"Inspired by true events." "1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour." "The U.S fleet was crippled." "Ten hours later across the Pacific they attacked the Philippines clearing the way for an overwhelming occupation of the islands." "U.S. forces, including 10,000 Americans and 60,000 Filipinos pulled back to the Bataan peninsula." "Without the NAVY to rescue them, with their backs to the sea, they were trapped." "Despite promises to the contrary, president Roosevelt and his military high command decided to focus first on Europe." "And not on stopping Hitler." "This strategy effectively seals the faith of Philippines and the men trapped on Baatan." "Under orders, and against his wishes, general McArthur escapes to Australia, down to return." "After four months of fighting without supplies, starving American and Filipino troops surrendered to the Japanese Imperial army." "It is the largest single defeat in the history of the American military." "Unequipped, on feet 70,000 prisoners of war," "The Japanese take the weaken soldiers on the brutal sixty miles forced march." "Men fall at the line were bayoneted or shot." "15,000 perish on what would become known as the Bataan death march." "The surviving POWs are headed into various camps." "At Bonnel, Cabanatuan, and Palawan." "The Japanese guards abuse surrendered to disgrace, treat them viciously." "Thousands died from disease, starvation, and abuse." "1944 however, the tide of battle changes." "With each new victory American forces advance on Japan." "With each new defeat the Japanese army becomes more desperate." "By years of propaganda, they believed that Americans will show no mercy." "The Government in Tokyo encourages these fears, convincing its people that they must prepare to defend their country to the death." "On August 1st 1944, the Tokyo war ministry releases a memo, detain the Japanese army's policy toward prisoners of war." "It reads:" "It is the aim not to allow the escape of the single one." "To annihilate them all, and not leave any traces." "Palawan POW Camp" "THE GREAT RAID" "The following events took place over five days in January 1945." "6th Army Headquarters Calasio, Luzon, The Philippines" "DAY 1" " January 27th" "Landing at Nguying gulf is the largest naval operation ever undertaken in the Pacific." "Over a quarter of million troops came ashore, ready for the final push into the Philippines." "I was the Stanford crutch with service to the RTC." "I wasn't interested in making career of a soldier." "I just wanted to do my part and go home to my wife." "I was a captain of the 6th Ranger Battalion." "My commanding officer was lieutenant colonel Henry Mucci." "You still in this Hamilton?" "I'm thinking about it colonel." "What are you thinking about, you're already lost." "You want me to take my hat off, to show you a better look?" "No colonel, I don't want you to..." "West Point graduate, Mucci was one of the most terrific men I've ever met." "He took on what seem to many a hopeless task." "The job of turning group of raw untested recruits into a new unit of elite soldiers." "Originally signed to handle less talk, they were mostly farmy hands from small towns and rural areas." "with no combat experience." "Sergeant." "Have you seen colonel Mucci?" "Yes sir, he's in there playing poker." "You don't wanna interrupt him, I think he's losing." "Lt. Foley get me a new deck of cards, I suppose I'm lucky." "Every time you stick that pipe in your mouth colonel, I just know you're in trouble." "Colonel." "Look at this." "D'you have any idea who that is?" "Yes sir." "Corporal on the guard!" "Yes sir!" "Aliteri, find out who the cowboy is." "Yes sir." "We spent months training and it seemed very little action." "As far as the army was concerned, doing nothing was the colonel's personal experiment." "Mucci was determined to prove they weren't." " General." " Henry." "You know Colonel White." "And this is Major Lapham." "Major, this is Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci CO 6th Ranger Battalion." "Henry, Major Lapham is a stay behind in Bataan campaign." "He runs guerilla unit here north from Luzon." "You should know Philippine guerillas has been the primary source of intel for General McArthur since fall." "Good done, major." " Thank you." "Major Lapham, tell Colonel Mucci what you've told us." "Five miles east of Cabanatuan city here there's a Japanese POW camp holding about" "Five hundred survivers of the deathmarch." "As we advanced on this area" "I believe that the Japanese will murder these prisoners rather than release them." "Unfortunately, major Lapham is probably right." "There was an incident in a camp on Palawan." "Hundred and fifty American POWs were herded into air-raid shelters and burnt alive." "Our access of advance set right before that camp." "Unless we're running to something unexpected we're gonna be in Cabanatuan at the end of the week." "And it may be to late." "I want you to say about this." "We are rapid advance Jap troops movements become increasing retreating at night, not during the day to avoid our aircraft." "That means we can't be sure where the enemy is." "Thirty miles from the front lines." "There're thirty thousand Japanese troops in that area, colonel." "Henry." "Can you develop a plan you get there by the morning?" "Sir." " I'll make my decision then." "Now general Kreuger hasn't made up his mind yet, but he's given a call up with a hell of a plans." "Call our boys to briefing, we may set off in the morning." "Yes sir." "So we got to be accompanied on this mission." "Don't worry captain." "It'll be a little raid" "How many guards on the compound?" "Could be as many as two hundred." "And tanks." "This building with metal roof looks like it's protecting something." "Are these the best photographs we have?" "You'll have everything you need when we hook up with about the camp." "Sir it's hard for me to tell the number of men we'll need without more specific intel." "Unfortunately we don't have that luxury, Bob." "I selected you for your flexibility." "You got 24 hour jump on this, lieutenant." "Do I give you enough time to get capt." "Prince all he needs?" "We will be ready to report you at 08-00 hours in the morning sir." "Get it done." "Tough knot is the final approach." "No cover of over 800 miles." "It's as flat as a pancake." "Cabanatuan POW Camp" "We'll be killed if they stop by now." "What difference does it make?" "Japs gonna catch them sooner or later." "You couldn't have got me something easier to chew?" "Mango, banana." "I took some graveyard rats, but I thought that would be over indulging." "Is it your gums or your teeth hurting?" "It starts at the gums, walks his way around the back of my head and ends up in my neck somewhere." "Don't worry." "It's not malaria." "Sir." "Lieutenant." "I've just translated the telegram to colonel Mori." "Their guard is coming to southern islands." "They're landing here in Luzon." "You can take in for a few days and head on back to Australia, like you did the first time." "The information's good, major." "I'm in their office every day." "We don't know how close McArthur is and how many will reach Cabanatuan." "Tell the men the best thing to do is sit tight, and stay calm till we find out more." "Yes sir." "Make sure you get it this time." "Yes sir." "They caught Hewitt." "I was watching him!" "Poor dumb bastard, couldn't even wait for the goddamn doctors." "You are responsible for this." "You surrender like cowards, then you run away like dogs." "He'll die, because none of you had the courage to stop him!" "Cabanatuan City 4 miles west of POW camp" "It's time." "I need food." "Call me." "Watch his back." "How much?" "Five." "You should not have come." "Neither should you." "I had no choice, people are too afraid." "How's Margaret?" "She's fine." "All we really need is more medicine." "Carlos had them requested by the Japanese last week." " Are they watching us?" " Tell Margaret not to take anymore risks." "You think she'll listen to it?" "Is there anything you want me to tell her?" "She's to take care." "There's some peanuts." "Take them." "You don't look well." " Who's Margaret?" " Why?" "He was just asking about her." "She's an American nurse who was married to his commanding officer." "He died of malaria about a year ago in one of the other camps." " Was major involved with her?" " What makes you say that?" "Nothing." "Just sounds he's concerned." "He wasn't involved with her." "But he should have been." "Her husband wouldn't give a damn about it." "And Gibby, he couldn't have damn about anyone else except her." "Why didn't he do something about her?" "Gentlemen don't fool around with another man's wife." "I on the other hand might." " Where's she now?" "She's still in Manila." "Working with the underground." "Where do you think we get all the medicine in camp?" "Manila" "There are rumors