Harry Raftis: Diving with Sharks

By Marilyn Lucas, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

Harry, like so many young boys in 1943, enlisted in the Army after high school graduation. He was only 17 years old. Without any discussion with his parents, Harry stepped up to serve his country. As he stated, “We were in a World War and I wanted to serve. It wasn’t something I thought a great deal about… I just did what I had to do.”  

Following training, Harry was off to Australia. Harry’s athletic prowess on the swim and dive team did not help on his 40 day cruise from San Francisco to Australia. He spent every day suffering from incredible seasickness. Laughingly, he shared the story of how they moved him from the bottom deck to the top deck, thinking that would relieve some of the nausea. Unfortunately, to no avail, he laid on the top deck curled up in a ball anxiously awaiting his arrival to Australia. Needless to say, cruising was not in his future after the war. 

There was one crazy, funny story he shared regarding the chain attached to the ship’s anchor. Harry and four of his buddies decided to go for a swim. They climbed down the chain and dropped into the ocean. Once in the water they discovered they were swimming with sharks. Of course, at seventeen and fearless, the impending danger did not stop their foolish endeavor. Amazingly, the sharks were not phased by their presence. 

Australia couldn’t come fast enough. As luck would have it, there was a large Greek Community in Australia that quickly embraced Harry. He was invited every Sunday to share lunch and attend the local Greek church. Finding the Australians to be warm and friendly, Harry actually enjoyed his six months in their country. The country and the people were an incredible educational experience. During that time, fortunately, he was not exposed to the horrors of war, thus remembering the six months as a pleasant experience.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, Private Raftis’ duty assignment was transportation. According to Harry, he drove anything that had wheels. He drove the famous World War II truck known as the “Jimmy.” This truck was later nick-named the “Deuce and a Half” during the Vietnam War. The “Jimmy” was a 2 1/2 ton truck that was famously known as having won World War II. One of Harry’s major assignments was transporting the Filipinos back-and-forth from their villages to the city where they worked for the American military. On several occasions, he would spend the night in the villages with the Filipinos where he slept on the ground. He experienced first hand the difficulties of their existence.. no running water… no toilets… minimal living quarters. He talks about how warm, friendly and kind the Filipinos were to the Americans even with the constant threat from the Japanese.

One particular Thanksgiving holds a horrific memory regarding the Japanese. Harry decided the night before Thanksgiving to walk over to the mess hall and visit his friends as they prepared for the next day’s celebration. Feeling fatigued, Harry decided to return to his quarters for the evening. Within minutes, after Harry retired for the night, the Japanese bombed the mess hall, killing everyone.  Unfortunately, Harry still did not leave the Philippines unscathed. We have all heard “don’t drink the water.” Well Harry says, “don’t drink the Caribou milk.”  He developed yellow jaundice so severe that he was sent to the hospital in Guam in his words “to die.” He spent six months in the hospital. He survived and was sent back to Manila for the duration of the war. 

At the conclusion of our interview, Harry pulled out his hat from World War II. To his amusement, he discovered the card insert, which was quite popular during the 40’s for men and women. “Like hell it’s yours! Put it back.” He also came across an ID bracelet with his serial number. He was not sure when he received it, and after some thought, he concluded possibly for identification purposes in the hospital in Guam. These ID bracelets were very popular during the war years and actually became collector items.

Harry returned home to Chicago after the war. He met and married Athene in 1950, his bride of 62 years. They met at the Hellenic dance in the old Baptist Church located on Armitage Avenue. They had two children Andrew and Maria. Harry also has two grandsons, Anthony and Andrew. Grandson Andrew will be his guardian on his honor flight. Harry went on to work at Masonic Hospital for 40 years. He filmed special surgical cases for educational purposes. He provided the audio visual and was often in the operating room behind the camera. 

Harry, to this day, keeps a small American flag in his bedroom as a reminder of why he served our country. Harry exemplifies the ethics, morals, and inner peace one can achieve in a life spent with respect and love for God and country.

Thank you, Harry, for your service to our country in WWII. Enjoy your well-deserved day of honor with your grandson by your side!