Is there anyone who doesn't know we're out here?
It's hard for them to understand, sir.
They see American soldiers, they think the war is over.
All right, all right.
Colonel, may I discuss with you the role of my men in your mission?
Your men will be screening our flanks, Captain.
Sir, this is our war, too. We've been fighting the Japanese for three years.
Captain Pajota, I understand your anger at what the Japs did to your people today.
If I were you, I'd also want revenge. But this mission has objectives of its own.
Sir, my men are disciplined fighters. What happened at Balincarin is not new to them.
Your men will be of great value on our flanks.
Lieutenant O'Grady, I'm going to step away.
My compliments to the villagers for their hospitality.
I'll see to it, sir.
- Captain. - Colonel.
Want me to take a look at those feet, Captain?
Yeah.
God only knows how you walk on these, Bob.
You're lucky the colonel doesn't know about this.
Doc, can you figure him out?
- Mucci? - Yeah.
Every time I think I have, he surprises me.
Not always in a bad way.
He's the reason I joined the Rangers.
There was a time I'd follow him anywhere, but all we seem to do now is butt heads.
You know, he may not like you standing up to him...
but I suspect that's why he chose you.
I can't imagine any other reason why he'd ignore these jungle-rotted dogs of yours.
Besides, think he's out there feeling on top of the world?
That's the convoy Captain Pajota was talking about.
Damn, looks like they're reinforcing the camp.
Hey, Duke, wake up.
It's your turn to keep watch on Red.
Yeah. Yeah.
He's gone.
He's gone, dammit. You fell asleep.
Because one man disobeyed me...
ten others will pay the price.
No. Look, my fault.
Please.
Please. My fault.
They resupplied the camp last night.
Brought in fuel and fresh troops.
Looks like they're up to something.
How many?
Between 150 and 200 of 'em, sir.
Captain?
I was depending on the second platoon of Fox to hold the Cabu bridge,
but if the Japs have 300 men in the camp, we'll need everyone on the raid.
Maybe we can hold the bridge with less men.
Can you make do with just one squad from Riley's platoon?
I don't think so, sir. Captain Pajota said the Japs reinforced the bridge last night.
Well, I wish Captain Pajota had shared this information with me earlier.
Let's take a look.
Get a count.
With respect, sir, what's to count?
Lieutenant Riley's right, sir. That's a thousand men over there.
Captain, may I show you something? Here's the bridge.
Colonel.
The others are beginning to lose faith, aren't they?
- They won't let you down. - It's not a question of letting me down.
We worked hard to raise a fine unit. They deserve their shot at glory.
I don't suppose many of us are in this for the glory, sir.
I'm not talking about publicity, Bob.
It's the glory you carry inside you the rest of your life
knowing you've done something, something that made a difference.
The only recognition I want is from those boys in that camp.
Yes, sir.
Did you come here to change my mind?
No, sir.
I came to tell you that whatever you decide, it'll be the right choice.
Some things you gotta take on faith.
Captain Pajota has volunteered to hold the bridge, if you're willing to hear him out.
Well, you better give me a moment alone with him so I can eat some humble pie.
Yes, sir.
Captain Pajota?
We wait until they are at this point, then we blow up the bridge.
We don't have enough explosives to bring it down.
All we need to do is damage it enough to stop their vehicles.
We want the soldiers to come.
If I place my men on either side of the road, we'll trap them in a crossfire.
They'll go around the bridge and try to outflank you.
The Japanese don't go around, not when they're fighting Filipinos.
They don't have enough respect for us as soldiers.
- How are the others? - Scared.
They're waiting to hear what you have to say, sir.
I don't know what to tell them anymore.
I can say something on your behalf, sir.
Until you feel better.
Are you any good at writing letters?
It depends what kind of letter.
I'm not sure myself.
I already started a dozen times and tore it up.
There's a... pencil and paper under my mat.
Who you writing to?
A lady named Margaret.
I'm not sure how well I know her anymore.
I've been living in my imagination so long,
I'm afraid I'll write some crazy love letter...
and embarrass us both.
Red didn't seem to think so.
What'd he tell you?
That she felt the same way you did.
That she'd have left her husband if you'd wanted her to.
Guess I thought that if I did the right thing, some good would come of it.
It's funny.
I've spent the last three years
thinking of all the things I wanna say to her.
Now I don't even know how to begin.
How about, "Dear Margaret"?
We found the people we were looking for.
You are free to go.
Follow her! She'll lead us to the others.
Shh.
It's all right. You're safe now.
- They killed Mina. - I know.
I wasn't always conscious.
- I don't know what I told them. - You didn't tell them anything.
Mina and her father were arrested last night on their way to Cabanatuan.
It had nothing to do with you.
She went because of me.
- She knew I wanted to help Daniel. - She wanted to help him, too.