that underground spin on by war." "We had no idea she works for you." "This is not enough." "We have agreed on 300." "Miss, there's very little quina left in Manila." "This is worth at least 500." "Unless you double your supply." "I'll go get the money." "Let's get of here." "This is set up." "Get in the truck." " What about medicine?" "Get in!" "Steady!" "At ease." "I'm here to tell you a man on the tree rumor is true." "Finally we got a mission worth of the rangers." "We're going to push right through our front lines into the Japs backyard." "And rescue 500 American prisoners of war." "I want you to be rough sons of a bitch." "A textbook style of raid, it can be only achieved through speed, surprise and overwhelming firepower." "That's why you've been chosen." "Before you start congratulating yourselves, remember, you haven't achieved the damn thing yet." "You're the best trained least probed battalion in this whole army." "This is your one chance do something about it." "And I mean one chance." "How you equip yourselves over the next 48 hours, will determine how you are judged for the rest of your lives!" "Men who are worthy of serving in this army, or an embarrassment that history and time will eventually forget." "It's up to you." "Now, I have to think it's performed, that's why I'm accompanying you on this raid." "Not another group of men in this or any other army I'll sooner trust my life with." "You're the finest, best prepared soldiers this country's ever sent to war." "And I expect you to prove it!" " Is that clear?" " Yes, sir!" " Are you sure?" " Yes, sir!" "Hurry up." "General liked your plan." "I don't believe what colonel said." "He's got the pencil and moustache, who else gonna know he's an officer." "I'm gonna kill my helmet, use the code, clean, wash." "The helmet will make too much noise on the field." " I'm sorry, I didn't hear that." " I heard that." "You're the best shot in company, you're gonna be fine with this?" " No, sir I like one on one." " Choose yourself a loader." " Lucas." " Sure about that?" "Yeah." " Cap, you have a minute?" " Sure, Tom." "I was going on with personal roster." "And I ain't on it." "Coloner Mucci said you're prepared bad on this trip, so I had to take you off." "Well with respects sir, you're married." "And I imagine that your wife witness you have a lot mind." "I'm the one planning this right to top." "Don't make me go against my instructions." "No sir, I'm asking you to be some more of company commander." "And we had some rangers out there that haven't heard the first round, rangers that didn't come back." "You need me on this mission." "I tell you when I was in errand DC, that's some way from insule to Betaan." "I wasn't to come back if I hadn't the wisdom to do it." "Guys I knew ended up in those camps." "And I ended up with the feet." "Well that may be but you're gonna find it a lot harder without me." "All right, I'll talk to the colonel." " Anything else?" " Thank you." "Good night, sir." "DAY 2" " January 28th" "We left 6th army quarters with very little information." "The only advantage we had was the element of surprise." "We faced the two day walk, through open terrain, patrolled by the enemy." "All we take is if single Japanese scavenger spot us, our mission would be over." "Let's go!" " Ready?" "Let's move!" " Moving up!" "We all knew the ideal was to rescue POWs." "We didn't spend much time thinking about it." "As far as we were concerned, we're going to rescue them or die trying." " They're gonna just leave us?" " I don't know what they're doing." "Get this quina to the doctors." "You know the drill." "They must be retreating." "Even the press is leaving." "Hey major, Mori's leaving too." "Let's think you were right, kid." "General McArthur has got them on the run." "They're not on the run, they've got orders to fight to the last man." " It's a trap." " God damn elaborate one." "We walk out of those gates, it'll give them the perfect excuse to kill us." "Since when do they need an excuse?" "I don't know about you, but I'm getting out of here before they changed their minds!" "How far do you think you'll get, captain?" "Even if the Japs shall retreat, jungle is gonna be crawling with them." "What's wrong with that, we're still soldiers, ain't we?" "Hey, major's right." "Where are we gonna go?" "Almost no one can walk." "I don't recall inviting you, kid." "But I'm the one to be behind." "I never said we'd all leave but at least some of us might." "If we sit tight, all of us will make it." "Our troops can't be far now." "It's like you got yourself a disciple, Gibby." "Don't be so quick, listen to him." "Running won't make any easier for you." "Don't worry, I won't escape without your permission." "How can they still believe in God." "We can't escape with guys like you." " How did you learn how to do that?" " I wasn't always the same." " What's the matter?" " This food portions were for us." "Bastards starved us and left it." "Make sure you get some of this back to men in the hospital." "Easy major, you can use to it." "Well I can, it's like I'm stuck and I'm seeing some tits." "I was thinking more of making west." "JAPANESE CONTROLLED TERRITORY 30 miles from POW camp" " What is it, Tom?" " Traps." "They left a few here." "Must have been highly remoted plains." "Do we proceed sir or do you want me to take a look around before we go on?" "They're retreating, captain that's all we need to know." "Let's move." "Battalion, let's go!" "Nothing I knew appear to be in place." "He can be a pain in the ass." "There's a method to his madness." "Take your time." "Damn it!" "Can't be time." "I think they gonna lead us to the camp." "River branch is about a half mile east of us." "It's not marked, there might be a bridge that can get us out of this convoy." "Japanese are regarding the major point like that." "I think we're to check it out." "If it's a trap, we can't even get there." "Go." "1941 Manila was concidered the sprawl of the orient." "An international city where people from all over the world lived and worked." "That all changed when the Japanese took over." "They believed that as a conquered people the Filipinos should do as they were told." "Those who disobeyed were jailed, tortured or executed." "This made the bond between the Filipinos and the Americans even stronger." "Resistance grew throughout the country." "But 1945 hundreds of ordinary people had joined the underground." "It's like they have been watching you for weeks." "The Japanese have questioned our people before." "It doesn't necessarily mean anything." "They know that the Americans are closing in." "And they know that we have evidence of their war crimes." "Don Antonio is right, this..." "This wasn't like before, Margaret." "They know of things informators have told them." "Then why do they let you go?" "I'm sorry, Carlos but if you're worried, you're free to go." "I won't hold it against you." "I won't hold it against any of you." "I won't leave unless we all go." "You know that." "I can't leave." "Not as long as there's a single prisoner left in Cabanatuan." " Margaret, I saw Daniel." " Who is he?" "He know you well." "I know father said to wait." "But if we do that, it may be too late for Daniel." "No, your father is right, it's too dangerous." " Don't listen to me." " I'll meet you outside the hospital." "At usual place." "I should go." "It was thanks to me you met Margaret in the first place." "It sure was." "When I look up at the sky like this, I could be anywhere in the world." " Where are you now?" " Halfway across the jungle." "I've disobeyed your orders and now I'm only a few miles from the civilisation." " Have a dream for me when you get there." " What do you want me to tell Margaret?" "I assume if she's still interested." "Well if she's not I'll propose to her myself." "And you know what?" "I'll make you my best man as I know you won't run off." "If I had something like that waiting for me on the other side of an open gate..." "That's not good." "Don't!" "You get them a satisfaction." "They'll be dead soon." "You fall to a Bataan major?" "You're commander to battalion of the 31 infantry in operations near Malayew?" "I can give you my name, my consuetude number." "We found these in your barracks." "I assume they were smuggled in by the Filipino resistance." "They say take hope help is coming." "We've been having rumors like that for three years." "Only this time they are true." "Your forces is will recapture the Philippines within the few weeks." " Why are you telling me this?" " Because it is too long we wait." "You are the senior officer." "If you help me keep order, I can make your time here tolerable." "But if any of the prisoners try to escape, I will kill ten others in his place." " Are you married, major?" " No." "But do you have a reason to survive this war?" "I'd like to be here for your surrender." "Will that be