Director
Grandson of internee and founding member, Jim Innis
R. Marie Laferriere
Director
Granddaughter of internee and founding member, Joseph F. Innis
Terry Santos
Honorary Director
11th Airborne Paratrooper
Margaret Sams
Honorary Director
Son of internee Donald Innis
Charles Innis
Honorary Director
Honorary Director, Internee and Founding Member
Become A Donor
From two grants of $250 in 2003, the Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation has grown to 15 scholarships per year for students enrolled at the University of the Philippines Rural High School in Los Banos and two scholarships for students continuing on to the University.