I should've stopped her.
But all I could think about was him.
Whatever you feel you've done wrong, you've more than made up for it.
Hundreds of POWs owe you their lives.
No. I did it for him.
- I stayed for him. - You'll be with him soon.
I have friends who will hide you till the Americans come.
But, Margaret, listen to me.
You have to trust in something stronger than yourself.
Father! Father, the Japanese - they're here.
Take Margaret. I'll deal with them.
Arrest anyone you find! Go around back.
Agh!
OK, run. Run. Don't look back.
No need to go in the church. There's no one in there.
There's no one in the church.
Gents, here it is. At 1700 hours, our combined forces will leave Platero.
We'll split up here at the Pampanga River.
Captain Pajota, you'll continue to the Cabu bridge, where you'll set up a roadblock.
Captain Joson, do the same on the highway
in case the Japs send reinforcements from Cabanatuan City.
Your objective is to seal off the area of operation during the raid.
Any Japanese reinforcements get through you, they get to us.
We'll need as much darkness as we can to get the POWs out of the camp,
so we'll have to begin our approach during daylight and risk detection.
We break the tree line, Lieutenant Riley's platoon will head to the east of the camp.
Sir.
The rest of us will advance at a low crawl for the main gate.
How much cover, Captain?
There's cover up to 200 yards from the camp.
After that, we're totally exposed until we reach a ditch 30 yards from the front gate.
This is the camp.
This is the main service road, POW barracks - all enemy occupied.
Suspected tank shed, main gate. This is the ditch we're trying to reach.
Until we get there we're completely exposed,
so we may need to create some diversionary action in this wooded area.
Sir, how about a plane? Could you have one of your planes fly over the camp?
Not without breaking radio silence.
It's not a bad idea, Bob. Might be worth the risk.
Good. As we make our approach,
Lieutenant Riley's men will make their way along this ditch,
leaving men at 20-yard intervals to engage and reduce the enemy.
Lieutenant Riley, soon as you're in position here, the southeast corner,
- your first shot will kick off the action. - Understood.
Good. Meanwhile, the rest of us will be in position here.
Soon as we get the signal, Lieutenant Foley's second squad
will take out the guard tower and sentry shack,
and cover first squad, who will open the main gate.
Soon as first squad is inside, they'll flank right,
lay down suppressing fire on the enemy officer area,
and cover the guys heading toward the tank shed.
I want Corporal Aldrige and his loader to run the 200 yards.
I want a backup team in case they don't make it. Tanks get loose, we're in trouble.
- Yes, sir. - Extraction's next.
Lieutenant O'Grady, second platoon will make their way through the main gate
and force entry into the POW area.
First squad will spread along the south fence
and lay down suppressing fire to the enemy rear.
Make sure the POW barracks are protected from enemy fire in all directions.
Once that's achieved, Lieutenant O'Grady's second squad
will round up the POWs and lead them to the front gate,
where Dr. Fisher and the medics will be waiting.
Our aim is to make it to the Pampanga River,
where carabao carts will be waiting to escort the prisoners.
As soon as I'm satisfied we've left no one behind,
I'll fire a red star cluster to signal the raid's over.
Any questions?
Yes, sir. Who's the last man out?
That'll be me. You'll cover me at the front gate.
- Yes, sir. - Anything else?
Brief your people, get 'em ready to go.
We leave in two hours.
You OK, Top?
Yeah, I'm all right.
I want a word about Lieutenant Riley.
He's got a tough assignment.
What's that?
Why?
Nothing. Just curious.
250 Japs at that camp.
Another thousand at the river.
10,000 more nearby.
Only 120 of us.
I figure we're gonna need a little miracle.
Go ahead, take it. I got plenty to spare.
What do I gotta do, kiss it?
The time is now 1715.
And...
mark.
Plane'll buzz the camp at 1800.
Lieutenant Riley fires his first shot at 1930.
Captain Pajota blows the bridge at 1945.
God willing, we'll be out of there by 2100. Any questions?
Let's all try to get back in one piece.
Good luck, gentlemen.
- Top, go with Lieutenant Riley. - Yes, sir.
Good luck.
- What have you got, Daly? - We're breaking cover, sir.
Captain, Prince saw you could use an extra man.
Stick with me till we get the fence line.
Where the hell are those goddamn flyboys?
It's one of ours, sir.
Get them back to their positions. Tighten security.
Guards, back to your positions!
CABANATUAN ROAD
I'll be back in the morning, sir.
Just in case... I'm not here.
You'll give it to her yourself, sir.
Sir...
it's time.
First Sergeant,
if I'm going to be the one to start this thing, I wanna be sure everyone's in position.
I'll check it out.
Come on, Lieutenant Riley.
What the hell is Riley doing, sir?
