{"id":2395332,"date":"2025-01-26T15:55:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T20:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/80-years-ago-elite-us-soldiers-conducted-raid-liberating-over-500-pows-behind-enemy-lines\/"},"modified":"2025-01-26T15:56:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T20:56:06","slug":"80-years-ago-elite-us-soldiers-conducted-raid-liberating-over-500-pows-behind-enemy-lines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/80-years-ago-elite-us-soldiers-conducted-raid-liberating-over-500-pows-behind-enemy-lines\/","title":{"rendered":"80 Years Ago Elite US Soldiers Conducted Raid Liberating Over 500 POWs Behind Enemy Lines"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F80-years-ago-elite-us-soldiers-conducted-raid-liberating-over-500-pows-behind-enemy-lines%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2395332&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u200darticle recounts a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawmakers-national-security-officials-warn-russian-invasion-is-imminent\/\" title=\"Lawmakers, national security officials warn Russian invasion is imminent\">significant military operation<\/a> during World War II\u2014 \u2062the rescue of over 500 American \u200bprisoners of war (POWs) from\u200b the Cabanatuan prison camp in the \u200bPhilippines,\u200c which occurred \u200con January 30, 1945.\u2063 This mission \u200dwas\u200c carried out by a group of U.S. Army\u2062 Rangers, supported by Filipino guerrilla fighters. It was considered one of the \u2064moast successful rescue operations in U.S. military history.<\/p>\n<p>The background of\u2062 the rescue highlights\u200b the grim conditions faced\u200d by the\u2062 POWs, \u2063many of whom\u200b were survivors of the\u200d Bataan \u2063Death March, a brutal trek forced upon American and \u200bFilipino \u200dsoldiers by the Japanese Army after\u2064 the fall of the Philippines in 1942. \u200bGeneral Douglas\u2063 MacArthur \u2062had vowed to\u200c return to\u2062 the\u200d Philippines after being ordered to retreat to \u2063Australia. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">successful rescue operation<\/a> was initiated due to the imminent danger of\u200c the POWs being executed as U.S. forces advanced towards \u2063the camp.<\/p>\n<p>Led by Lieutenant Colonel Henry mucci, the\u200d Rangers \u200blaunched \u200da night raid on the camp, managing\u2062 to navigate behind enemy lines and liberate the prisoners with minimal casualties. The mission involved intense combat with Japanese \u2063guards but ultimately led to the safe evacuation of the\u2063 POWs, who were moved through the night to safety\u2062 while facing\u2062 light resistance.<\/p>\n<p>Upon\u200c their \u2064liberation, the emotional reunions were profound, particularly with\u200c General MacArthur, who expressed\u2064 deep regret for the\u200b hardships \u200dthe POWs endured. the mission was lauded for its planning and execution and has\u2062 been recognized \u2064as \u200ba model for special operations. A total of 516 \u200cPOWs\u2063 were rescued, while two \u200cRangers lost their lives during the\u200b mission. The article reflects on the \u200cbravery and honor\u2062 of\u2062 those involved in what was not only a military victory but also a pivotal moment of redemption for many who had suffered under Japanese captivity.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_5)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_6)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_7)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_8)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_9)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_10)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Eighty years ago a company of U.S. Army Rangers and Filipino guerrilla fighters conducted the most successful rescue mission in American military history, freeing over 500 prisoners of war being held by the Japanese during World War II.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/army-rangers-conducted-successful-rescue-mission-u-s-history-75-years-ago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">raid<\/a> took place at Cabanatuan prison camp, located about 65 miles north of Manila.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the POWs in the camp were survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March, which took place in the spring of 1942 following the fall of the Philippines.<\/p>\n<p>The Japanese had struck the Philippines only hours after hitting Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and with the same devastating effect, destroying most of the American airpower and naval forces stationed in the U.S. territory.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly thereafter, over 57,000 seasoned Japanese soldiers landed on Luzon and pushed the combined American and Filipino forces under Gen. Douglas MacArthur into retreat to the Bataan Peninsula at the mouth of Manila Harbor, where they awaited American reinforcements and supplies, which never arrived.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The Americans and Filipinos made a brave stand for four months against the Japanese onslaught until a lack of food and supplies, as well as the spread of disease, made surrender inevitable.<\/p>\n<p>As the end drew near, President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/churchill-fdr-said-fight-hitler-preservation-christian-civilization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Franklin Roosevelt<\/a> ordered MacArthur to relinquish his command, break through the Japanese naval blockade of the Philippines, and make his way to Australia to lead the Allied counteroffensive.<\/p>\n<p>MacArthur, heartsick, obeyed, and upon reaching Australia, resolutely told reporters, &ldquo;I came through, and I shall return.&rdquo; His promise, &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/returned-macarthur-fulfilled-famous-wwii-pledge-80-years-ago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">I shall return<\/a>,&rdquo; became a rallying cry among Filipinos in the then-occupied American commonwealth.