Ghost Soldiers
Encyclopedia
Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission is a non-fiction book, written by Hampton Sides
, about the World War II
Allied
prison camp
raid at Cabanatuan
in the Philippines
. It was first published in 2001.
The book recounts the story of the Ranger unit boob performing the raid, and the Filipino guerrillas and the POWs to be rescued. A massacre of American soldiers at Palawan alerts the U.S. Army of the dangers of Japanese POW camps. When Bataan surrenders due to starvation, disease, and false hope from President Roosevelt, the remaining soldiers were transported to Camp O’Donnel where they would be incarcerated. The problem with Homma’s plan was that they only expected about 25,000 Filipino and American troops would surrender, but the number was closer to 100,000. “Arrangements for food, water, shelter, and vehicles were based upon this fabulously erroneous calculation.”(Sides, 2002, Chap 1, Sec. 49, Paragraph 1) Homma had his men re-estimate the number to be around 40,000 still off by around 60,000. Also the health of the remaining soldiers was far worse than they predicted. Rushed with a deadline the Japanese guards become irritated with the sick and injured soldiers. Prisoners were shot, stabbed, beaten, and even beheaded. It was thought that 750 Americans and 5000 Filipinos died making this trip, which later came to be known as the Bataan Death March
. The remaining soldiers arrive a Camp O’Donnel, a temporary holding station, but considered to be the worst part. “In two months, more than 1,500 Americans and some 15,000 Filipinos were buried in mass unmarked graves.”(Sides, 2001, Chap 3, sec. 18, paragraph 2) The remaining survivors made it to Cabantuan, which was said to be a continuation of O’Donnel. Where they sit and wait.
The Rescue-
Afraid that the Japanese will execute the remaining prisoners, if they hear of a rescue attempt, General Walter Krueger plans a surprise rescue. He assigns the job to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci
(commanding officer of the 6th Ranger Battalion.) The group was originally assigned in remote mountains carrying howitzers that broke down and was known as the 98th Field Artillery Battalion, Pack, who would later become the Rangers. Colonel Mucci assigned this mission to his C company under the command of Robert Prince
. Mucci or little McArthur as his men called him told the soldiers, “ I only want those of you that feel lucky.” (Sides, 2001, Prologue, sec. 42, paragraph 1 ) The rangers looked around and not one dropped out. The mission was kept highly secret, known only by General Krueger and his G-2 or government intelligence people. The soldiers wore inconspicuous clothes with no military markings and no heavy helmets since they were to be traveling thirty miles on foot both directions. The only advantage the men had was the element of surprise. Early on the Rangers meet a group of guerrillas, led by a man named Joson, that would join them on their raid. They later met another guerilla group led by Captain Juan Pajota. He helped with their plans and brought intel about the prison, their force now rounded 400 and 3 Alamo Scouts who were valuable spies. Pajota also devised a plan to use wagons pulled by carabao to transport the injured and weak soldiers. At the suggestion of Juan Pajota, a Filipino guerrilla, Lt. Col. Mucci arranged for the United States Army Air Forces USAAF to have a P-61 Black Widow night fighter buzz the camp while the men made their way across the field. It proved to be the biggest factor in achieving the element of surprise.(“People & Events:," Paragraph 4) F Company would flank the back. C Company took out the guards in front and later stormed the front gate. A final wave would move in with wire cutters and free the prisoners. The prisoners were directed to the Pampanga River where the carabao oxcarts were waiting. After this they must travel 30 miles north toward American lines, with guerrillas serving as a rear guard. All but one of the 511 American and Allied POWs were rescued while an estimated 523 Japanese were killed or wounded. The cost was two Rangers killed, and seven injured.(Chriss) Sides also recounts the history of the Battle of Corregidor
and its relationship to the Cabanatuan POW camp.
The movie The Great Raid
was partially based on Ghost Soldiers.
The United States Civil War novel Ghost Soldier was written by Elaine Marie Alphin in 2001 and is unrelated to Ghost Soldiers.
This is about military history.
