The Cabanatuan Raid-Episode 406

[@Canadian_Skeptical]

52 years of reading about WW II, and Bill and Seth have greatly expanded my knowledge and understanding of it.

[@josephgilorma6979]

The movie The Great Raid is a good movie on this subject.

[@jean-francoislemieux5509]

same for me!

[@andrewpizzino2514]

Same here 👍

[@kepple83]

I been into military and naval history since I was 12

[@bruceelkema7750]

Mr. Parshall, Mr. Toti; listening to your extraordinary podcast has, for some time now, caused me to ponder the nature of heroes. I am embarrassed to admit, that at 70 years old, I knew virtually nothing about the Pacific Theater. My Father served on the Battleship New Jersey, lying about his age and not knowing how to swim. All he ever said was that he manned a 5 inch 38. That was it. It seems to me, after listening to you, that heroes are all around us. All shapes and sizes. But they move through their lives unnoticed and unrecognized. The WWII vets are all but gone. However, you have given me a clearer insight into true heroism. My eyes are, now, open to the large and small feats of bravery that surround us. Common men and women performing acts of courage and compassion. I am grateful for finding you and I thank you both for your gift to me.

[@daverobinson6110]

It is never ever too late to learn

[@750cruzerpilot]

The Cabanatuan prison camp is now a historic landmark. I would occasionally fly over the area with a cessna. Only a quarter of the prison perimeter remains and was converted into a memorial and peace park. The key sites of the battle are still visible and seeing them from the air at low altitude gives one more appreciation of the events. From the air its easy to see the route the prisoners took from the camp to the town of Platero to the north where the carabao carts were waiting. The Pampanga river at this point is actually quite wide with some tall terrain features. Im sure it was quite a struggle for the POWs to cross to Platero. The bridge at Cabu to the east where the guerillas did a defensive stand while the raid took place is still there. The river being quite narrow and tight, it wound around allowing good defensive fire for the guerillas to stop anyone from crossing the bridge. From 500 feet above ground the area where all of these took place is small. I wish I could attach pictures to this reply.

[@edwardloomis887]

Up the road from Cabanatuan is Fort Magsaysay, a Philippines Army training base I visited ~ 1996. Well away from Manila up very basic roads.

[@59ogre]

I visited this place during my first WestPac deployment in the late seventies.I was about 19,I guess,and in great shape physically.The first thing I noticed was the oppressive heat and humidity.I don't see how those guys survived as long as they did being treated the way they were.

[@larrytischler570]

I had a cousin captured at Corregador and endured the Bataan Death march, plus the whole war as a POW, an uncle aboard an LST at Lingayen Gulf, co-worker in the Battle for Manilla, and another co-worker who was a Filipino guerilla fighter. So this episode is what I have been waiting for. Thank you Seth and Captain Bill.

[@josephgilorma6979]

God bless them all

[@mhsvz6735]

Incredible story gentleman, thank you.

[@curtdeno1146]

So proud of the men involved. All. American and Phillipinos. Legends all. Thanks to Seth and Bill for bringing this to us.

[@JosephSmith-m8t]

Endless thanks. Guys, at 60 I have studied history as a passion and hobby since early grade school. It all has helped to prepare me to listen to your podcasts. I have had my own fortune to talk to and listen to many ww2 veterans in years past. I have been catching up on all of the episodes starting in June of 2024. I think of my uncles that served and consider you guys honorary uncles.

[@Ltngstrike]

Seth and Bill, you guys absolutely hit this one out of the park! I remember reading a book about the raid over 50 years ago. I still can't help but feel a lump in my throat and a swelling of pride hearing the story again. Thank you both.

[@pauljohansen8043]

What an incredible story/podcast. Once again you should receive every award available for this type of content.

[@carrabellefl]

Thanks! I'm never disappointed on a Tuesday morning. I've actually walked the ground at Camp ODonald and Cabanatuan with little to no significance of what happened at these places. As a C-130 pilot you get the opportunity to visit Tinian, Pohang ROK, Iwo Jima but you are totally unprepared to SEE the significance of the action that occurred at these location. Your podcasts are of tremendous value to any student of history.

