Los Banos Rotary Club History
Tells Experiences In Philippines

One of the West Side's most enthusiastic boosters, Aldo Montanucci, of Dos Palos, gave members of the local Rotary Club a new slant on the rights, privileges and benefits that that are the natural blessing of this section and country. Montanucci, who came to this country from the Philippine Islands three years ago, has operated a ladies' apparel store in Dos Palos for the last year and a half.

"You who have lived here always," he said, "have no conception of the freedoms and benefits you accept and enjoy as a natural thing. I am exceedingly happy and proud to be a part of this great West Side and very grateful that I and my family are privileged to live here."

Montanucci, a native of Italy, fled from that country in the beginning days of the Mussolini regime, first going to Poland, and later to Indo China, then Shanghi, and to the Philippine Islands, where he was engaged in business when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

Declaring the Japanese soldier was the most brutal of any people he had ever seen, Montanucci told of his own experiences as a Japanese prisoner. He was one time lodged in a tiny open-air cage for 45 days on a starvation diet, and was beaten and chained by his thumbs.

Following his release from prison, Montanucci escaped, with his wife and small son, to the hill country and lived with the Philippine guerillas until the American forces arrived to re-possess the islands.

Montanucci praised the Philippine natives, stating that mostly they remained loyal to the U. S. and steadfastly resisted the Japanese throughout the occupation period.

The speaker concluded his remarks with a sincere word of warning against Communism, declaring that if the American people are to preserve their freedom and protect their families they must fight Communism vigorously and fully without pause.

July 19, 1949

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