all?" "Rizal Bridge 11 miles from POW camp" "Looks like they're not going to set off, sir." "We can't wait here, they can spot us." "Son of a bitch." "Last thing left, sir." "There's nothing else in sight." " Looks enough for now." " Gentlemen, let's not waste anymore time." "We've already waited here for two hours." "Let's move." "DAY 3" " January 29th" "I have good news." "We have a treatment from malaria." " How long are they giving me?" " 3 or 4 days unless we get you more quini." "Are you trying to convince me to send you to same shit world?" " No." "You're my next kid now." " Hey, it's not a joke." "You die on me, what's gonna stop me leaving this place?" "I told you what that guy said." " Stay out of trouble, the war soon be over." " The problem is I don't believe the guy." "You probably don't believe, but what about ten of us getting killed for everyone that escapes?" "There's neither one of your friends here left in case I let him down." "Unfortunately you and I are stuck from before." "You gotta pull through this, pal." "Just think of everything you got to look forward to." "Think of Margaret and that chance you get when you're back." " Are you ever gonna stop?" " No." "Come on you bastard, pull out of it." "Manila hospital" "Twenty SIV, please." "Thanks." "They had Cora." "I'm being followed." "I'm on the list." "Is that just you?" "I think so." "Mina, you got to get out of here." "The money is in the bag." "Go to the father's house pack your things." " No I'm not leaving!" " Mina, leave!" "If you think you can get the medicine to Cabanatuan, try." "If not, head for the mountains." "What about you?" "Don't worry about me." "Go." "What are you doing?" "Volunteer." "Yes sir." "All clear." " What do they got?" "Tanks." "You better go get the colonel." "My future is in your hands." "We caught the people we were looking for." "Follow her!" "She'll lead us to the others." "You're safe now." "They killed Mina." "I know." "I was not always conscious." "I don't know what I told them." "You didn't tell them anything." "Mina and her father were arrested last night on the way to Cabanatuan." "It had nothing to do with you." "She went because of me." "She knew what I told Daniel." "She wanted to help him too." "I should have stopped her." "I should have stopped her." "But all I was thinking about was him." "Whatever you feel you've done wrong you more than made over it." "Hundreds of POWs owe you their lives." "No!" "I did have failed." "You'll be with him soon." "I have friends, who will take you to the mountains until Americans come." "But Margaret," "Listen to me." "You have to trust in something stronger than yourself." "Padre!" "Padre." "The Japanese, they are here." "Take Margaret." "I'll deal with them." "Arrest anyone you find!" "Go around back." "Run, don't look back." "There's no need to go to the church." "There is no one in there." "There's no one in the church." "Oh honey, you look great." "So do you." "Pity we can't go to Cabanatuan beauty contest." "I got you something." "I hope this will help me." "You're getting fussy now." "They didn't get through." "Your friend Hagai stopped them over near Cabanatuan city." "They'll find some other way to smuggle it here." "It'll be too late for you, my old pal." "You ain't thinking of leaving me, are you Red?" "I don't think Nagai's men want me here." "I could think of ten of us to do." "Like I said you're the only one I give a damn about." "You and the kid sometimes." "Don't try it, Red." "I'll see you, Gibby." "Go get Pitt to keep an eye on him." "Colonel." "May I discuss with you the role of my men in the mission?" "Your men will be screening our flanks, captain." "Sir, this is our war too." "We've been fighting the Japanese for three years." "I understand your anger what the Japs, did to your people have today." "If I were in your place I'd also want a revenge." "But this mission has objective of its own." "Sir, my men are disciplined fighters." "What happened at Balingarin is nothing new today." "Your man will be a great value on our flanks." "Lieutenant, are you ready?" "I wanna step way." "My compliments to the villagers for the hospitality." "I'll see to it, sir." " Captain." " Colonel." "You want me to take a look at those feet, captain?" "Yeah." "God only knows how you walk on these, Bob." "You're lucky that colonel doesn't know about this." "Doc, can you figure when I'm out?" "Do you see?" "Yes." "Every time I think I have, he surprises me." "Not always in a bad way." "Here's the reason I joined the rangers." "There's a time I found many questions asked but always seemed to do nothing but answer." "You know, he may not like you standing up to him." "But I suspect that's why he chose you." "I can't imagine any other reason why he'd ignore this jungle dance of yours." "That's a convoy captain, beholder was talking about." "Damn." "Looks like they're reinforcing the camp." "Hey Duke." "Wake up!" "It's your time to keep watching Red." "Yeah." "Okay." "Get a message to Tokyo." ""Fuel shipment received." "Awaiting orders to liquidate prisoners."" "You're late!" "Now there are too many of them." "Everyone, let's go!" "This is all I have." "The Japanese took everything." "Come back tomorrow when you have more." "DAY 4" " January 30th" "He's gone." "He's gone!" "You fell asleep." "Because one man disobeyed to me." "Ten others will pay the price." "It was my fault." "Please." "Please." "My fault." "They resupplied the camp last night." "Brought in fuel and fresh troops." "It looks like they're up to something." "How many?" "Between 150 and 200." "Captain?" "I was depending Lt. Fox will captivate the bridge, sir." "But since the Japs have strange events inside the camp, we're gonna need everyone, right?" "May be we can hold the bridge with less men we're allowed for." "Can you make to what is what, lieutenant?" "I don't think so sir." "Captain Mahon said the Japs reinforced the bridge last night." "Captain Mahon couldn't share this information with me earlier." "Let's take a look." "CABU BRIDGE 1/2 mile east of POW camp" "Get the count." "With respects sir," "What's the count?" "There's a thousand men over there." "May I show you something?" "Here's the bridge." "Colonel." "They were beginning to disobey, aren't they?" "They won't let you down." "It's not the question of letting me down." "They were taught and raised to deserve their shot of glory." "I don't suppose many of them fight for the glory, sir." "I'm not telling you about the publicity, Bob." "I'm talking about the kind of glory you carry inside you for the rest of your life knowing you've done something worth remembering." "Something you made a difference." "The only recognition I want is from that boys in the camp." "Nothing in our lives will ever be as important as this." "You've come here to change my mind?" "No sir." "I came here to tell you that whatever you decide, it'll be the right choice." "Something you can't fake." "Captain Mahon has volunteered to hold the bridge." "Well you better leave me alone with him, so I can meet some noble guy." "They respond with tanks." "We wait until they aren't respond." "They would blow up the bridge." "We don't have enough explosives to bring it down." "All we need to do is damage it." "Enough to stop their breakers." "We want the soldiers to come." "If I place my men, when they decide to roll, we'll trank them in a cross fire." "They won't use the bridge, they'll go around trying to outflank you." "The Japanese don't go around." "Not with the fighting ability." "They do not have enough respect for us as soldiers." " How are the others?" " It's good." "We're waiting to hear what you have to say, sir." "I don't know what to tell them anymore." "I can say something on your behalf, sir." "Until you feel better." "Can you write a letter?" "It depends what kind of letter." "I'm not sure myself." "I already started it a thousand times and give it up." "There's a... pencil and paper under my bed." " Who you're writing to?" " A lady named Margaret." "And I'm not sure how well I know her anymore." "I have been living in my imagination so long." "I'm afraid I'll write something crazy love letter and embarrass us both." "Red didn't seem to think so." "What did he tell you?" "That she felt the same way you did." "That she would left her husband if you'd wanted her to." "Cause I thought that if I did the right thing, some good would come of it." "It's funny." "I'd spent the last three years thinking of all the things I want to say to her." "Now I don't know how to begin." "What about dear Margaret?" "At 17-00 hours our combined forces will begin at terrain." "We'll split up here to the Bangu river." "Captain Ohoda, you'll continue to the Cabu bridge where you set up the road block." "Captain Joson, you do the same on the highway." "In case the Japs reinforcements advance toward city." "Objective." "It's the sealed