[@davidstrother496]

I am so glad that I never succumbed to the idea that I am too old to learn. Thanks Seth and Bill, I learned a lot today.

[@andrewsmith9174]

“If they made a movie about it….” - they did. It was excellent. The Great Raid, 2005. Listening to all this background and detail, the movie did a great job of being as accurate as possible. I am in Connecticut and a section of Route 8/25 is called the Col. Henry Mucci Hwy. Great job men.

[@danboyd6609]

I literally love this podcast as it literally makes history literally come alive. Literally....

[@TheBurr75]

The podcast cranks up a level when u guys do human interest stories like this one....superb

[@davidpeppert9168]

Another fantastic tour de force documentary about this famous raid. Like many other viewers, I eagerly await each new episode… your research and anecdotes are impeccable. The way you both interact does bring history back to life and it is history that should be remembered.

[@williampockets]

Thanks guys. Cant tell you how much i enjoy every episode.

[@jeffconley6366]

Side Note: Before the Cabanatuan rescue, Lt. General Kreuger was so impressed by the Rangers he pulled a few soldiers from the regular infantry regimental combat teams and sent them for Ranger training. With the idea they would come back to their units and teach ranger tactics. My father was one of those soldiers. He was wounded in the Purple Heart Valley on Luzon before the Cabanatuan rescue.

[@briancooper2112]

I'm in Arizona and every Tuesday morning its time for Seth and Bill!

[@richardmardis2492]

Me to- Mesa, Arizona

[@Rbjohnson-14]

What a great episode. The Filipino involvement in the war is finally getting credit thank you for keeping all of these important individual stories alive. I grew up hearing stories like these from my father and his and my friends. (He was a young marine that survived hill 100 on peleliu ) I knew Ralf hibbs . A survivor of one of these camps he wrote the book “tell MacArthur to Wait “. These were all extraordinary men their bravery and sacrifice must be remembered. By th way bill im about 20 days older than you we grew up in same time period Thanks for you important work David moore

[@briancooper2112]

​@@richardmardis2492chandler

[@jefesalsero]

Chandler, AZ checking in.

[@jonhenson5450]

BILL, the yellow Caraboa head on a red circle is a simple, yet highly respected icon of the Phillipine Scouts, even todays modern units

[@jammininthepast]

Seth, Captain Toti, thanks for your hard work. I have been feasting on your previous episodes. It's gold man, much more to learn by re-watching them. You're appreciated.

[@alangreer1142]

It's been 15-20 years ago; I met a veteran at an alumni gathering one time and he told me that he was one of the rescued prisoners from that raid. He told me the whole story about that day and how he had almost given up hope. He showed me his class ring and told that it had inspired him to stay alive. It became a game to him to keep it hid from the guards. He told me that he had hid his class ring "up you know where" to keep the Japanese from stealing it. He told me that his parents were poor and that they had sacrificed everything for him to go to college and how proud they were of him... that he was not going the let those filthy b*%#@&%s have it! He was so proud of it that he handed it to me to admire and said don't worry it's been washed several times since then.

[@philiplangford9434]

It is called “keistering” in polite circles.

[@flparkermdpc]

@philiplangford9434 there are always new things to cover as Seth is fond of saying!

[@xflyingtiger]

This was a fantastic video. Thanks again guys. Personal fact: Back in the early 1980s, I built a super detailed model of a P-61. The model came with a sheet that explained all of the high points of the P-61's development and use during and after the war. It was probably my favorite model that I built.

[@Cometkazie]

Excellent, Bill and Seth, you had me on the edge of my seat.

[@garypillischafske1425]

Thanks for explaining about the episodes! You guys are great!

[@alganhar1]

Fun mule story. The Brits got rid of most if not all their mule units prior to the war. In 1942 and 43, on the border between India and Burma however they literally started buying as many mules as they could get their hands on and reinstituting mule logistics units. All down to the terrain and climate. Even today there is not much infrastructure in that area, in the 40's there was one major railway line, and a handful of metalled roads that could be used all year round. Most roads however were earth or dirt, and were unusable by vehicles during Monsoon season. Hence the mules. In some areas of 14th Army's front they were simply the most reliable way to get supplies to the troops, especially as they were always short on transport aircraft. Amusingly they even had at least one elephant unit in the logistics train. I always find it a little amusing that a fully mechanised Army like the British at least in part fell back on pre motorised logistics. It also pretty neatly indicates just how terrible some of that terrain was for operating a modern Army in. Of course these days we would use helicopters, but not many of those around in the early to mid forties, certainly none in Northern India!

