30 JAN--This Day in US Military History

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 08:36:55 -0500

1945 – US Army Rangers and Filipino guerrillas executed a flawless rescue of 486 POWs from Camp Cabanatuan north of Manila.

The Raid at Cabanatuan, also known as The Great Raid, was a rescue of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians from a Japanese camp near Cabanatuan City, in the Philippines.
On January 30, 1945, during World War II, United States Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas liberated more than 500 from the POW camp. After the surrender of tens of thousands of American troops during the Battle of Bataan, many were sent to a Cabanatuan prison camp following the Bataan Death March. The Japanese transferred most of the prisoners to other areas, leaving just over 500 American and other Allied POWs and civilians in the prison. Facing brutal conditions including disease, torture, and malnourishment, the prisoners feared they would all be executed as General Douglas MacArthur and his American forces returned to Luzon.
In late January 1945, a plan was developed by Sixth Army leaders and Filipino guerrillas to send a small force to rescue the prisoners. A group of over a hundred Rangers and Scouts and several hundred guerrillas traveled 30 miles (48 km) behind Japanese lines to reach the camp. In a nighttime raid, under the cover of darkness and a distraction by a P-61 Black Widow, the group surprised the Japanese forces in and around the camp. Hundreds of Japanese troops were killed in the 30-minute coordinated attack; the Americans suffered minimal casualties. The Rangers, Scouts, and guerrillas escorted the POWs back to American lines.
The rescue allowed the prisoners to tell of the death march and prison camp atrocities, which sparked a new rush of resolve for the war against Japan. The rescuers were awarded commendations by MacArthur, and were also recognized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A memorial now sits on the site of the former camp, and the events of the raid have been depicted in several films.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/january-30/

January 30

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Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2015 8:52 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 08:52:14 -0500

This is a great story of courage and audacity that few people knew until recently with the release of "the Great Raid".
No matter how hard it is, America does not leave it's service members behind.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Jan 30 at 2015 8:54 AM

SGT Jim Z. — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 08:54:44 -0500

Once again another fine post

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jan 30 at 2015 10:01 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 22:01:15 -0500

Home run with this post brother! RLTW!!! Thanks for bringing this story back into the light.