Ecijanos recall the ‘Great Raid’

CABANATUAN CITY — Novo Ecijanos commemorate today the daring raid by some 2,000 soldiers on the Pangatian concentration camp in Barangay Pangatian here 60 years ago that led to the rescue of 516 prisoners of war (POWs) held by the Japanese Imperial Army.

Dubbed the "Great Raid," which later became a Hollywood movie starring Benjamin Bratt and co-starring award-winning Filipino actor Cesar Montaño, the historic event will be refreshed when national and local officials assemble at the site of the Pangatian concentration camp.

Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz is the guest of honor in today’s commemorative rites.

He will be joined by Nueva Ecija Gov. Tomas Joson III, whose father, the late former six-term governor Eduardo Sr., was among those who led the raid, described as among the most daring and successful rescue missions in the annals of military history.

Oscar Nieves, chief of the provincial information office, said this year’s commemorative rites start with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pangatian concentration camp site, followed by parachute jumping, ringing of bells and unveiling of the Sundial monument.

It was on the evening of Jan. 30, 1945 when the rescue forces of US Rangers and Filipino guerrillas raided the camp to free the 516 POWs who were about to be executed by their Japanese captors. Other POWs had died of severe beating, hunger and diseases.

The 45-minute military operation was led by then Capt. Eduardo Joson Sr., who headed Squadron 213, and Capt. Juan Pajota, both commissioned officers of the US Armed Forces in the Far East. They were joined by Lt. Col. Henry Mucci of the US 6th Ranger Battalion.

In an attack simultaneous with the raid, Pajota’s men attacked a Japanese stockade 300 meters from the concentration camp. They planted dynamites at the Cabu Bridge, partially damaging it.

Three waves of Japanese soldiers tried to help their comrades but they were all wiped out by the guerrillas.

Joson’s group served as blocking force southwest of the camp, waiting for the Japanese convoy that was to come from Cabanatuan.

When the convoy appeared, an A61 Black Widow plane appeared and blasted three of the trucks and a tank, prompting the convoy to retreat.

Among those rescued, only one died, while two rescuers, Capt. James Fisher and the US Rangers’ medic, Cpl. Roy Sweezy, died.

Fisher was killed when one of the mortar shells lobbed by a Japanese soldier hit him in the abdomen.

Wounded were 12 of Joson’s soldiers as well as seven Americans.

After the rescue operation, the soldiers and guerrillas had to walk and run several kilometers, even crossing the Cabu River, before they were evacuated to Barrios Balangkare and Platero in nearby Gen. Natividad town, using 25 carabao-drawn carts and guided by civilian volunteers.

Among the surviving veterans of the raid are Bienvenido Cayanga, Eugenio Jongo, Basilio Payawal and Gaudencio Ignacio. Now in their late 80s and 90s, the four belonged to the 213th and 214th Squadrons.

Joson’s exploits made him extremely popular and were believed to have catapulted him to a successful career in politics.