[@paulfarace9595]

Remember those star wars technology robots they scientists are building for the Pentagon include in essence a robot mule to carry equipment over difficult terrain. Everything old is new again!😂

[@mikeat2637]

There was another US unit that used both mules and horses in the CBI. The 5307th Composite Unit, also known as Merrill's Marauders, who fought in Burma from January to August, 1944. Out of an original complement of 2,997 at the beginning, only 130 were combat ready when the unit was disbanded. Most of the casualties were because of sickness and disease. They acquitted themselves bravely and by all accounts caused 200 Japanese casualties and dead for each of their own.

[@jimsedlacek4897]

You may enjoy this 10 minute video nugget from Mark Felton - Daring WW2 Helicopter Mission - Burma 1945: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZu8f4OGp890pMUsi=rrqRmPs9scOx-FBO

[@mikeemery6741]

EVERY episode I learn something new on subject matter that I feel I'm fairly well versed on... That being said, "There won't be any atheists on this trip either" is a line I have never heard before Capt Toti... It brought both a snicker and a realization of just how serious, as the leader of this raid, Bob Prince let his men know "the real deal"... Thanks to both of y'all, Seth and Capt Toti for all you do!

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

Mucci said that. Not Prince.

[@glennricafrente58]

I'm impressed you were able to tell this story in an hour and a half. The details of this raid are so astounding you could easily have gone twice or thrice as long and still told a gripping, edge-of-your seat yarn.

[@christopherqueen3194]

I’ve known the story of this rescue mission for years. But you men have presented this with a compelling interest that truly has me on the edge of my seat. Well done.

[@RAYMONDCANILAO-sv3wc]

Lapham's Raiders by Robert Lapham & Bernard Norling; suggested reading. My father was a 2nd Lieutenant under Major Robert Lapham. The 320th Squadron, Luzon Guerilla Armed Forces (LGAF) Staff Sargent Fidel Zosimo U. Canilao fought in Bataan under Brigadier General Vicente Lim. 41st Division 42nd Infantry United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)

[@docspacedad]

I should be asleep, but it’s 4am on Tuesday. Which means it is legally Bill and Seth o’clock.

[@dredgenlore3334]

So true so real

[@dankilpatrick3910]

Me too!

[@michaelcoe9824]

I just got to it at 8pm Tuesday night in Melbourne.❤

[@GeorgePhillips-g2v]

Me too

[@jammininthepast]

I know what you're saying.

[@lurking0death]

US Army Rangers came into official existence in June of 1942. They fought in WWII, Korea, extensively in Vietnam as LRRPs. They also fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. They are trained to complete the mission first and foremost regardless of all obstacles. They are extremely well trained and highly motivated elite infantry. Today they are also all airborne qualified. Their unit is the 75th Ranger Regiment, about 800 guys but it fluctuates. Many thousands more men spread out in the Army are 'Ranger" qualified meaning they have completed the very difficult 8 week ranger course.

[@Chevelle602]

How can you not love these two guys?

[@terryemery7839]

Brilliant episode as per usual. Bringing these stories to life is a trademark of this channel. Congrats on 6 million views. Thanks again gentlemen.

[@jeffreymartin8448]

I'm crying and shouting in my office at the end! Hugging anyone who comes in to check on me. Beautiful.

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Seth and Bill time spent with you here is time well spent. Thank you for the expertise and depth of information.

[@richardmardis2492]

That poor kid shaking, cold and scared- breaks my heart…

[@briancooper2112]

I believe she's on Okinawa.

[@flparkermdpc]

I have commented the exact same words right after season 4's first episode. She is more heartbreaking with each new viewing.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

She is.

