Yos Sudarso had always wanted to become a soldier since he was a child, despite his parents’ preference for him to become a teacher. His dream became a reality when the Japanese government required more military personnel during the Greater East Asia War.
He attended the Naval Academy in Semarang and received naval military education with the Japanese Navy, graduating as one of the top students. Yos Sudarso later served on a Japanese military ship.
After Indonesia declared independence on August 17, 1945, he joined the People’s Security Agency in the marine sector (BKR Laut), which eventually became part of the Indonesian Navy.
Throughout his career, Yos Sudarso participated in various military operations to combat insurgencies within Indonesia. He commanded several Indonesian Navy Ships (KRI) such as KRI Rajawali, KRI Alu, KRI Gajah Mada, KRI Pattimura, and KRI Macan Tutul. In 1958, he also served as a judge on a military court for four months.
Towards the end of 1961, President Sukarno called for 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 (KSAL), led three KRIs in silent operations in the waters of Maluku. These KRIs were KRI Macan Tutul, KRI Macan Kumbang, and KRI Harimau, with Yos Sudarso commanding the KRI Macan Tutul.
The Dutch war fleet, consisting of three large warships armed to the teeth, detected the movement of Yos Sudarso and the three KRI units in the Aru Sea. Yos Sudarso ordered the three KRIs to retreat temporarily, but the Dutch misinterpreted it as a prelude to an attack and opened fire.
The engine of the KRI Macan Tutul that Yos Sudarso was commanding suddenly failed during the rescue operation. Quick thinking on Yos Sudarso’s part led to the decision that he couldn’t save his own ship, but he could save the other two. The KRI Macan Tutul acted as a shield between the Dutch warships and the other two KRIs, allowing them to escape. The second shot from the Dutch ship hit the KRI Macan Tutul, causing it to catch fire and slowly sink.
Yos Sudarso, along with 24 men, perished in the mission with the KRI Macan Tutul in the Battle of the Aru Sea. He sacrificed his life at the age of 36 in service to his country.
