Yos Sudarso had a childhood dream of becoming a soldier, despite his parents’ preference for him to become a teacher. He pursued this dream when the Japanese government needed more military personnel during the Greater East Asia War. Yos Sudarso attended the Naval Academy in Semarang and received naval military education with the Japanese Navy, graduating as one of the top students. He later served on a Japanese military ship.
After Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945, Yos Sudarso joined the People’s Security Agency in the marine sector, which later became part of the Indonesian Navy. Throughout his career, he participated in various military operations to eliminate insurgencies in Indonesia. He commanded several Indonesian Navy Ships (KRI) and also served as a judge on a military court for a period of time.
In late 1961, President Sukarno initiated the Tri Komando Rakyat (TRIKORA), which included an operation in the Aru Sea near Maluku to support the liberation of West Papua from the Dutch. Yos Sudarso, serving as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, commanded three KRIs in this mission. Despite facing a Dutch war fleet, Yos Sudarso’s quick decision-making saved two KRIs while sacrificing his own ship, the KRI Macan Tutul, in the battle of the Aru Sea.
Yos Sudarso, along with 24 other men, lost his life in the line of duty at the age of 36. He bravely gave his life for his country’s sake, leaving a legacy as an exemplary leader in the Indonesian Armed Forces.