off area operation during raid." "When the Japanese reinforcements get to you, you get to us." "Now when here is the much darkness as we need, you get the POWs out of the camp." "Which means we'll have to begin our approaching to daylight risking attack." "We break the tree line." "Lt. Riley's men will head to the east side of the camp." "The rest of us will advance with the low crawl for the main gate." "I want you to come again." "There's intermediate cover-up 200 yards from the camp." "After that before the expose we reach a ditch 30 yards from the front gate." "This is the camp." "The main service road." "POW barracks." "All enemy occupied." "Suspect the tank shed to the main gate." "This is the ditch we're trying to reach." "Again." "Until we get there we're completely exposed, so we may need to create some diversion reaction in this wood area to the north-east." "Sir, how about the plane?" "Could they have one of their planes fly over?" "No without breaking a radio silence." "Not a bad idea Bob, maybe it's worth the risk." "As we make our approach, Lt. Riley's men make their way along this ditch." "Leaving men at 20 yard in a raws to engage and reduce the enemy." "Lt. Riley, as soon as you're in position here, the south-east corner." "Your first shot will kick off the action." "Meanwhile the rest of us will be in position here." "As soon as we get the signal, Lt. Foley second squad take out the gore tower and a central shaft." "First squad will open the main gate." "Since first squad is inside, we'll flank right." "Maybe have to supress fire in the enemy officer areas." "Probably we shall suspect the tank shift." "I want capral Aldridge and his loader to run at 200 yards." "I want back-up team in case he don't make it." " If tanks get loose, we're all in trouble." " Yes, sir." "Instructions next." "Lt. O'Grady, later will make the way to the main gate to force entry for the POW area." "First squad will spread on the south-west and lay out supressing fire to enemy rear." "Objective: make sure that POW barracks not taking enemy fire in all directions." "Once this achieved Lt. O'Grady's second squad run to the POWs and we meet at the front gate." "Where doctor Fisher and the medics will be waiting." "Our aim is to get back to the Kango river where we'll be waiting to escort the prisoners." "Since I'm satisfied we've left no one behind." "A fire of red star cluster - the signal that raid's over." "Any questions?" " Yes, sir." "Who's the last man out?" " That'll be me." " You'll cover me at the front gate." " Yes, sir." "Anything else?" "Bring your people, get them ready to go." "We're leaving in two hours." "What's that?" " Why?" " Nothing, I'm just curious." "Two hundred at a Jap's camp." "Thousand at the river." "Ten thousand nearby." "I think we're gonna need a little miracle." "Take it." "What I gotta do, kiss her?" "The time is now 17-15." "And mark." "Lt. Riley fires his first shot at 19-30." "Capt. Gordon is at bridge at 19-45." "We will be out there by 20-00." "Any questions?" "Soldiers, try to get back in one piece." "Good luck, gentlemen." "Road to Cabanatuan 1/2 mile west of POW camp" "Cabu Bridge 1/2 mile east of POW camp" "Well let's god damn fly, boys." "It's one of ours, sir!" "Get them back to their positions." "Tighten security." "Guards, back to your positions!" "Cabanatuan Road" "Sir!" "It's time." "Sergeant," "If I'm gonna be the one who starts this thing," "I wanna be dead sure everyone's in position." "I'll check it out." "Come on, Riley." "What a hell is Riley doing, sir?" "Lt. wants me to make sure your squad is in position." "Yeah I've been." "Last ten minutes." "Sir, the colonel is getting NG, they're afraid the bridge is gonna blow before the end." "Damn it!" "We're in position, sir." "Sir, it's your shot." "Fire!" "Japs are shooting us." "They're gonna kill us all!" "Go!" "Go!" "Aldridge!" "Go!" "Armed!" " Let's go!" " Move!" "Move!" "Aim!" "Riley!" "It's all right!" "We won't hurt you!" "We're gonna get out of here!" "All right, those who can walk, get to the main gate, those who can't, wait we'll come back for you!" "We're going home." "All right, let's move!" "Tank!" "Come on!" "They saw us!" " Shoot fire left!" " Shoot fire left!" "Cover me!" "I'm going in!" " Cover me!" " Fire!" "It's okay!" "I'm American." "You got to stay calm." "Don't be afraid." "We're not gonna hurt you, we're here to help you." "We're going home, you understand?" " We're going home." " I can't leave him." "You won't leave him." "I'll take him myself." "Soldier, you go out there and tell my men there's people here need to be carried." "Can you do that?" "All right, let's go!" " I got you." " No, no." "I met soldier." "Soldiers are gonna take us out of here." "Japanese are trying to fight them and to get through the river." "All right, I better take a look." "Help them!" "Hold your fire." "Give me flaring out." "Wait till I light them up." "Withdraw!" "Withdraw!" "Stroll back!" "Let's go!" "Move!" "Does the mortar work?" "It's damaged Sir, but still working." "Target the main gate." "Capt. Fisher stay back, they're not safe yet!" "All right, I'll be at the other side of the road." "Let me give you a hand." "Pull back!" "Pull back!" "Fire!" "Get down!" "Fire from that son of a bitch!" "Dont' stop!" "Lt, come on." " Charge gate." "I'll cover you, ready?" " Ready." "Fire!" "Everybody down!" "Get up!" "Roll!" "Keep to the gate!" "Keep to the gate!" "Keep to the gate, let's go!" "Sarge!" " Are you all right?" " Daly, where the hell have you been?" "Somebody get a medic over here!" "Soldier, are you all right?" "Jesus!" "Jimmy." "He's unportable sir." "He's lost a lot of blood." " I can't transport him, captain." " We got no choice." " Jimmy?" " Keep moving." "You stay with him the whole time, you understand?" "Hang in here." "Sniper!" "Cease fire!" "Cease fire!" " Hold your fire!" " Pull back, let's go!" "Pull back!" "Pull back!" " Daly, Daly!" " Stay with him!" "Come on, Daly." "Come on!" "We've lost him." "Let's move!" "Let's get them across." "It's gonna be all right, major." "You're going home." " Captain Prince." " How did we do?" "Succeed, sir." " How many casualties?" " PFC Daly." "A lot of wounded." "I think it's great call we moved on to operate." "I don't think he's gonna make it, sir." "Thanks, captain." "More plasma." "Did we get them all?" "Did we get them all?" "All of them." "Good." "But that keeps moving at me." "DAY 5" " January 31st" "Talevera American Frontline" "Excuse me, have you seen major Gibson?" "Sorry." "Six bucks." "I told you, I can't sell it." " Ten bucks?" " Can't do it." " That's all I got." " When you saw one you got it?" "At least you have plenty to spare." "I'd like to." "My mom gave this to me." "Well how would your mom feel about ten bucks?" "I know how your mom feels about ten bucks." "I'm sorry, have you seen major Gibson?" "Yeah, I was with him at the river." "Check with the medics ma'am, near the carts." "Thank you." " Margaret." " Where's he?" "He wanted me to give you this." "Dear Margaret, after three long years of witnessing so much destruction and suffering a simple letter seem so pointless." "I've often wondered what my life would have been like if we'd been together." "However time passes." "I realize this may never happen." "There is one thing I want you to know." "You've come to mean the world to me." "And not just to me." "To all of us here." "You've given me the strength to give these men hope." "And maybe one day a second chance." "I miss you more than you can imagine." "I love you more than you can ever know." "All my love, Daniel." "Capt. Prince!" "General, this is the man who planned the raid, captain Prince." "Congratulation, captain Prince." "I'm very sorry about your losses." "I want you to know you men have done a great service for your country." " Thank you sir." " Gentlemen." " So, how do you feel?" " All right." "I'm proud of you." "Thank you sir." "Never I used to see such a large group of men," "Who've done so much and complain so little." "Many were unable to believe that their country had abandoned them." "Left them to die in a foreign land." "Who said to be of no significance to the war effort, but as for me, saving them was a way of setting things right." "It's true." "They have been left behind." "But never forgotten." "On January 30, 1945 after nearly three years in captivity 311 POWs were rescued from the Cabanatuan Prison Camp." "During the raid, two army Rangers were killed." "The Filipino Guerillas suffered 21 casualties." "One POW died after being liberated from the camp." "Colonel Henry Mucci was awarded the Servise Cross for valor." "Captain Robert Prince was awarded the same honor." "President Truman awarded Margaret Utinsky the Medal of freedom for "outstanding heroism and fortitude"." "The raid on Cabanatuan remains the most successful rescue mission in U.S. military