The Liberation
"We're Yanks! This is a prison break! Head for the main gate!"
- Sergeant Lester Malone, 6th Ranger Battalion
Originally, the 6th Ranger Battalion was the 98th Field Artillery Battalion. But when machines replaced animals, they became obsolete. Thus, the 6th Ranger Battalion was born. Having been trained in the islands of New Guinea and having fought a small number of Japanese soldiers there, the 6th Ranger Battalion was prepared for the Philippines. The American part of the raid consisted of Company C of the Rangers and were supported by the 2nd Platoon of Company F.
The second half of the raid team were two Filipino guerrilla groups commanded by Captain Eduardo Joson, who the Rangers would meet first in Lobong, and Captain Juan Pajota, who they would meet in Balincarin and would lead the majority of the guerrillas. They have resisted the Japanese for three years now, from stealing their supplies to fighting against groups of enemy troops, but not without great risk. If they were caught doing any of this, their homes would be destroyed along with the people within it.
- Sergeant Lester Malone, 6th Ranger Battalion
Originally, the 6th Ranger Battalion was the 98th Field Artillery Battalion. But when machines replaced animals, they became obsolete. Thus, the 6th Ranger Battalion was born. Having been trained in the islands of New Guinea and having fought a small number of Japanese soldiers there, the 6th Ranger Battalion was prepared for the Philippines. The American part of the raid consisted of Company C of the Rangers and were supported by the 2nd Platoon of Company F.
The second half of the raid team were two Filipino guerrilla groups commanded by Captain Eduardo Joson, who the Rangers would meet first in Lobong, and Captain Juan Pajota, who they would meet in Balincarin and would lead the majority of the guerrillas. They have resisted the Japanese for three years now, from stealing their supplies to fighting against groups of enemy troops, but not without great risk. If they were caught doing any of this, their homes would be destroyed along with the people within it.
Before the Rangers could even begin their mission to Cabanatuan, General Krueger sent out two five-man squads of Alamo Scouts before them. Bill Nellist and Thomas Rounsaville were the two squad leaders and had went on before the Ranger group to only to find out that Japanese activity within the surrounding area of the POW camp. Captain Pajota also gave a report to the Rangers from his scouts that many a large Japanese convoy was on its way to the prison and if they continued with the raid on its original schedule, they would be heading towards a fully armed force of Japanese soldiers and their death. The attack had to be delayed for one more day or they risk both their lives and the prisoners'.
After sneaking their way behind, around or straight through enemy forces, the group had already made it to Platero, the Rangers' final stop before beginning their rescue at dusk. A feast was held there in their honor and soon after, they left to begin the rescue.
From there, the Rangers would wait until a P-61 "Black Widow" would hover above the Cabanatuan prison to distract the Japanese guards. The Rangers and guerrillas had used this to get into position for the raid. While Pajota and Joson made roadblocks on the main highway going to the prison, the C Company Rangers led by Captain Prince would hide in the rice paddies nearby and Company F led by Lieutenant John Murphy took their place under the highway. The prisoners within the compound went about doing their standard routine, not knowing what was about to happen.
After sneaking their way behind, around or straight through enemy forces, the group had already made it to Platero, the Rangers' final stop before beginning their rescue at dusk. A feast was held there in their honor and soon after, they left to begin the rescue.
From there, the Rangers would wait until a P-61 "Black Widow" would hover above the Cabanatuan prison to distract the Japanese guards. The Rangers and guerrillas had used this to get into position for the raid. While Pajota and Joson made roadblocks on the main highway going to the prison, the C Company Rangers led by Captain Prince would hide in the rice paddies nearby and Company F led by Lieutenant John Murphy took their place under the highway. The prisoners within the compound went about doing their standard routine, not knowing what was about to happen.
The attack started at 7:45 P.M. Pacific Time. Attacking from two sides of the compound, the Japanese were rapidly overwhelmed. As one Ranger put it, "We mowed them down like hay." The Rangers started to hurry all of the prisoners out of Cabanatuan. They fought the Japanese soldiers, making sure their comrades got out safely. Some Japanese guards pretended they were prisoners, but they failed every time.
The Japanese soldiers outside of the compound faced the full might and wrath of Pajota's men. A Filipino guerrilla armed with a bazooka destroyed their heavy vehicles and the Japanese soldiers surrounding them. The Japanese men tried to flank them, snipe them or find a way to cut down the Filipinos, at one point practically hurdling themselves at the guerrilla forces in waves, only to be mowed down by the Filipinos. After three long years of Japanese occupation, the guerrillas finally got the chance of making them feel the pain they have felt. As American guerrilla leader Robert Lapham put it,"It was Pajota's finest moment."
The Rangers, guerrillas, and POWs made it out of Cabanatuan with very few injuries, two fatalities and one POW unaccounted for.
The one POW left behind was an elderly man by the name of Edwin Rose. He was in the latrine when the raid ensued. Being mostly deaf, he did not know what happen, so when he came out seeing that no one else was there, he went back to his bed and slept until he was recovered by the Rangers.
Dr. James Fisher, the battalion surgeon present on the battlefield, was one of them, shot in the stomach by a Japanese soldier. Mortally wounded, Fisher died after the Rangers got to the nearby barrio of Platero, where a local doctor named Carlos Layug would attempt to heal him, but to no avail .
Coporal Roy Sweezey's death was officially reported as "killed in action by a Japanese soldier", but according to author Hampton Sides, friendly fire took his life.
The Japanese soldiers outside of the compound faced the full might and wrath of Pajota's men. A Filipino guerrilla armed with a bazooka destroyed their heavy vehicles and the Japanese soldiers surrounding them. The Japanese men tried to flank them, snipe them or find a way to cut down the Filipinos, at one point practically hurdling themselves at the guerrilla forces in waves, only to be mowed down by the Filipinos. After three long years of Japanese occupation, the guerrillas finally got the chance of making them feel the pain they have felt. As American guerrilla leader Robert Lapham put it,"It was Pajota's finest moment."
The Rangers, guerrillas, and POWs made it out of Cabanatuan with very few injuries, two fatalities and one POW unaccounted for.
The one POW left behind was an elderly man by the name of Edwin Rose. He was in the latrine when the raid ensued. Being mostly deaf, he did not know what happen, so when he came out seeing that no one else was there, he went back to his bed and slept until he was recovered by the Rangers.
Dr. James Fisher, the battalion surgeon present on the battlefield, was one of them, shot in the stomach by a Japanese soldier. Mortally wounded, Fisher died after the Rangers got to the nearby barrio of Platero, where a local doctor named Carlos Layug would attempt to heal him, but to no avail .
Coporal Roy Sweezey's death was officially reported as "killed in action by a Japanese soldier", but according to author Hampton Sides, friendly fire took his life.
After the raid on Cabanatuan, the POWs were sent back home to America, where they were greeted by hundreds of people, celebrating their miraculous return. For the POWs, the nightmare was finally over. For the Americans, another victory would soon ensue. For the Filipinos, freedom was at hand. And for all those men who died throughout the events that unfolded after the Bataan Death March, they could finally rest in peace.