'Ghost Soldiers': The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission is a non-fiction book, written by Hampton Sides, about the World War II Allied prison camp raid at Cabanatuan in the Philippines. It was first published in 2001.
Former Cabanatuan POWs march to freedom
The book recounts the story of the Ranger unit performing the raid, and the Filipino guerrillas and the POWs to be rescued. A massacre of American soldiers at Palawan alerts the U.S. Army of the dangers of Japanese POW camps. When Bataan surrenders due to starvation, disease, and false hope from President Roosevelt, the remaining soldiers were transported to Camp O’Donnel where they would be incarcerated. The problem with Homma’s plan was that they only expected about 25,000 Filipino and American troops would surrender, but the number was closer to 100,000. “Arrangements for food, water, shelter, and vehicles were based upon this fabulously erroneous calculation.”(Sides, 2002, Chap 1, Sec. 49, Paragraph 1) Homma had his men re-estimate the number to be around 40,000 still off by around 60,000. Also the health of the remaining soldiers was far worse than they predicted. Rushed with a deadline the Japanese guards become irritated with the sick and injured soldiers. Prisoners were shot, stabbed, beaten, and even beheaded. It was thought that 750 Americans and 5000 Filipinos died making this trip, which later came to be known as the Bataan Death March. The remaining soldiers arrive a Camp O’Donnel, a temporary holding station, but considered to be the worst part. “In two months, more than 1,500 Americans and some 15,000 Filipinos were buried in mass unmarked graves.”(Sides, 2001, Chap 3, sec. 18, paragraph 2) The remaining survivors made it to Cabantuan, which was said to be a continuation of O’Donnel. Where they sit and wait.
The Rescue- Afraid that the Japanese will execute the remaining prisoners, if they hear of a rescue attempt, General Walter Krueger plans a surprise rescue. He assigns the job to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci (commanding officer of the 6th Ranger Battalion.) The group was originally assigned in remote mountains carrying howitzers that broke down and was known as the 98th Field Artillery Battalion, Pack, who would later become the Rangers. Colonel Mucci assigned this mission to his C company under the command of Robert Prince. Mucci or little McArthur as his men called him told the soldiers, “ I only want those of you that feel lucky.” (Sides, 2001, Prologue, sec. 42, paragraph 1 ) The rangers looked around and not one dropped out. The mission was kept highly secret, known only by General Krueger and his G-2 or government intelligence people. The soldiers wore inconspicuous clothes with no military markings and no heavy helmets since they were to be traveling thirty miles on foot both directions. The only advantage the men had was the element of surprise. Early on the Rangers meet a group of guerrillas, led by a man named Joson, that would join them on their raid. They later met another guerilla group led by Captain Juan Pajota. He helped with their plans and brought intel about the prison, their force now rounded 400 and 3 Alamo Scouts who were valuable spies. Pajota also devised a plan to use wagons pulled by carabao to transport the injured and weak soldiers. At the suggestion of Juan Pajota, a Filipino guerrilla, Lt. Col. Mucci arranged for the United States Army Air Forces USAAF to have a P-61 Black Widow night fighter buzz the camp while the men made their way across the field. It proved to be the biggest factor in achieving the element of surprise.(“People & Events:," Paragraph 4) F Company would flank the back. C Company took out the guards in front and later stormed the front gate. A final wave would move in with wire cutters and free the prisoners. The prisoners were directed to the Pampanga River where the carabao oxcarts were waiting. After this they must travel 30 miles north toward American lines, with guerrillas serving as a rear guard. All but one of the 511 American and Allied POWs were rescued while an estimated 523 Japanese were killed or wounded. The cost was two Rangers killed, and seven injured.(Chriss) Sides also recounts the history of the Battle of Corregidor and its relationship to the Cabanatuan POW camp.
The movie The Great Raid was partially based on Ghost Soldiers.
The United States Civil War novel Ghost Soldier was written by Elaine Marie Alphin in 2001 and is unrelated to Ghost Soldiers.
Hampton Sides
Hampton Sides is an American historian and journalist. He is the author of Hellhound on His Trail, Ghost Soldiers, Blood and Thunder, and other bestselling works of narrative history and literary non-fiction....