history." "Inspired by true events." "1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour." "The U.S fleet was crippled." "Ten hours later across the Pacific they attacked the Philippines clearing the way for an overwhelming occupation of the islands." "U.S. forces, including 10,000 Americans and 60,000 Filipinos pulled back to the Bataan peninsula." "Without the NAVY to rescue them, with their backs to the sea, they were trapped." "Despite promises to the contrary, president Roosevelt and his military high command decided to focus first on Europe." "And not on stopping Hitler." "This strategy effectively seals the faith of Philippines and the men trapped on Baatan." "Under orders, and against his wishes, general McArthur escapes to Australia, down to return." "After four months of fighting without supplies, starving American and Filipino troops surrendered to the Japanese Imperial army." "It is the largest single defeat in the history of the American military." "Unequipped, on feet 70,000 prisoners of war," "The Japanese take the weaken soldiers on the brutal sixty miles forced march." "Men fall at the line were bayoneted or shot." "15,000 perish on what would become known as the Bataan death march." "The surviving POWs are headed into various camps." "At Bonnel, Cabanatuan, and Palawan." "The Japanese guards abuse surrendered to disgrace, treat them viciously." "Thousands died from disease, starvation, and abuse." "1944 however, the tide of battle changes." "With each new victory American forces advance on Japan." "With each new defeat the Japanese army becomes more desperate." "By years of propaganda, they believed that Americans will show no mercy." "The Government in Tokyo encourages these fears, convincing its people that they must prepare to defend their country to the death." "On August 1st 1944, the Tokyo war ministry releases a memo, detain the Japanese army's policy toward prisoners of war." "It reads:" "It is the aim not to allow the escape of the single one." "To annihilate them all, and not leave any traces." "Palawan POW Camp" "THE GREAT RAID" "The following events took place over five days in January 1945." "6th Army Headquarters Calasio, Luzon, The Philippines" "DAY 1" " January 27th" "Landing at Nguying gulf is the largest naval operation ever undertaken in the Pacific." "Over a quarter of million troops came ashore, ready for the final push into the Philippines." "I was the Stanford crutch with service to the RTC." "I wasn't interested in making career of a soldier." "I just wanted to do my part and go home to my wife." "I was a captain of the 6th Ranger Battalion." "My commanding officer was lieutenant colonel Henry Mucci." "You still in this Hamilton?" "I'm thinking about it colonel." "What are you thinking about, you're already lost." "You want me to take my hat off, to show you a better look?" "No colonel, I don't want you to..." "West Point graduate, Mucci was one of the most terrific men I've ever met." "He took on what seem to many a hopeless task." "The job of turning group of raw untested recruits into a new unit of elite soldiers." "Originally signed to handle less talk, they were mostly farmy hands from small towns and rural areas." "with no combat experience." "Sergeant." "Have you seen colonel Mucci?" "Yes sir, he's in there playing poker." "You don't wanna interrupt him, I think he's losing." "Lt. Foley get me a new deck of cards, I suppose I'm lucky." "Every time you stick that pipe in your mouth colonel, I just know you're in trouble." "Colonel." "Look at this." "D'you have any idea who that is?" "Yes sir." "Corporal on the guard!" "Yes sir!" "Aliteri, find out who the cowboy is." "Yes sir." "We spent months training and it seemed very little action." "As far as the army was concerned, doing nothing was the colonel's personal experiment." "Mucci was determined to prove they weren't." " General." " Henry." "You know Colonel White." "And this is Major Lapham." "Major, this is Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci CO 6th Ranger Battalion." "Henry, Major Lapham is a stay behind in Bataan campaign." "He runs guerilla unit here north from Luzon." "You should know Philippine guerillas has been the primary source of intel for General McArthur since fall." "Good done, major." " Thank you." "Major Lapham, tell Colonel Mucci what you've told us." "Five miles east of Cabanatuan city here there's a Japanese POW camp holding about" "Five hundred survivers of the deathmarch." "As we advanced on this area" "I believe that the Japanese will murder these prisoners rather than release them." "Unfortunately, major Lapham is probably right." "There was an incident in a camp on Palawan." "Hundred and fifty American POWs were herded into air-raid shelters and burnt alive." "Our access of advance set right before that camp." "Unless we're running to something unexpected we're gonna be in Cabanatuan at the end of the week." "And it may be to late." "I want you to say about this." "We are rapid advance Jap troops movements become increasing retreating at night, not during the day to avoid our aircraft." "That means we can't be sure where the enemy is." "Thirty miles from the front lines." "There're thirty thousand Japanese troops in that area, colonel." "Henry." "Can you develop a plan you get there by the morning?" "Sir." " I'll make my decision then." "Now general Kreuger hasn't made up his mind yet, but he's given a call up with a hell of a plans." "Call our boys to briefing, we may set off in the morning." "Yes sir." "So we got to be accompanied on this mission." "Don't worry captain." "It'll be a little raid" "How many guards on the compound?" "Could be as many as two hundred." "And tanks." "This building with metal roof looks like it's protecting something." "Are these the best photographs we have?" "You'll have everything you need when we hook up with about the camp." "Sir it's hard for me to tell the number of men we'll need without more specific intel." "Unfortunately we don't have that luxury, Bob." "I selected you for your flexibility." "You got 24 hour jump on this, lieutenant." "Do I give you enough time to get capt." "Prince all he needs?" "We will be ready to report you at 08-00 hours in the morning sir." "Get it done." "Tough knot is the final approach." "No cover of over 800 miles." "It's as flat as a pancake." "Cabanatuan POW Camp" "We'll be killed if they stop by now." "What difference does it make?" "Japs gonna catch them sooner or later." "You couldn't have got me something easier to chew?" "Mango, banana." "I took some graveyard rats, but I thought that would be over indulging." "Is it your gums or your teeth hurting?" "It starts at the gums, walks his way around the back of my head and ends up in my neck somewhere." "Don't worry." "It's not malaria." "Sir." "Lieutenant." "I've just translated the telegram to colonel Mori." "Their guard is coming to southern islands." "They're landing here in Luzon." "You can take in for a few days and head on back to Australia, like you did the first time." "The information's good, major." "I'm in their office every day." "We don't know how close McArthur is and how many will reach Cabanatuan." "Tell the men the best thing to do is sit tight, and stay calm till we find out more." "Yes sir." "Make sure you get it this time." "Yes sir." "They caught Hewitt." "I was watching him!" "Poor dumb bastard, couldn't even wait for the goddamn doctors." "You are responsible for this." "You surrender like cowards, then you run away like dogs." "He'll die, because none of you had the courage to stop him!" "Cabanatuan City 4 miles west of POW camp" "It's time." "I need food." "Call me." "Watch his back." "How much?" "Five." "You should not have come." "Neither should you." "I had no choice, people are too afraid." "How's Margaret?" "She's fine." "All we really need is more medicine." "Carlos had them requested by the Japanese last week." " Are they watching us?" " Tell Margaret not to take anymore risks." "You think she'll listen to it?" "Is there anything you want me to tell her?" "She's to take care." "There's some peanuts." "Take them." "You don't look well." " Who's Margaret?" " Why?" "He was just asking about her." "She's an American nurse who was married to his commanding officer." "He died of malaria about a year ago in one of the other camps." " Was major involved with her?" " What makes you say that?" "Nothing." "Just sounds he's concerned." "He wasn't involved with her." "But he should have been." "Her husband wouldn't give a damn about it." "And Gibby, he couldn't have damn about anyone else except her." "Why didn't he do something about her?" "Gentlemen don't fool around with another man's wife." "I on the other hand might." " Where's she now?" "She's still in Manila." "Working with the underground." "Where do you think we get all the medicine in camp?" "Manila" "There are rumors