[@jimcaufman2328]

On of the rescuers in the raid was in The Son Tay raid. Son Tay was his third POW raid. He retired from Special Forces in the 70's.

[@raytucker6568]

@@jimcaufman2328 Bull Simons & Galen Kittelson both were on the this and the Son Tay raid.

[@SamAlley-l9j]

Thank you Bill and Seth.

[@Parmen0901]

Love the stories, but especially the true storytelling. Your presentation is a real edge-of-your-seat experience. It also is scary to believe such cruelty exists in our hearts, like shown by the Japanese.

[@hdfoster5507]

Seth, it's OK to talk to yourself, just don't answer yourself. (Old psychology class proverb, LOL) Great show guys. I've seen the "Great Raid" movie and it is great. Go Rangers!

[@scraptech3152]

Appreciate the hard work guys! Excellent episode.

[@trigger1270]

another outstanding effort!

[@garymackey850]

After last week....a much need episode!

[@m.r.donovan8743]

The Great Raid, 2005 directed by John Dahl, starring Benjamin Bratt as Colonel Mucci and James Franco as Capt. Prince. It's definitely worth a watch. As always, Seth and the Captain deliver a great episode and teach us something we'd never known before. Thank You both so much!

[@750cruzerpilot]

Highly recommend the movie “the Great Raid” It was a very good film and one of the few movies that told the story well without too much hollywood.

[@davekrab3363]

+1 for the algorhythms. Thank you gentlemen, love yer work. It's gunna be a sad day when U've completed the series. I can feel it approaching . .🦀🇦🇺✌️

[@briancooper2112]

Actual raid film. Great!

[@denniswiemer72]

Another great story. So horrible, the treatment of POWs, but such a great example of several groups coming together to rescue those that remain.

[@73Trident]

Bill and Seth another fantastic episode of your excellent telling of WWII history in the Pacific Theater. I I know I can speak for many others when I say Thank you.

[@wkbigfish]

Once again excellent program. I always come away with so much more added knowledge and understanding . Thanks Seth & Bill

[@TerryNelson-k6t]

So glad you did this episode. Great work as always!!

[@Perfusionist01]

A magnificent story! It always gives me goosebumps to hear the story and I have heard it from various sources for many years. One cannot say enough about the Filipinos, the Rangers and the Scouts.

[@hugosowder4474]

Very excited for when ya'll look into the POW experience - though I'd say you've illustrated the nature of it in this episode and many others from the series. That POW memo is yet another notch leading this war towards the events of August 1945. There's no question of what the fate of thousands of POWs and everyday people in east/southeast Asis would have been if the war dragged on into 1946 - to say nothing of Japanese civilians and their society at large.

[@democracy_GER]

Just brilliant. Thanks a lot.

[@alamoforce]

You guys really need to get Lance Zedric on if you do a dedicated Alamo Scouts episode. His depth of knowledge on them is insane.

[@jayshaw63]

Seabees: Thanks for the heads-up. I've watched nearly every episode and been wondering if and when you would cover the Seabees. As an Ensign/Lt jg in the CEC, stationed at Pearl Harbor and then MCAS Kaneohe ('73-'76), we lived on the 13th floor of a high-rise apartment building (The Townhouse) in Makiki. On my way down to go to work in the morning I would sometimes ride the elevator with Richard Tregaskis, who was on his way to go for his morning swim in the ocean. He'd look at my collar device (crossed bananas) and give me a smile. That meant a lot to me.

[@josephgilorma6979]

They recently did an episode interviewing a Seabee vet.

[@jayshaw63]

@@josephgilorma6979 Yes. Cam Pelletier, NMCB 33. I did watch it. At the time I had complimentary copy of Richard Tregaskis last book "Southeast Asia: Building the Bases, The History of Construction in Southeast Asia (1975)"

[@CynthiaCarrithers]

So interesting! I was anxious to hear about the outcome of the raid as you related the facts- so many brave people in the Philippines! And of course, my heart breaks to know what the POWs went through for our Freedom. Thank you for retelling this story. Our country needs to remember what real hardship is. I’ll look for the movie and book mentioned.

[@ReverendScaleModeler]

Great episode as always! A story of unmatched courage better than any Hollywood writer could conceive.

