Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission

On the afternoon of January 30, 1945, the Rangers began crossing the Rio Grande de la Pampanga, a large river in Luzon. They were lucky that the river was “in its more placid, winterized state” because crossing it when it is fully engorged with 500 sick POWs “would have been unthinkably dangerous” (288). Mucci did not fully trust the guerillas: The guerillas were used to a different type of fighting than a direct confrontation with the professional Japanese Army. Mucci, as a leader, was extremely charismatic. The photographers, however, were dismayed that the raid would take place in the dark.

Arriving outside the camp at 5:45pm, “the Rangers could see that it was no impregnable citadel” (292). Strategically conquerable, Cabanatuan “was a world unto itself” which made it intimidating (292). Mucci’s and Prince’s men comprised C Company and Alamo Scouts totaling about 90. Meanwhile, F Company, 30 men in total, led by Lieutenant John Murphy, headed to the rear of the camp. C Company had to jump over earthen dividers in an “awkward hop” in the field “exposing themselves more conspicuously” (295). The guards did not notice them. The Rangers “felt utterly exposed” near the sentinel posts (295).