On December 22, 1944, 35 Paratroopers from 1st Platoon, Company D, 511th PIR, 11th Airborne Division found themselves engaged with over 150 Japanese soldiers on the island of Leyte.

When the platoon became pinned down, PFC John "Bad Soldier" Bittorie yelled at the enemy before firing two longs bursts from his Browning machine gun. John then charged the Japanese, inspiring his fellow Angels to "perform a Banzai charge of their own"!

Discover the full story of the 11th Airborne's Rats Ass Charge that broke through the enemy's last lines of resistance on Leyte and allowed the Angels to reach friendly lines, just in time for Christmas of 1944.

To learn more about the 511th PIR in World War II, visit www.511pir.com

To purchase 11th Airborne Division gifts and signed copies of our books on the Angels, please visit www.11thairbornestore.com today!

Down From Heaven Comes Eleven! Airborne All the Way!

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Down From Heaven Comes Eleven! Airborne All the Way!

Join 11th Airborne Division historian Jeremy C. Holm as we dive into the 511th PIR's Battle of the Stone Courtyard during the Battle for Manila in World War II!

As the 11th Airborne Division pressed north towards Manila, the Angels discovered that the main bridge over the Imus river had been blown by the Japanese. To secure a secondary crossing that was critical to the division's drive into the city, Company D of the 511th PIR was sent to Imus to prevent Japanese forces from destroying this remaining crossing.

When told of their new mission, Platoon Leader 1LT Andrew Carrico said his squad leaders all asked, "Why do we get all the dirty jobs?!”

1st Platoon would lead the assault against an estimated 100 Japanese defenders and what followed was a harrowing, small-unit assault on a reinforced defensive position that led was viewed by and impressed General Robert L. Eichelberger himself who would later say of the Angels, "No one could have asked for finer fighting men."

Listen as Jeremy recounts D Company's 100-yard-dash across open ground full of spider holes and other enemy positions to assault the main fortified structure which controlled access to their objective, the Isabell II Bridge.

Included in this story is the inspiring actions of TSGT Robert C. Steele who climbed on top of the structure's roof while under fire to burn out the enemy defenders. Bob was given a battlefield promotion for his courage and leadership, but was tragically killed a few days later during the Battle for Nichols Field.

D-511's CPL William Walter said of his good friend Bob, "He was the kind of man that everybody would like to be."

To learn more about the 511th PIR, the Band of Brothers of the Pacific, you can purchase one of Jeremy's acclaimed books on the 11th Airborne Division in World War II here: https://www.11thairbornestore.com/books

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You can read Manuel's bio here: https://511pir.com/enlisted-biographies/269-pfc-perez-manuel

To watch our full video on the story of Private Elmer Fryar, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrTQxc3Lik

If you'd like to reach out to Jeremy, you can email him at jeremy@jeremycholm.com.

Down From Heaven Comes Eleven! Airborne All the Way!

Send us a V-Mail (text message)

For more information, visit www.511pir.com or www.11thairborne.com today, or you can email jeremy at Jeremy@jeremycholm.com.

You can follow Jeremy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/11thairbornediv

To purchase copies of Jeremy's books on the 11th Airborne Division, please visit:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00G3TNO0A/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=c7baae52-e150-4caf-86b1-990b2ef40772

Or to visit our full 11th Airborne Division online store, please visit:

https://jeremycholmstore.square.site/11th-airborne-division-store

Down From Heaven Comes Eleven! Airborne All the Way!

Join 11th Airborne Division historian Jeremy C. Holm for this special presentation originally given during the dinner banquet for Toccoa, Georgia's famous 2023 World War II Weekend. Jeremy was invited to speak on the impact that Camp Toccoa had on both the airborne and the outcome of the war.

Attending the dinner were several Children of Currahee, descendants of original Toccoa Men who trained at the camp, including children of the 506th PIR's famous "Band of Brothers". Additionally, the audience included numerous veterans and airborne enthusiasts.

Jeremy said, "It was an honor to get to speak at the dinner banquet. What a privilege it was to tell the story of the Toccoa Men who went on to fight in Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific. They truly were 'the best there ever was.'"

This episode is a re-recording of Jeremy's original speech since we were all so excited to hear his presentation that we forgot to press the Record button!

Send us a V-Mail (text message)

For more information, visit www.511pir.com or www.11thairborne.com today, or you can email jeremy at Jeremy@jeremycholm.com.

You can follow Jeremy on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/11thairbornediv

To purchase copies of Jeremy's books on the 11th Airborne Division, please visit:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00G3TNO0A/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=c7baae52-e150-4caf-86b1-990b2ef40772

Or to visit our full 11th Airborne Division online store, please visit:

https://jeremycholmstore.square.site/11th-airborne-division-store

Down From Heaven Comes Eleven! Airborne All the Way!