[@kilcar]

Thank you for the forthcoming Seabees episodes. My dad and his pal from Scotland were with NCB 20, a " plank owner" in the battalion. I'm so proud of dad's Seabee Service, he was affected mentally and physically from his experience from 1942-1996 the year he passed I was lucky enough to find the extremely rare Cruise book ( 1st) from 1942-44, in 2019, it took me 38 years of searching.

[@rmwoodjr]

Gentlemen: you get better with every episode. Your work will, no doubt, be appreciated in perpetuity as does the selfless sacrifices you describe.

[@124marsh]

Here in Connecticut there is a section of highway between I 95 and Route 25 split that is dedicated to Colonel Henry Mucci.

[@daverhoades5596]

When Suburu put a plant in LaFayette,Ind.back in the late eighties,I think they named the highway in front of the plant “Bataan Death March Highway “.

[@RoseWesselman]

this was a great episode. I was on the edge of my seat, even though i read the book "Ghost Soldiers" by Hampton Sides. Tom Wesselman

[@drewwagner4802]

I bought a DVD based on the rescue mission called the Great Raid! It was a really good film, well written and good actors!

[@kepple83]

Outstanding movie

[@CutGlassMan-CTI]

Superb stuff! Thank you.

[@daverhoades5596]

Bill Dunn,CBS correspondent was my Uncle Bill Dunn’s uncle.My uncle was married to my dad’s sister.While one was covering the war,my uncle was on a destroyer in the Pacific as a Seaman First Class.

[@jeffusher9403]

A great story, and so well-told, by two cats I have really come to respect for the work you both do in bringing these podcasts to us. Thanks heaps, from Jeff in Australia.

[@MadLudwig]

One of your best episodes gents. Hard to believe the Great Raid has never been remade into a modern movie. It would be a spectacular success given the availability of better technology today.

[@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar]

We quite literally said, multiple times, that it WAS made into a movie. A good one too.

[@MadLudwig]

I just found it on KZbin. Going to watch it ASAP. Am honestly stunned that I never heard of it previously. ​@UnauthorizedHistoryPacificWar

[@robertmoffitt1336]

This was a very moving episode. It literally brought tears to my eyes. Tears of joy for the success of the raid in the end. Never Forget 💝🎗️

[@martinpower2439]

As a 56 yr old guy who grew up reading/learning about ww1 & ww2 I believe Japanese leadership and troops of all ranks in ww2 were never held to account in the same way as the German equivalents were after hostilities were over,indeed the Japanese nation as a whole never really faced the same stigma as the German nation did

[@124marsh]

That’s because they all killed themselves,No?

[@toddcrosley8099]

Another great podcast! Thank you.

[@marchuvfulz]

Great episode, guys. Back story of the 6th Ranger Bn kinda boggles the mind. Heard of arty being reassigned to infantry duties before, but from mule artillery to Rangers? Just wild. Such things can happen only in wartime.

[@flparkermdpc]

Thanks!

[@jeffreybishop9478]

Verbal history aka story telling is at times far better than pictures with written captions. The listener has imagination and imagines in his mind of what is happening. Very real mental imagery is created.

[@ricardoagila3115]

Love WW2 history and this narrative of a commando raid to save vets of Bataan and Corregidor is quite engaging …. and it really happened.

[@markworden9169]

I read a book about this raid about 20 year's ago. Good job guy's thank you.

[@sushibar777]

A great, uplifting story after the depressing one from last week.

[@robert506007]

"The Great Raid" Great Film! Though I must admit even I forgot about it and its a damn good film.

[@johnsanabria3279]

I had a good friend(passed away in 2002) who was one of the Rangers on that raid,actually was in the cover pic of Mr. Hampton's book, Ghost Soldiers. The movie The Great Raid--as Seth mentioned--was the truest depiction of that action.....no Hollywood hokieness.

[@freda7436]

Another great show. Thanks, gentlemen!

[@WilliamNichol-d3n]

I have the movie I am so excited to hear your doing a episode of this time in history.

[@williampage622]

Thanks a great podcast.