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JKYp1QrYEVM?si=kUY5ho20mhKz3HDi\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The Japanese made their final push in the Philippines on Good Friday, April 3, 1942. Six days later, the Americans surrendered. It was the largest surrender of U.S. forces in the nation&rsquo;s history.<\/p>\n<p>The 65-mile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/topics\/world-war-ii\/bataan-death-march\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bataan Death March<\/a> to a POW camp followed.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Today we mark National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day, commemorating the April 9, 1942 surrender of approximately 10,000 US military personnel &amp; 65,000 Filipino soldiers on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines to the invading Imperial Japanese Army <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WWII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WWII<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/History?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#History<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tnc0iaSEyE\">pic.twitter.com\/tnc0iaSEyE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; WWII Memorial Friends (@WWIIMemorial) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WWIIMemorial\/status\/1115713493234343936?\">April 9, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/this-day-in-history\/u-s-surrenders-in-bataan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">6,000 of the 78,000<\/a> of the combined American and Filipino troops died on the march, due to Japanese brutality, denial of food and water, and exhaustion from the months of previous fighting.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wwii-ended-75-years-ago-japanese-surrender-entire-world-lies-quietly-peace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Conrad Crane<\/a>, who served as chief of historical services for the Army Heritage and Education Center, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/army-rangers-conducted-successful-rescue-mission-u-s-history-75-years-ago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> The Western Journal in 2020 that fulfilling his pledge to redeem the Philippines was personal to MacArthur.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of honor and prestige for MacArthur wrapped up in the Philippines and a part of that too is an obligation not just to the Filipinos left behind, but also to those troops left behind,&rdquo; Crane said.<\/p>\n<p>It would take the general two-and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-trump-aide-paul-manafort-cant-be-prosecuted-in-new-york-following-pardon-court-rules\/\" title=\"Ex-Trump Aide Paul Manafort Can\u2019t Be Prosecuted in New York Following Pardon, Court Rules\">-a-half years<\/a> to make good on his pledge, as he led the 3,500-mile push from Australia back to the archipelago.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, in October 1944, the war leader could proclaim from a beachhead on Leyte Island, &ldquo;People of the Philippines, I have returned. &hellip; The hour of your redemption is here.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Gen. Douglas MacArthur fulfills pledge to return to WW2 Philippines, 70 years ago tomorrow: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NARA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NARA<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/XKM4VPsyF0\">pic.twitter.com\/XKM4VPsyF0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BeschlossDC\/status\/524010361264287744?\">October 20, 2014<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In early January 1945, U.S. forces landed on Luzon island and began the push toward Manila.<\/p>\n<p>By this time, most of the American POWs had been transported back to Japan or Manchuria to work as slave laborers, but over 500 Americans were still being held at Cabanatuan, with more at other camps on the island.<\/p>\n<p>When one of MacArthur&rsquo;s top generals, Sixth Army commander Gen. Walter Krueger, learned of Cabanatuan, he green-lit a mission to rescue the POWs, knowing they were in danger of being killed by the Japanese as the American front lines drew near.<\/p>\n<p>Charlie Company of the 6th Ranger Battalion, beefed up with an extra platoon to be 120 strong, was chosen for the perilous mission to slip 30 miles behind enemy lines, undetected, liberate the camp, and lead the POWs back to freedom.<\/p>\n<p>They would be supported in the mission by 200 Filipino guerrilla fighters.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Rangers&rsquo; Raid on Cabanatuan a Classic Joint Special Operation <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jINl4gd9Qu\">https:\/\/t.co\/jINl4gd9Qu<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cZ939bXiLL\">pic.twitter.com\/cZ939bXiLL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Special Operations (@officialspecops) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/officialspecops\/status\/864453300938264576?\">May 16, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Opposing them would be approximately 250 Japanese guards and other troops housed at Cabanatuan, with nearly 1,000 Japanese soldiers positioned less than a mile from the camp.<\/p>\n<p>Only four miles away, at Cabanatuan City, were an additional 9,000 Japanese forces.<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Col. Henry Mucci led the American rescue operation.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/army-navy-football-teams-ranked-first-time-since-1960-dawn-jfks-camelot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">West Point<\/a> graduate explained the odds of the mission and said any soldier who wanted to could stay behind. He waited a moment to let his words sink in and for his troops to make their decisions, but not one backed out, according to William Breuer in his 1994 book &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Great-Raid-Cabanatuan-Rescuing-Corregidor\/dp\/0471037427\/ref=pd_cp_14_2\/145-8373844-1170843?