Vision And Mission

In 1975, my father, Joseph F. “Frank” Innis,  took my brothers, sister and me to the Philippines and introduced us to his childhood as a prisoner of war in a Japanese internment camp.   At fifteen, I could not fully comprehend the challenges my father and his family experienced.  I spent years asking questions, interviewing relatives and researching the history of the prison camps.  I am awed and inspired by their courage, sacrifice, hope, resilience, pragmatism, and determination to survive.  Even in the darkest hours of starvation and death my family and the internees had humor and hope.  I am proud of their legacy of living and truly humbled by the rescue of 1945.  My family and the families of the 2,147 rescued internees are indebted to the fighting spirit of the 11th Airborne and the Hunters ROTC Philippine guerrilla forces who participated in the liberation of Los Banos Internment Camp.  We also honor the extreme sacrifice of the citizens of Los Banos who were massacred by the Japanese military units in the aftermath of the rescue. In the Innis family alone, there are 44 vibrant individuals  who owe their existence to the Liberation of Los Banos.

On February 28, 1945, at age 16 my uncle Jim sent a letter from Muntinlupa to his grandmother in Portland, Oregon:  

“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!”

Even at age 16, Uncle Jim knew he owed his life and future to many.

In 2003, after raising a family, a successful career, research and coordination with University of the Philippines Rural High School Uncle Jim, brought our  family together to establish the Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation.  He realized that the only way to demonstrate his gratitude was to pay if forward. Each year, Uncle Jim contacted family members, grandchildren, nieces and nephews alike insisting upon donations to fund the scholarship foundation. He passionately reminded us that the scholarship was the least we could do to say “thank you.”  “You wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t been rescued.”  Uncle Jim’s motivation for the Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation was admirable and in the beginning I was happy to donate knowing Jim was providing a generous gift to high school students.

The original goal of the Foundation Was to “grant four scholarships per year of $250.00 each to academically bright students of Philippine citizenship enrolled at the Rural High School of the University of the Philippines in Los Banos.”  Over 19 years later, with the generous support of members of the 11th Airborne Division and grateful family members of internees, the LBLMSF has expanded the number of 4 high school scholarships to 15  and 3 college scholarships.  Since 2003, 264 students have not only received a valuable education, but every year, on the anniversary of the Liberation of Los Banos, these students provide an exhibition of artwork, creative writing and dramatic re-enactment of the event.  On the 75th anniversary, our scholarship recipients were part of a wreath laying ceremony memorial service at Baker Hall conducted by the descendants of the Hunters Guerrilla forces and the town of Los Banos.

Liza Carascal, Principal of the prestigious agricultural high school, who sadly passed away in 2019, acknowledged that before the University of the Philippines Rural High School (UPRHS) received the scholarships, most students were not aware of the internment camp or the impact of the rescue on their community.  Although UPRHS had stood  on the grounds occupied by Los Banos Internment Camp, the liberation was a vague story passed down by their grandparents.  History is now being preserved and memories are honored by the scholarship recipients and UPRHS.

The Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt California corporation, organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes. Through tax-deductible contributions, the Foundation has created a permanent endowment fund.  The scholarships are granted only out of the interest income generated by investment.  This doesn’t mean that the Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation is resting on its laurels.  Our vision is to continue to expand the number of scholarships as well as increasing the amount.  We are also working to bring the next generation; the grandchildren of the rescue, on board.

I did not have a full understanding of the phenomenal gift my uncle also gave us, his immediate family.  Honoring the gallantry of the guerrillas, the daring of the 11th Airborne, the sacrifice of the citizens of Los Banos, and the tenacity and hope of the internees not only gives us a small place in the enormous stage of history, but Jim connected us to our larger family.  The Innis family is not limited to our blood relations who trace roots back to farms in Indiana.  Our heritage, character and existence is intrinsically bonded with the men and women involved in February 23, 1945.  Their story is our heritage and since Uncle Jim started the Foundation, we are “family” with paratroopers, Philippino high school students and descendents of internees.  Meeting an individual connected to the Los Banos Internment Camp is discovering a long lost relative.

Through the Scholarship Foundation, our family has met the devoted Principals and teachers of the University of the Philippines Rural High School.  Their students exemplify pride in the memory of the guerillas and deep respect for the sacrifice of their community.  Terry Santos, a rescuing paratrooper, attended Uncle Jim and Aunt Lois’ 50th wedding anniversary.  Marsha Shapiro, daughter of another 11th Airborne Paratrooper Herbert Shapiro, is now Vice President of the Foundation. After an article in the last Voice of the Angels, I received a phone call from John Kelley in Mississippi.  At 20 years old, John was assigned to the artillery battery that fired the 75 mm howitzer to keep the Japanese from reaching Laguna de Bay during the rescue.  We have spent hours sharing stories.  John inspires me with his vibrancy at 94.  He still gives talks to schools and Scout groups about his experience.  Their lives enrich all of ours.  We are connected by an event that continues to impact and affect us.

Years ago, Jim  wrote in an essay for  the Rhoads Scholarship that “the Los Banos internment and rescue made them one big family, unique as individuals but united in hope, courage, and compassion for each other.”  Uncle Jim gave our family an incredible legacy.  The Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation continues to make us one “big family.” Since the scholarship fund was established almost 100 different individuals and groups have donated to help build the permanent endowment to support students at Philippines Rural High School.  Thank you Uncle Jim for your vision of the Los Banos Liberation Memorial Scholarship Foundation: a living memorial to the courage and beauty of the brave souls involved in one of the most significant events of World War II.