[@The2ndFirst]

I've been in.for a while. I feel like Bill Toti was the captain of my cardboard box fort when I was a kid.

[@barrygeekler6458]

Always Outstanding!

[@williamlaforge4517]

Great episode Thanks Gentlemen 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@joeszalay2052]

All i can say is fantastic

[@jammininthepast]

Captain Toti & Seth, thanks for your hard work. If I may reference the "Ghost Soldiers" (Author-Sides) book I read years ago, it is very well written w/some amazing photographs. This history shows American Soldiers at their best, a little salve that we need considering our great country's state of being right now. Thanks brothers, you're appreciated.

[@jean-francoislemieux5509]

tension level at 20 ! what a fantastic true story! and congrats for your gazillions of views! You guys are getting better and better!

[@cliffjones8809]

Great episode! Love the actual photos. I got what you said about requests, and also that you're going to cover more POW stuff. I'm hoping to learn more about Changi prison camp, which I'm mainly aware of because of the book King Rat, by James Clavell. It's fiction, but Clavell was actually a pow there. The book covers the situation as the war was approaching an end, where the prisoners were expecting to be murdered by their guards.

[@lancewallace3680]

Bill and Seth, another book by Hampton Sides that is well worth the read is "On Despite Ground" about the Chosen Reservoir campaign in the Korean War. It has many Pacific War people in it, including Chesty Puller and Doug McArthur. I know it's not WWII Pacific War, but it is a story I would desperately love to see you guys do...maybe as a special episode...like the Masters of the Air special series you guys did. It is an outstanding story.

[@jamesongarmstr6716]

Guys, this episode builds and builds, with excellent pace and tension. Really gripping. Cheers for all the effort and energy. I hadn't heard of this before. P.S. Have you thought about doing an episode on the Cabanatuan Raid?

[@scipioafricanus4328]

I’d love to hear more about the CB’s, great idea team!

[@chrisschmalhofer4348]

You’re way past Bougainville, but I’d still love to see you two tell the story of Jay Zeemer, Old 666, and the Eager Beavers. I could send more pictures of his medals and artifacts from the NMUSAF, if you want.

[@scipioafricanus4328]

There has been lots of criticism of MacArthur but please remember he is one of these characters of history where the best and the worst you hear about him are all true. This was one of his best moments.

[@joebombero1]

There are always rebels in history-circles that want to challenge the traditional views, but MacArthur was the best general the United States produced during his generation. This is the reason why he was selected to be the UN Commander during Korea. All of modern Japan was his creation. Had Bataan not been saddled with tens of thousands of unanticipated refugees, they would have had enough food and medicine to last until August, perhaps even September 1942. 'Nuff said...

[@59ogre]

@@joebombero1 Most of this criticism has occurred in the last 20yrs or so,what I call the internet era.It's great that we have all these different channels and new sources of information for young people to learn about our history,but it seems that there are a lot of people who want to change the narrative and make our society,culture,and heroes to be much less than they actually were.MacArthur,love him or hate him,was one of the most talented men to ever put on the uniform.

[@lancewallace3680]

Seth, several weeks ago you said that episode was one of the few you guys told that had a happy(ish) ending. This episode you can say definitely has a happy ending. Love thus episode.

[@lhartatt]

I am very curious about logistics during the Pacific war. Maybe you can do an episode dedicated to that subject. The detail I am looking for is from the iniation of the items and all the way through to delivery to the ultimate destination. To my mind what was done logistically was stunning.

[@colinellis5243]

Another excellent episode!

[@johnferguson1455]

Great presentation and yes, great movie.

[@lancewallace3680]

Ever since you guy started episodes on the Philippines I have been waiting for this episode. "Ghost Soldiers" by Hampton Sides and the movie "The Great Raid" (based partly on Hampton's book) both intrigued me, and fueled my imagination. It is an outstanding story. There is no way you guys could have devoted less than an episode to it. And I didn't have to ask you guys to do this episode, I knew in my bones that it had to be told by y'all.

[@flparkermdpc]

Great episode, Bill & Seth. My like was #600 at 0600 Az time Tues. Yhis episode is going to top 2500 by day's end.

[@Les537]

Thanks. Rock on, boys.