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=0471037427&amp;pd_rd_r=5e980882-cd43-4176-89de-52b83f023150&amp;pd_rd_w=TqSUu&amp;pd_rd_wg=v8hUl&amp;pf_rd_p=e44de6bb-cc27-4696-9c22-3a1bddefabbd&amp;pf_rd_r=400R0J3D9PG0FSY5R0J4&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=400R0J3D9PG0FSY5R0J4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Great Raid<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;One other thing,&rdquo; Mucci said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;ll be no atheists on this trip.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Men, I want all of you to go to church. Get down on your knees and pray. Swear to God that&rsquo;ll you&rsquo;ll die if need be rather than let any harm come to our POWs!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Robert Prince, commander of Charlie Company, confirmed to me during an interview in the late 1990s, Mucci&rsquo;s remarks.<\/p>\n<p>The Rangers launched the raid of Cabanatuan on the evening of Jan. 30, 1945.<\/p>\n<p>A P-61 Black Widow fighter plane flew low over the camp creating a diversion, so the U.S. troops could draw in close to the fence line undetected.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">75 years ago first flight Northrop P-61 Black Widow, the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and first aircraft designed to use radar. The prototype was powered by R-2800-25S Double Wasp radials turning 12 ft 2 in diameter Curtiss C5425-A10 4-blade props <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/C7apaFG593\">pic.twitter.com\/C7apaFG593<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Aviation Buddha &#9992; (@AviationBuddha) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AviationBuddha\/status\/932627814855127040?\">November 20, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Suddenly, at 7:44 p.m., the night sky lit up with a fusillade of gunfire as Rangers took out the Japanese guards in their assigned sectors.<\/p>\n<p>The Americans quickly broke through the front gate and fanned out into the camp.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the POWs were terrified when they heard all the gunfire, thinking the Japanese had decided to kill them rather than let them be liberated. The frenetic scene during the liberation was depicted in the 2005 film &ldquo;The Great Raid.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z_J2oHbPEIY?si=4rLUStaxHpB_pkNx\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>POWs were quickly directed to the camp front gate then to a rallying point at a river nearby.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, less than a mile from Cabanatuan, 200 Filipino guerrillas under the leadership of Captain Juan Pajota held off nearly a thousand Japanese soldiers.<\/p>\n<p>Pajota&rsquo;s men managed to partially blow a bridge over the Cabu River, which ran between Cabanatuan and the Japanese forces, which prevented tanks and other heavy vehicles from crossing.<\/p>\n<p>The guerrillas then mowed down Japanese troops with machine-gun fire as they repeatedly tried to make Bonzai charges over what remained of the bridge.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">WWII Picture of the Day &ndash; Captain Pajota&rsquo;s guerrillas at Cabanatuan, 1945. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gzDdDSKf3h\">pic.twitter.com\/gzDdDSKf3h<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; World War II History (@thewaryears) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thewaryears\/status\/1117150824587776001?\">April 13, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The liberated POWs, guarded by the Rangers and guerrillas, marched through the night toward the American lines, only encountering some light Japanese resistance along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Things had come full circle from the spring of 1942. Now, instead of the Death March, they were in a life march.<\/p>\n<p>When they reached U.S. lines and saw the American flag flying, &ldquo;We wept openly,&rdquo; liberated POW Abie Abraham later recalled, &ldquo;and we wept without shame.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Fellow POW Dr. Ralph Hibbs told me during a 1997 interview that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/75-years-ago-macarthur-fulfilled-famous-pledge-made-triumphant-wwii-return-philippines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MacArthur<\/a> came to visit the freed POWs days after their rescue, and the general cried when he saw them.<\/p>\n<p>Hibbs felt the tears were a genuine expression of the emotion the general felt at being reunited with his men and the sadness of seeing the toll the captivity had taken on them.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">On this day in 1945, Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts &amp; Filipino guerrillas rescue 552 Allied prisoners from the Japanese POW camp at Cabanatuan. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2u8zqNbY3O\">pic.twitter.com\/2u8zqNbY3O<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Military History Now (@MilHistNow) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MilHistNow\/status\/1620029187082915841?\">January 30, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Jim Zobel, archivist at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, told The Western Journal in 2020 that MacArthur did not stay for minutes, but hours listening to the POWs&rsquo; stories of deprivation and abuse, and repeatedly apologized, saying, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m too late. I&rsquo;m too late.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A total of <a href=\"https:\/\/arsof-history.org\/articles\/v14n2_cabanatuan_page_1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">516 POWs<\/a> were rescued, while two Rangers died during the mission.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It was a brilliant operation done with the minimum of casualties and the maximum of result. It was a model for other operations,&rdquo; Crane said.<\/p>\n<p>Cpt. Prince<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlepi.com\/local\/article\/Leader-of-WWII-s-Great-Raid-looks-back-at-1181340.