분야
hwpInspired by true events.
1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
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
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.
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.
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 st the Tokyo
war ministry releases a memo,
detain the Japanese armys
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 .
th Army Headquarters
Calasio, Luzon, The Philippines
DAY
- January th
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 wasnt 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
th Ranger Battalion.
My commanding officer was
lieutenant colonel Henry Mucci.
You still in this Hamilton?
Im thinking about it colonel.
What are you thinking
about, youre already lost.
You want me to take my hat
off, to show you a better look?
No colonel, I dont want you to...
West Point graduate, Mucci was one of
the most terrific men Ive 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, hes in there playing poker.
You dont wanna interrupt
him, I think hes losing.
Lt. Foley get me a new deck
of cards, I suppose Im lucky.
Every time you stick that pipe in your
mouth colonel, I just know youre in trouble.
Colonel. Look at this.
Dyou 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
colonels personal experiment.
Mucci was determined
to prove they werent.
- General.
- Henry.
You know Colonel White.
And this is Major Lapham.
Major, this is Lieutenant Colonel
Henry Mucci CO th 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 youve told us.
Five miles east of Cabanatuan city here
theres 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 were running
to something unexpected
were 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 cant be
sure where the enemy is.
Thirty miles from the front lines.
Therere thirty thousand Japanese
troops in that area, col