that underground spin on by war." "We had no idea she works for you." "This is not enough." "We have agreed on 300." "Miss, there's very little quina left in Manila." "This is worth at least 500." "Unless you double your supply." "I'll go get the money." "Let's get of here." "This is set up." "Get in the truck." " What about medicine?" "Get in!" "Steady!" "At ease." "I'm here to tell you a man on the tree rumor is true." "Finally we got a mission worth of the rangers." "We're going to push right through our front lines into the Japs backyard." "And rescue 500 American prisoners of war." "I want you to be rough sons of a bitch." "A textbook style of raid, it can be only achieved through speed, surprise and overwhelming firepower." "That's why you've been chosen." "Before you start congratulating yourselves, remember, you haven't achieved the damn thing yet." "You're the best trained least probed battalion in this whole army." "This is your one chance do something about it." "And I mean one chance." "How you equip yourselves over the next 48 hours, will determine how you are judged for the rest of your lives!" "Men who are worthy of serving in this army, or an embarrassment that history and time will eventually forget." "It's up to you." "Now, I have to think it's performed, that's why I'm accompanying you on this raid." "Not another group of men in this or any other army I'll sooner trust my life with." "You're the finest, best prepared soldiers this country's ever sent to war." "And I expect you to prove it!" " Is that clear?" " Yes, sir!" " Are you sure?" " Yes, sir!" "Hurry up." "General liked your plan." "I don't believe what colonel said." "He's got the pencil and moustache, who else gonna know he's an officer." "I'm gonna kill my helmet, use the code, clean, wash." "The helmet will make too much noise on the field." " I'm sorry, I didn't hear that." " I heard that." "You're the best shot in company, you're gonna be fine with this?" " No, sir I like one on one." " Choose yourself a loader." " Lucas." " Sure about that?" "Yeah." " Cap, you have a minute?" " Sure, Tom." "I was going on with personal roster." "And I ain't on it." "Coloner Mucci said you're prepared bad on this trip, so I had to take you off." "Well with respects sir, you're married." "And I imagine that your wife witness you have a lot mind." "I'm the one planning this right to top." "Don't make me go against my instructions." "No sir, I'm asking you to be some more of company commander." "And we had some rangers out there that haven't heard the first round, rangers that didn't come back." "You need me on this mission." "I tell you when I was in errand DC, that's some way from insule to Betaan." "I wasn't to come back if I hadn't the wisdom to do it." "Guys I knew ended up in those camps." "And I ended up with the feet." "Well that may be but you're gonna find it a lot harder without me." "All right, I'll talk to the colonel." " Anything else?" " Thank you." "Good night, sir." "DAY 2" " January 28th" "We left 6th army quarters with very little information." "The only advantage we had was the element of surprise." "We faced the two day walk, through open terrain, patrolled by the enemy." "All we take is if single Japanese scavenger spot us, our mission would be over." "Let's go!" " Ready?" "Let's move!" " Moving up!" "We all knew the ideal was to rescue POWs." "We didn't spend much time thinking about it." "As far as we were concerned, we're going to rescue them or die trying." " They're gonna just leave us?" " I don't know what they're doing." "Get this quina to the doctors." "You know the drill." "They must be retreating." "Even the press is leaving." "Hey major, Mori's leaving too." "Let's think you were right, kid." "General McArthur has got them on the run." "They're not on the run, they've got orders to fight to the last man." " It's a trap." " God damn elaborate one." "We walk out of those gates, it'll give them the perfect excuse to kill us." "Since when do they need an excuse?" "I don't know about you, but I'm getting out of here before they changed their minds!" "How far do you think you'll get, captain?" "Even if the Japs shall retreat, jungle is gonna be crawling with them." "What's wrong with that, we're still soldiers, ain't we?" "Hey, major's right." "Where are we gonna go?" "Almost no one can walk." "I don't recall inviting you, kid." "But I'm the one to be behind." "I never said we'd all leave but at least some of us might." "If we sit tight, all of us will make it." "Our troops can't be far now." "It's like you got yourself a disciple, Gibby." "Don't be so quick, listen to him." "Running won't make any easier for you." "Don't worry, I won't escape without your permission." "How can they still believe in God." "We can't escape with guys like you." " How did you learn how to do that?" " I wasn't always the same." " What's the matter?" " This food portions were for us." "Bastards starved us and left it." "Make sure you get some of this back to men in the hospital." "Easy major, you can use to it." "Well I can, it's like I'm stuck and I'm seeing some tits." "I was thinking more of making west." "JAPANESE CONTROLLED TERRITORY 30 miles from POW camp" " What is it, Tom?" " Traps." "They left a few here." "Must have been highly remoted plains." "Do we proceed sir or do you want me to take a look around before we go on?" "They're retreating, captain that's all we need to know." "Let's move." "Battalion, let's go!" "Nothing I knew appear to be in place." "He can be a pain in the ass." "There's a method to his madness." "Take your time." "Damn it!" "Can't be time." "I think they gonna lead us to the camp." "River branch is about a half mile east of us." "It's not marked, there might be a bridge that can get us out of this convoy." "Japanese are regarding the major point like that." "I think we're to check it out." "If it's a trap, we can't even get there." "Go." "1941 Manila was concidered the sprawl of the orient." "An international city where people from all over the world lived and worked." "That all changed when the Japanese took over." "They believed that as a conquered people the Filipinos should do as they were told." "Those who disobeyed were jailed, tortured or executed." "This made the bond between the Filipinos and the Americans even stronger." "Resistance grew throughout the country." "But 1945 hundreds of ordinary people had joined the underground." "It's like they have been watching you for weeks." "The Japanese have questioned our people before." "It doesn't necessarily mean anything." "They know that the Americans are closing in." "And they know that we have evidence of their war crimes." "Don Antonio is right, this..." "This wasn't like before, Margaret." "They know of things informators have told them." "Then why do they let you go?" "I'm sorry, Carlos but if you're worried, you're free to go." "I won't hold it against you." "I won't hold it against any of you." "I won't leave unless we all go." "You know that." "I can't leave." "Not as long as there's a single prisoner left in Cabanatuan." " Margaret, I saw Daniel." " Who is he?" "He know you well." "I know father said to wait." "But if we do that, it may be too late for Daniel." "No, your father is right, it's too dangerous." " Don't listen to me." " I'll meet you outside the hospital." "At usual place." "I should go." "It was thanks to me you met Margaret in the first place." "It sure was." "When I look up at the sky like this, I could be anywhere in the world." " Where are you now?" " Halfway across the jungle." "I've disobeyed your orders and now I'm only a few miles from the civilisation." " Have a dream for me when you get there." " What do you want me to tell Margaret?" "I assume if she's still interested." "Well if she's not I'll propose to her myself." "And you know what?" "I'll make you my best man as I know you won't run off." "If I had something like that waiting for me on the other side of an open gate..." "That's not good." "Don't!" "You get them a satisfaction." "They'll be dead soon." "You fall to a Bataan major?" "You're commander to battalion of the 31 infantry in operations near Malayew?" "I can give you my name, my consuetude number." "We found these in your barracks." "I assume they were smuggled in by the Filipino resistance." "They say take hope help is coming." "We've been having rumors like that for three years." "Only this time they are true." "Your forces is will recapture the Philippines within the few weeks." " Why are you telling me this?" " Because it is too long we wait." "You are the senior officer." "If you help me keep order, I can make your time here tolerable." "But if any of the prisoners try to escape, I will kill ten others in his place." " Are you married, major?" " No." "But do you have a reason to survive this war?" "I'd like to be here for your surrender." "Will that be