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> told<\/a> reporters following his return to the U.S. in the spring of 1945, &ldquo;People everywhere try to thank us. I think the thanks should go the other way around.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be grateful for the rest of my life that I had a chance to do something in this war that was not destructive,&rdquo; he explained. &ldquo;Nothing for me can ever compare with the satisfaction I got from helping free our prisoners.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>Portions of the article first appeared in &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/THESE-TRUTHS-Randall-Norman-DeSoto\/dp\/1604772689\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">We Hold These Truths<\/a>&rdquo; by Randall DeSoto.<\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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This mission occurred at the Cabanatuan prison camp, situated approximately 65 miles north of Manila. The majority of the POWs were survivors of the notorious Bataan Death March that followed the fall of the Philippines in spring 1942. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, they swiftly invaded the Philippines, decimating American air and naval forces stationed there. Soon after, more than 57,000 experienced Japanese troops landed on Luzon and forced American and Filipino forces under General Douglas MacArthur to retreat to Bataan Peninsula while awaiting reinforcements that never came.<\/p>\n<p>The Americans and Filipinos held out bravely for four months against relentless Japanese attacks until starvation and disease made surrender unavoidable. As defeat loomed, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to abandon his command and escape through a Japanese blockade to Australia to lead Allied efforts against Japan. Heartbroken but obedient, MacArthur reached Australia vowing to return\u2014a promise that resonated deeply with Filipinos living under occupation.<\/p>\n<p>On Good Friday in April 1942, as Japan launched its final offensive in the Philippines, American forces surrendered six days later\u2014the largest capitulation in U.S. military history\u2014leading to a harrowing march for those captured known as the Bataan Death March.<\/p>\n<p>Today marks National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day as we remember this significant event from April 9th when around 10,000 U.S. soldiers along with 65,000 Filipino troops surrendered on Bataan Peninsula amidst overwhelming odds against them.<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 6,000 out of an estimated total of 78,000 combined American and Filipino soldiers perished during this brutal march due to mistreatment by their captors who denied them food or water while subjecting them to extreme exhaustion following months of combat.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Conrad Crane noted that for MacArthur personally redeeming the Philippines was not just about honor but also fulfilling an obligation towards both Filipinos left behind and his own men who had been captured.<\/p>\n<p>It would take two-and-a-half years before he could fulfill his promise; finally declaring upon landing on Leyte Island in October 1944: &#8220;People of the Philippines! I have returned&#8230; The hour of your redemption is here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In early January 1945 as U.S forces advanced toward Manila after landing on Luzon island many POWs had already been moved elsewhere but over five hundred remained at Cabanatuan where General Walter Krueger authorized a rescue mission knowing their lives were at risk due imminent danger posed by advancing front lines.<\/p>\n<p>Charlie Company from Sixth Ranger Battalion was selected for this high-stakes operation supported by two hundred local guerrillas led by Captain Juan Pajota tasked with infiltrating enemy territory undetected liberate prisoners then escort them back safely through hostile terrain despite facing heavy opposition including nearly one thousand nearby enemy troops readying themselves for battle should they discover what was happening within their ranks&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Led by Lt.Col Henry Mucci who encouraged all willing participants not only prepare physically but spiritually too\u2014urging each man pray earnestly before embarking upon such perilous endeavor\u2014the raid commenced late evening January thirtieth nineteen forty-five utilizing aerial support creating diversion allowing ground troops approach without detection&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>At precisely seven forty-four PM chaos erupted when Rangers engaged guards swiftly breaching gates fanning throughout compound freeing terrified inmates unsure whether liberation meant death instead&#8230; <\/p>\n<p>As liberated POWs marched towards safety alongside their rescuers they encountered minimal resistance reflecting stark contrast compared earlier experiences endured during infamous death march now transformed into life-affirming journey culminating emotional reunion once reaching friendly lines where flags flew proudly overhead eliciting tears among those present witnessing momentous occasion marking triumph over adversity<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2395333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Cabanatuan-raid.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[49231,43382,42604,49230,12223],"class_list":["post-2395332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-elite-soldiers","tag-historical-events","tag-military-history","tag-pow-rescue","tag-wwii"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Cabanatuan-raid.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395332"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2395336,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395332\/revisions\/2395336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2395332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2395332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}