, about the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
prison camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
raid at Cabanatuan
Raid at Cabanatuan
The Raid at Cabanatuan was a rescue of Allied prisoners of war and civilians from a Japanese camp near Cabanatuan City, in the Philippines...
in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It was first published in 2001.
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
. The remaining soldiers arrive a Camp O’Donnel, a temporary holding station, but considered to be the worst part. “In two months, more than 1,500 Americans and some 15,000 Filipinos were buried in mass unmarked graves.”(Sides, 2001, Chap 3, sec. 18, paragraph 2) The remaining survivors made it to Cabantuan, which was said to be a continuation of O’Donnel. Where they sit and wait.
The Rescue-
Afraid that the Japanese will execute the remaining prisoners, if they hear of a rescue attempt, General Walter Krueger plans a surprise rescue. He assigns the job to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci
Henry Mucci
Henry Andrew Mucci was a colonel in the United States Army Rangers. In January 1945, during World War II, he led a force of 128 Army Rangers on a mission which rescued 512 survivors of the Bataan Death March from Cabanatuan Prison Camp, despite being heavily outnumbered.- Youth :Mucci was born in...
(commanding officer of the 6th Ranger Battalion.) The group was originally assigned in remote mountains carrying howitzers that broke down and was known as the 98th Field Artillery Battalion, Pack, who would later become the Rangers. Colonel Mucci assigned this mission to his C company under the command of Robert Prince
Robert Prince (Captain)
Robert Prince was a captain in the United States Army's elite 6th Ranger Battalion. In 1945 he was chosen personally by Lt. Col. Henry A. Mucci to plan the rescue at the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines.-Personal life:...
. Mucci or little McArthur as his men called him told the soldiers, “ I only want those of you that feel lucky.” (Sides, 2001, Prologue, sec. 42, paragraph 1 ) The rangers looked around and not one dropped out. The mission was kept highly secret, known only by General Krueger and his G-2 or government intelligence people. The soldiers wore inconspicuous clothes with no military markings and no heavy helmets since they were to be traveling thirty miles on foot both directions. The only advantage the men had was the element of surprise. Early on the Rangers meet a group of guerrillas, led by a man named Joson, that would join them on their raid. They later met another guerilla group led by Captain Juan Pajota. He helped with their plans and brought intel about the prison, their force now rounded 400 and 3 Alamo Scouts who were valuable spies. Pajota also devised a plan to use wagons pulled by carabao to transport the injured and weak soldiers. At the suggestion of Juan Pajota, a Filipino guerrilla, Lt. Col. Mucci arranged for the United States Army Air Forces USAAF to have a P-61 Black Widow night fighter buzz the camp while the men made their way across the field. It proved to be the biggest factor in achieving the element of surprise.(“People & Events:," Paragraph 4) F Company would flank the back. C Company took out the guards in front and later stormed the front gate. A final wave would move in with wire cutters and free the prisoners. The prisoners were directed to the Pampanga River where the carabao oxcarts were waiting. After this they must travel 30 miles north toward American lines, with guerrillas serving as a rear guard. All but one of the 511 American and Allied POWs were rescued while an estimated 523 Japanese were killed or wounded. The cost was two Rangers killed, and seven injured.(Chriss) Sides also recounts the history of the Battle of Corregidor
Battle of Corregidor
The Battle for Corregidor was the culmination of the Japanese campaign for the conquest of the Philippines. The fall of Bataan on 9 April 1942 ended all organized opposition by the U.S...
and its relationship to the Cabanatuan POW camp.
The movie The Great Raid
The Great Raid
The Great Raid is a 2005 war film about the Raid at Cabanatuan, adapted from William Breuer's book of the same name. It tells the story of the January 1945 liberation of the Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the Philippine island of Luzon during World War II. It is directed by John Dahl and stars Benjamin...
was partially based on Ghost Soldiers.
The United States Civil War novel Ghost Soldier was written by Elaine Marie Alphin in 2001 and is unrelated to Ghost Soldiers.