all?" "Rizal Bridge 11 miles from POW camp" "Looks like they're not going to set off, sir." "We can't wait here, they can spot us." "Son of a bitch." "Last thing left, sir." "There's nothing else in sight." " Looks enough for now." " Gentlemen, let's not waste anymore time." "We've already waited here for two hours." "Let's move." "DAY 3" " January 29th" "I have good news." "We have a treatment from malaria." " How long are they giving me?" " 3 or 4 days unless we get you more quini." "Are you trying to convince me to send you to same shit world?" " No." "You're my next kid now." " Hey, it's not a joke." "You die on me, what's gonna stop me leaving this place?" "I told you what that guy said." " Stay out of trouble, the war soon be over." " The problem is I don't believe the guy." "You probably don't believe, but what about ten of us getting killed for everyone that escapes?" "There's neither one of your friends here left in case I let him down." "Unfortunately you and I are stuck from before." "You gotta pull through this, pal." "Just think of everything you got to look forward to." "Think of Margaret and that chance you get when you're back." " Are you ever gonna stop?" " No." "Come on you bastard, pull out of it." "Manila hospital" "Twenty SIV, please." "Thanks." "They had Cora." "I'm being followed." "I'm on the list." "Is that just you?" "I think so." "Mina, you got to get out of here." "The money is in the bag." "Go to the father's house pack your things." " No I'm not leaving!" " Mina, leave!" "If you think you can get the medicine to Cabanatuan, try." "If not, head for the mountains." "What about you?" "Don't worry about me." "Go." "What are you doing?" "Volunteer." "Yes sir." "All clear." " What do they got?" "Tanks." "You better go get the colonel." "My future is in your hands." "We caught the people we were looking for." "Follow her!" "She'll lead us to the others." "You're safe now." "They killed Mina." "I know." "I was not always conscious." "I don't know what I told them." "You didn't tell them anything." "Mina and her father were arrested last night on the way to Cabanatuan." "It had nothing to do with you." "She went because of me." "She knew what I told Daniel." "She wanted to help him too." "I should have stopped her." "I should have stopped her." "But all I was thinking about was him." "Whatever you feel you've done wrong you more than made over it." "Hundreds of POWs owe you their lives." "No!" "I did have failed." "You'll be with him soon." "I have friends, who will take you to the mountains until Americans come." "But Margaret," "Listen to me." "You have to trust in something stronger than yourself." "Padre!" "Padre." "The Japanese, they are here." "Take Margaret." "I'll deal with them." "Arrest anyone you find!" "Go around back." "Run, don't look back." "There's no need to go to the church." "There is no one in there." "There's no one in the church." "Oh honey, you look great." "So do you." "Pity we can't go to Cabanatuan beauty contest." "I got you something." "I hope this will help me." "You're getting fussy now." "They didn't get through." "Your friend Hagai stopped them over near Cabanatuan city." "They'll find some other way to smuggle it here." "It'll be too late for you, my old pal." "You ain't thinking of leaving me, are you Red?" "I don't think Nagai's men want me here." "I could think of ten of us to do." "Like I said you're the only one I give a damn about." "You and the kid sometimes." "Don't try it, Red." "I'll see you, Gibby." "Go get Pitt to keep an eye on him." "Colonel." "May I discuss with you the role of my men in the mission?" "Your men will be screening our flanks, captain." "Sir, this is our war too." "We've been fighting the Japanese for three years." "I understand your anger what the Japs, did to your people have today." "If I were in your place I'd also want a revenge." "But this mission has objective of its own." "Sir, my men are disciplined fighters." "What happened at Balingarin is nothing new today." "Your man will be a great value on our flanks." "Lieutenant, are you ready?" "I wanna step way." "My compliments to the villagers for the hospitality." "I'll see to it, sir." " Captain." " Colonel." "You want me to take a look at those feet, captain?" "Yeah." "God only knows how you walk on these, Bob." "You're lucky that colonel doesn't know about this." "Doc, can you figure when I'm out?" "Do you see?" "Yes." "Every time I think I have, he surprises me." "Not always in a bad way." "Here's the reason I joined the rangers." "There's a time I found many questions asked but always seemed to do nothing but answer." "You know, he may not like you standing up to him." "But I suspect that's why he chose you." "I can't imagine any other reason why he'd ignore this jungle dance of yours." "That's a convoy captain, beholder was talking about." "Damn." "Looks like they're reinforcing the camp." "Hey Duke." "Wake up!" "It's your time to keep watching Red." "Yeah." "Okay." "Get a message to Tokyo." ""Fuel shipment received." "Awaiting orders to liquidate prisoners."" "You're late!" "Now there are too many of them." "Everyone, let's go!" "This is all I have." "The Japanese took everything." "Come back tomorrow when you have more." "DAY 4" " January 30th" "He's gone." "He's gone!" "You fell asleep." "Because one man disobeyed to me." "Ten others will pay the price." "It was my fault." "Please." "Please." "My fault." "They resupplied the camp last night." "Brought in fuel and fresh troops." "It looks like they're up to something." "How many?" "Between 150 and 200." "Captain?" "I was depending Lt. Fox will captivate the bridge, sir." "But since the Japs have strange events inside the camp, we're gonna need everyone, right?" "May be we can hold the bridge with less men we're allowed for." "Can you make to what is what, lieutenant?" "I don't think so sir." "Captain Mahon said the Japs reinforced the bridge last night." "Captain Mahon couldn't share this information with me earlier." "Let's take a look." "CABU BRIDGE 1/2 mile east of POW camp" "Get the count." "With respects sir," "What's the count?" "There's a thousand men over there." "May I show you something?" "Here's the bridge." "Colonel." "They were beginning to disobey, aren't they?" "They won't let you down." "It's not the question of letting me down." "They were taught and raised to deserve their shot of glory." "I don't suppose many of them fight for the glory, sir." "I'm not telling you about the publicity, Bob." "I'm talking about the kind of glory you carry inside you for the rest of your life knowing you've done something worth remembering." "Something you made a difference." "The only recognition I want is from that boys in the camp." "Nothing in our lives will ever be as important as this." "You've come here to change my mind?" "No sir." "I came here to tell you that whatever you decide, it'll be the right choice." "Something you can't fake." "Captain Mahon has volunteered to hold the bridge." "Well you better leave me alone with him, so I can meet some noble guy." "They respond with tanks." "We wait until they aren't respond." "They would blow up the bridge." "We don't have enough explosives to bring it down." "All we need to do is damage it." "Enough to stop their breakers." "We want the soldiers to come." "If I place my men, when they decide to roll, we'll trank them in a cross fire." "They won't use the bridge, they'll go around trying to outflank you." "The Japanese don't go around." "Not with the fighting ability." "They do not have enough respect for us as soldiers." " How are the others?" " It's good." "We're waiting to hear what you have to say, sir." "I don't know what to tell them anymore." "I can say something on your behalf, sir." "Until you feel better." "Can you write a letter?" "It depends what kind of letter." "I'm not sure myself." "I already started it a thousand times and give it up." "There's a... pencil and paper under my bed." " Who you're writing to?" " A lady named Margaret." "And I'm not sure how well I know her anymore." "I have been living in my imagination so long." "I'm afraid I'll write something crazy love letter and embarrass us both." "Red didn't seem to think so." "What did he tell you?" "That she felt the same way you did." "That she would left her husband if you'd wanted her to." "Cause I thought that if I did the right thing, some good would come of it." "It's funny." "I'd spent the last three years thinking of all the things I want to say to her." "Now I don't know how to begin." "What about dear Margaret?" "At 17-00 hours our combined forces will begin at terrain." "We'll split up here to the Bangu river." "Captain Ohoda, you'll continue to the Cabu bridge where you set up the road block." "Captain Joson, you do the same on the highway." "In case the Japs reinforcements advance toward city." "Objective." "It's the sealed