Capt juan pajota biography for kids
Mucci also found a major asset in Filipino Captain Juan Pajota. He knew the area well and he was the one to warn Mucci to wait 24 hours until some of the Japanese moved on. On the evening of the raid, Filipino guerrillas cut the Japanese phone lines to Manila. They then blocked the two roads passing the camp to prevent other Japanese units from helping the camp guards.
The Rangers had to crawl about a mile through an open field. To prevent the guards from seeing them when they got close, Mucci had arranged for a P night fighter to fly over the camp and distract the guards. They split up to attack the front and back gates to the compound. The force broke into the camp and quickly killed the guards. The problems started when the prisoners hid from their rescuers.
Not recognizing the uniforms they thought the shooting meant they were all being killed. They finally convinced the prisoners to go with them. One British civilian prisoner hid from his rescuers and did not go with them. But he was picked up by the Filipino guerrillas and taken to safety. One prisoner died of a heart attack during the rescue.
The Filipinos and Alamo Scouts held off the Japanese while the Rangers got the prisoners to the carts to haul them to safety. There were 6 Rangers who acted as a rearguard and were the last to leave the camp. They came under fire from the Japanese killing one of the Rangers. At the river a guerrila doctor treated the wounded and Filipinos from nearby villages gave the prisoners food and water.
The Rangers with the prisoners traveled all night to get back to the American lines. The raid was one of the most spectacular and successful rescues in military history. They killed or wounded an estimated Japanese soldiers during the raid while rescuing prisoners. Captains Jimmy Fisher and Robert Prince and several Filipino guerrillas a few hours before the start of the raid.
Pajota was a flyover of an American plane to divert the enemy's attention and distract their attention while the troops were moving. He had procured about 50 carabaos water buffalo carts for a caravan that was used to transport the prisoners to friendly lines that saved the lives of many prisoners. Johnson was researching for a book he wrote on the raid of Cabanatuan which was entitled The Hour of Redemption and originally published in It later was released in under Warner Books.
A year later while he was still waiting for his citizenship approval, he died of a heart attack a few days before his case was resolved. He was played by Filipino actor Cesar Montano.
Capt juan pajota biography for kids
Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikidata item. Filipino guerilla c. World War II [ edit ]. Raid at Cabanatuan [ edit ]. Main article: Raid at Cabanatuan. Military tactics [ edit ]. Their uniforms were stripped of rank and identification. The men they were sent to rescue had suffered and languished in subhuman conditions for over 3 years…seemingly forgotten by their own country.
Let me share the story of Cabanatuan with the hope that you remember this event, these men and what they stood for. Even more, I hope this inspires you to further research Cabanatuan and share what you learn with others. By January the American Army had begun the liberation of the Philippines. One month earlier the Imperial Japanese army had massacred nearly American prisoners of war on the small Philippine Island of Palawan as part of an effort to eliminate any potential witnesses at war crimes trials.
During the war it became home to thousands of American soldiers. Many died from torture, execution, starvation and disease. By January 28th it housed over prisoners, mostly Americans, mostly survivors of the Bataan death march. These unfortunate souls were near death after over 3 years of internment in the most inhumane conditions imaginable. As the American Army advanced, it was feared the Japanese would execute the prisoners in a fashion similar to Palawan.
It was estimated that the American front line would be at Cabanatuan within 5 days. A rescue attempt was their only hope. Mucci was the charismatic and hard driving leader of the 6th Ranger Battalion. His men were fit, fearless and ready to fight. Details about the camp were limited and the final plans for the rescue were incomplete.
The mission would begin immediately. The next morning Mucci and his men began their journey. They were soon joined by 10 Alamo Scouts and several hundred Filipino guerrilla fighters. The assistance of the Filipinos would prove to be both critical and essential. Following a long days march and within three miles of the camp Mucci would learn several disturbing facts.
First, the needed information on the camp layout was not yet available. Second, no strategy for reaching the camp undetected had been devised. Miller Leaves For Iloilo Pres. Victorio C. Edades Fr. Jose Algue, S. Ordiz Jose Ma. Edades Royal Decree Replaces Gov. Yu Lt. And Declares T Cortes Gen. Piamonte Monsignor Domingo de Salazar, O.
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