[January 30, 2015] Considered the greatest and most morale-boosting prisoner rescue of World War II, the military raid of a Japanese prison camp near Cabanatuan, Philippines was a demonstration of great leadership, bravery, and audacity. With a mixed force of U.S. Army Rangers and Alamo Scouts, plus Filipino guerillas, a total of 511 prisoners were freed with only minimal casualties.
The raid at Cabanatuan was approved personally by General Douglas MacArthur. There was little chance of success but given the information that Japanese forces were going to execute all the prisoners (military and civilian), the mission was given the go ahead anyway. Fortunately it worked. With the generous help of Filipino villagers in various parts of the operation, many of the weakest freed prisoners were also able to ride in carabao carts back to Allied controlled territory.1
The success of the raid laid the foundation for additional raids on Japanese prison camps. We pay our respect to all who participated in the great raid at Cabanatuan – Filipino and American.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci, commander of the rescue force is pictured in the featured image. Original footage of much of the post-raid events can been seen in a video (see link).2
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