The Rat's Ass Charge: 35 Paratroopers vs. 150 Japanese Soldiers in World War II

Down From Heaven - The 11th Airborne Division in World War II & Beyond

Down From Heaven - The 11th Airborne Division in World War II & Beyond
The Rat's Ass Charge: 35 Paratroopers vs. 150 Japanese Soldiers in World War II
Sep 18, 2025 Season 2 Episode 5
Jeremy C. Holm

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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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!

Episode Artwork The Rat's Ass Charge: 35 Paratroopers vs. 150 Japanese Soldiers in World War II 38:55 Episode Artwork The Battle of the Stone Courtyard 28:11 Episode Artwork Camp Toccoa: One Camp's Big Impact on World War II 24:41 Episode Artwork PFC Manuel Pérez, Medal of Honor - One Paratrooper's Assault on Fort McKinley in 1945 52:31 Episode Artwork Private Elmer Fryar, Medal of Honor - One Angel's Incredible Fight on Leyte in 1944 38:23 Episode Artwork General Joseph Swing, the Father of the 11th Airborne Division - Part 1 53:44 Episode Artwork The Legacy of the 11th Airborne Division - 2023 11th Airborne Association Speech 25:19 Episode Artwork The 11th Airborne Division in World War II - Roanoke, VA Lecture 1:17:40 Episode Artwork A Platoon Leader's Perspective - Interviewing WWII Paratrooper 1LT Andrew Carrico of the 511th PIR 1:37:04 Episode Artwork Remembering Private Delbert "Bob" Hayes 40:20 Episode Artwork Task Force Gypsy: The Last Airborne Operation of World War II 41:14 Episode Artwork Japan's Surrender and The 11th Airborne's Landings at Atsugi 54:21 Episode Artwork When Angels Fell in World War II 33:34 Episode Artwork Rod Serling, the Twilight Zone and the 11th Airborne Division 55:18 Episode Artwork 11th Airborne Division Facts in 11th Minutes 13:13