This is about military history.
'Ghost Soldiers': The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission is a non-fiction book, written by Hampton Sides, about the World War II Allied prison camp raid at Cabanatuan in the Philippines. It was first published in 2001.
Former Cabanatuan POWs march to freedom
The book recounts the story of the Ranger unit performing the raid, and the Filipino guerrillas and the POWs to be rescued. A massacre of American soldiers at Palawan alerts the U.S. Army of the dangers of Japanese POW camps. When Bataan surrenders due to starvation, disease, and false hope from President Roosevelt, the remaining soldiers were transported to Camp O’Donnel where they would be incarcerated. The problem with Homma’s plan was that they only expected about 25,000 Filipino and American troops would surrender, but the number was closer to 100,000. “Arrangements for food, water, shelter, and vehicles were based upon this fabulously erroneous calculation.”(Sides, 2002, Chap 1, Sec. 49, Paragraph 1) Homma had his men re-estimate the number to be around 40,000 still off by around 60,000. Also the health of the remaining soldiers was far worse than they predicted. Rushed with a deadline the Japanese guards become irritated with the sick and injured soldiers. Prisoners were shot, stabbed, beaten, and even beheaded. It was thought that 750 Americans and 5000 Filipinos died making this trip, which later came to be known as the Bataan Death March. The remaining soldiers arrive a Camp O’Donnel, a temporary holding station, but considered to be the worst part. “In two months, more than 1,500 Americans and some 15,000 Filipinos were buried in mass unmarked graves.”(Sides, 2001, Chap 3, sec. 18, paragraph 2) The remaining survivors made it to Cabantuan, which was said to be a continuation of O’Donnel. Where they sit and wait.
The Rescue- Afraid that the Japanese will execute the remaining prisoners, if they hear of a rescue attempt, General Walter Krueger plans a surprise rescue. He assigns the job to Lieutenant Colonel Henry Mucci (commanding officer of the 6th Ranger Battalion.) The group was originally assigned in remote mountains carrying howitzers that broke down and was known as the 98th Field Artillery Battalion, Pack, who would later become the Rangers. Colonel Mucci assigned this mission to his C company under the command of Robert Prince. Mucci or little McArthur as his men called him told the soldiers, “ I only want those of you that feel lucky.” (Sides, 2001, Prologue, sec. 42, paragraph 1 ) The rangers looked around and not one dropped out. The mission was kept highly secret, known only by General Krueger and his G-2 or government intelligence people. The soldiers wore inconspicuous clothes with no military markings and no heavy helmets since they were to be traveling thirty miles on foot both directions. The only advantage the men had was the element of surprise. Early on the Rangers meet a group of guerrillas, led by a man named Joson, that would join them on their raid. They later met another guerilla group led by Captain Juan Pajota. He helped with their plans and brought intel about the prison, their force now rounded 400 and 3 Alamo Scouts who were valuable spies. Pajota also devised a plan to use wagons pulled by carabao to transport the injured and weak soldiers. At the suggestion of Juan Pajota, a Filipino guerrilla, Lt. Col. Mucci arranged for the United States Army Air Forces USAAF to have a P-61 Black Widow night fighter buzz the camp while the men made their way across the field. It proved to be the biggest factor in achieving the element of surprise.(“People & Events:," Paragraph 4) F Company would flank the back. C Company took out the guards in front and later stormed the front gate. A final wave would move in with wire cutters and free the prisoners. The prisoners were directed to the Pampanga River where the carabao oxcarts were waiting. After this they must travel 30 miles north toward American lines, with guerrillas serving as a rear guard. All but one of the 511 American and Allied POWs were rescued while an estimated 523 Japanese were killed or wounded. The cost was two Rangers killed, and seven injured.(Chriss) Sides also recounts the history of the Battle of Corregidor and its relationship to the Cabanatuan POW camp.
The movie The Great Raid was partially based on Ghost Soldiers.
The United States Civil War novel Ghost Soldier was written by Elaine Marie Alphin in 2001 and is unrelated to Ghost Soldiers.