off area operation during raid." "When the Japanese reinforcements get to you, you get to us." "Now when here is the much darkness as we need, you get the POWs out of the camp." "Which means we'll have to begin our approaching to daylight risking attack." "We break the tree line." "Lt. Riley's men will head to the east side of the camp." "The rest of us will advance with the low crawl for the main gate." "I want you to come again." "There's intermediate cover-up 200 yards from the camp." "After that before the expose we reach a ditch 30 yards from the front gate." "This is the camp." "The main service road." "POW barracks." "All enemy occupied." "Suspect the tank shed to the main gate." "This is the ditch we're trying to reach." "Again." "Until we get there we're completely exposed, so we may need to create some diversion reaction in this wood area to the north-east." "Sir, how about the plane?" "Could they have one of their planes fly over?" "No without breaking a radio silence." "Not a bad idea Bob, maybe it's worth the risk." "As we make our approach, Lt. Riley's men make their way along this ditch." "Leaving men at 20 yard in a raws to engage and reduce the enemy." "Lt. Riley, as soon as you're in position here, the south-east corner." "Your first shot will kick off the action." "Meanwhile the rest of us will be in position here." "As soon as we get the signal, Lt. Foley second squad take out the gore tower and a central shaft." "First squad will open the main gate." "Since first squad is inside, we'll flank right." "Maybe have to supress fire in the enemy officer areas." "Probably we shall suspect the tank shift." "I want capral Aldridge and his loader to run at 200 yards." "I want back-up team in case he don't make it." " If tanks get loose, we're all in trouble." " Yes, sir." "Instructions next." "Lt. O'Grady, later will make the way to the main gate to force entry for the POW area." "First squad will spread on the south-west and lay out supressing fire to enemy rear." "Objective: make sure that POW barracks not taking enemy fire in all directions." "Once this achieved Lt. O'Grady's second squad run to the POWs and we meet at the front gate." "Where doctor Fisher and the medics will be waiting." "Our aim is to get back to the Kango river where we'll be waiting to escort the prisoners." "Since I'm satisfied we've left no one behind." "A fire of red star cluster - the signal that raid's over." "Any questions?" " Yes, sir." "Who's the last man out?" " That'll be me." " You'll cover me at the front gate." " Yes, sir." "Anything else?" "Bring your people, get them ready to go." "We're leaving in two hours." "What's that?" " Why?" " Nothing, I'm just curious." "Two hundred at a Jap's camp." "Thousand at the river." "Ten thousand nearby." "I think we're gonna need a little miracle." "Take it." "What I gotta do, kiss her?" "The time is now 17-15." "And mark." "Lt. Riley fires his first shot at 19-30." "Capt. Gordon is at bridge at 19-45." "We will be out there by 20-00." "Any questions?" "Soldiers, try to get back in one piece." "Good luck, gentlemen." "Road to Cabanatuan 1/2 mile west of POW camp" "Cabu Bridge 1/2 mile east of POW camp" "Well let's god damn fly, boys." "It's one of ours, sir!" "Get them back to their positions." "Tighten security." "Guards, back to your positions!" "Cabanatuan Road" "Sir!" "It's time." "Sergeant," "If I'm gonna be the one who starts this thing," "I wanna be dead sure everyone's in position." "I'll check it out." "Come on, Riley." "What a hell is Riley doing, sir?" "Lt. wants me to make sure your squad is in position." "Yeah I've been." "Last ten minutes." "Sir, the colonel is getting NG, they're afraid the bridge is gonna blow before the end." "Damn it!" "We're in position, sir." "Sir, it's your shot." "Fire!" "Japs are shooting us." "They're gonna kill us all!" "Go!" "Go!" "Aldridge!" "Go!" "Armed!" " Let's go!" " Move!" "Move!" "Aim!" "Riley!" "It's all right!" "We won't hurt you!" "We're gonna get out of here!" "All right, those who can walk, get to the main gate, those who can't, wait we'll come back for you!" "We're going home." "All right, let's move!" "Tank!" "Come on!" "They saw us!" " Shoot fire left!" " Shoot fire left!" "Cover me!" "I'm going in!" " Cover me!" " Fire!" "It's okay!" "I'm American." "You got to stay calm." "Don't be afraid." "We're not gonna hurt you, we're here to help you." "We're going home, you understand?" " We're going home." " I can't leave him." "You won't leave him." "I'll take him myself." "Soldier, you go out there and tell my men there's people here need to be carried." "Can you do that?" "All right, let's go!" " I got you." " No, no." "I met soldier." "Soldiers are gonna take us out of here." "Japanese are trying to fight them and to get through the river." "All right, I better take a look." "Help them!" "Hold your fire." "Give me flaring out." "Wait till I light them up." "Withdraw!" "Withdraw!" "Stroll back!" "Let's go!" "Move!" "Does the mortar work?" "It's damaged Sir, but still working." "Target the main gate." "Capt. Fisher stay back, they're not safe yet!" "All right, I'll be at the other side of the road." "Let me give you a hand." "Pull back!" "Pull back!" "Fire!" "Get down!" "Fire from that son of a bitch!" "Dont' stop!" "Lt, come on." " Charge gate." "I'll cover you, ready?" " Ready." "Fire!" "Everybody down!" "Get up!" "Roll!" "Keep to the gate!" "Keep to the gate!" "Keep to the gate, let's go!" "Sarge!" " Are you all right?" " Daly, where the hell have you been?" "Somebody get a medic over here!" "Soldier, are you all right?" "Jesus!" "Jimmy." "He's unportable sir." "He's lost a lot of blood." " I can't transport him, captain." " We got no choice." " Jimmy?" " Keep moving." "You stay with him the whole time, you understand?" "Hang in here." "Sniper!" "Cease fire!" "Cease fire!" " Hold your fire!" " Pull back, let's go!" "Pull back!" "Pull back!" " Daly, Daly!" " Stay with him!" "Come on, Daly." "Come on!" "We've lost him." "Let's move!" "Let's get them across." "It's gonna be all right, major." "You're going home." " Captain Prince." " How did we do?" "Succeed, sir." " How many casualties?" " PFC Daly." "A lot of wounded." "I think it's great call we moved on to operate." "I don't think he's gonna make it, sir." "Thanks, captain." "More plasma." "Did we get them all?" "Did we get them all?" "All of them." "Good." "But that keeps moving at me." "DAY 5" " January 31st" "Talevera American Frontline" "Excuse me, have you seen major Gibson?" "Sorry." "Six bucks." "I told you, I can't sell it." " Ten bucks?" " Can't do it." " That's all I got." " When you saw one you got it?" "At least you have plenty to spare." "I'd like to." "My mom gave this to me." "Well how would your mom feel about ten bucks?" "I know how your mom feels about ten bucks." "I'm sorry, have you seen major Gibson?" "Yeah, I was with him at the river." "Check with the medics ma'am, near the carts." "Thank you." " Margaret." " Where's he?" "He wanted me to give you this." "Dear Margaret, after three long years of witnessing so much destruction and suffering a simple letter seem so pointless." "I've often wondered what my life would have been like if we'd been together." "However time passes." "I realize this may never happen." "There is one thing I want you to know." "You've come to mean the world to me." "And not just to me." "To all of us here." "You've given me the strength to give these men hope." "And maybe one day a second chance." "I miss you more than you can imagine." "I love you more than you can ever know." "All my love, Daniel." "Capt. Prince!" "General, this is the man who planned the raid, captain Prince." "Congratulation, captain Prince." "I'm very sorry about your losses." "I want you to know you men have done a great service for your country." " Thank you sir." " Gentlemen." " So, how do you feel?" " All right." "I'm proud of you." "Thank you sir." "Never I used to see such a large group of men," "Who've done so much and complain so little." "Many were unable to believe that their country had abandoned them." "Left them to die in a foreign land." "Who said to be of no significance to the war effort, but as for me, saving them was a way of setting things right." "It's true." "They have been left behind." "But never forgotten." "On January 30, 1945 after nearly three years in captivity 311 POWs were rescued from the Cabanatuan Prison Camp." "During the raid, two army Rangers were killed." "The Filipino Guerillas suffered 21 casualties." "One POW died after being liberated from the camp." "Colonel Henry Mucci was awarded the Servise Cross for valor." "Captain Robert Prince was awarded the same honor." "President Truman awarded Margaret Utinsky the Medal of freedom for "outstanding heroism and fortitude"." "The raid on Cabanatuan remains the most successful rescue mission in U.S. military history."