If I recall correctly, there was a young paratrooper involved in that operation by the name of Rod Serling...
If I recall correctly, there was a young paratrooper involved in that operation by the name of Rod Serling...
Good that you are aware that Rod Serling was a member
of the 511PIR. However, he was attached to Headquarters Co.
The specific company which parachuted on Los Banos was B Co
which, by the way, was commanded by Lt John Ringler. Johnny
Ringler had previously served as a Lt in H Co & was paymaster.
My father served as his bodyguard on paydays.
Serling was not involved in the Los Banos Raid. At the time he
would have been with the rest of 511th fighting on the southern
outskirts of Manila. Having stated all that I would have to add that
B Co was fortified with additional mortar and machine gun teams.
It is this caveat that has made it possible for all sorts of people
to claim that they made the Los Banos jump.
On another Serling related note, a biographer stated that Rod
was on the regimental boxing team. My father was also on the
boxing team and never recalled him even though they would
have been the same wt class. Boxing coach (and future pres of
the intl trial lawyers assn) Foster Arnett, didn’t recall Serling
either. I posess a 511th yearbook with photos of all of the
original 511th troopers by company and Serling’s photo is
included. The 511 vets formed an assn in the early 80s and
began having regular reunions. Unfortunately Rod Serling
had passed away in app 1974.
You are probably sorry you brought it up.....!