Lieutenant wants to make sure you're in position.
We have been for the last ten minutes.
I'll tell him.
The guerillas are edgy. They're afraid the bridge will blow before the raid begins.
Dammit.
We're in position, sir.
Sir...
it's your shot.
Fire!
The Japs are shooting us. They'll kill us all.
Go! Go!
Aldrige, Lucas, go, go!
Shoot the damn lock!
Fire.
Up!
- Let's go, Two! - You heard him! Move, move!
Run, run!
Go! Let's move, move!
Go!
We're good. We're go.
Take your squad to the left. Push 'em out of here!
Lay some fire!
Go, go, go!
Go, go!
Cover fire!
Jammed! Riley!
Come on!
It's all right! We're Americans! We're gonna get you out of here.
Those who can walk, head for the main gate.
Those who can't, wait. We'll come back for you.
Tank!
Come on!
Come on, Lucas!
- Shift fire left! - Shift fire left!
- Cover me! - Covering!
Covering fire!
Covering!
Son of a bitch!
Riley, get your men in!
Hey!
It's OK. I'm an American.
We're here to take you home.
Don't be afraid. We're not gonna hurt you. We're here to help you.
You're going home. Understand?
You're going home.
I- I can't leave him.
We won't leave him. I'll take him myself, all right?
I need you to go out there and tell my men there's people here need to be carried.
Can you do that? All right, let's go. Let's go.
I got you.
No, no.
Here you go.
Wait. Soldier, there's sick men back there.
Pajota's holding so far, but they're trying to flank him 100 yards down the river.
Better take a look. Japanese get across that river, we'll never get these men out.
Keep moving. Let's go.
- Get in there and help 'em out. - Sir.
Everyone who can move, get on your feet.
Hold your fire. Miller, gimme the flare gun.
Wait till I light 'em up.
Withdraw! Withdraw! Let's fall back!
Get 'em the hell outta here! Let's go! Move!
Does the mortar work?
- It's damaged, sir, but still working. - Target the main gate.
Let's go, let's go! Move!
Head to the gate. Head to the gate.
Dr. Fisher, sir, stay back. It's not safe yet.
All right, I'll be on the other side of the road.
Here, let me give you a hand.
Pull back!
Daly, pull back!
Fox Two, back to the rally point! Let's go! Move!
Keep going!
Mortar! Get down! Down!
Lay some fire on that son of a bitch!
- Aliteri, Gutierrez, take this man. - Yes, sir.
Let's go.
Don't stop! Push 'em through that front gate!
Front gate! Dock point!
- Keep 'em moving! - Keep going, guys.
Daly, come on.
- Charge the gate. I'll cover you. Ready? - Ready.
Mortar! Everybody down!
Down!
Get up! Move!
Keep moving!
Go! Get 'em on their feet! Keep 'em moving!
Get 'em out the gate! Let's go!
- Keep 'em moving! - Come on, men. Get 'em out!
Get 'em through the gate!
Mortar!
Go!
Daly, hold him down! I'm gonna flank him!
Son of a bitch.
Argh!
Aargh!
Sarge!
- You all right? - Daly, where the hell you been?
Clear!
Everybody goes out. Take everybody with us.
Someone get a medic over here!
Soldier, you all right?
Jesus.
Jimmy.
It's a mortar wound, sir. He's lost a lot of blood.
- I don't know if we can move him, Captain. - We got no choice.
Jimmy?
- Move me. - All right.
Get him to Platero. Stay with him, understand?
- Yes, sir. - Hang in there, Doc.
Clear!
Clear. Last man.
Sniper! Enemy fire on your left!
- Cease fire! Cease fire! - Hold your fire!
- Fall back. Let's go! - Fall back! Fall back!
Daly. Daly! Daly!
Mack, Stratton, on me now!
Come on, Daly. Come on.
We've lost him.
Let's move!
Come on, Fox Two, keep it moving.
Let's get 'em across.
You all right?
You OK?
Keep movin'.
It's gonna be all right, Major.
We're going home.
Captain Prince.
How did we do?
Got 'em all, sir.
How many casualties?
One KIA - Pfc Daly.
And Doc Jimmy's wounded, too.
I think it's critical. We moved him to Platero to operate.
I don't think he's gonna make it, sir.
Thanks, Captain.
Possible liver involvement,
certainly colon.
- You need any morphine? - No.
That's for you to keep.
More plasma.
Did we get 'em out?
Did we get them out?
All of them.
Good.
Better keep moving, Henry.
We're heading out now.
- Have you seen Major Gibson? - Sorry, ma'am.
Six bucks.
Told ya, I can't sell it.
Ten bucks?
I can't do it. It's the only one I got.
What do you mean, it's the only one you got? You said you had plenty to spare.
I lied to you.
My mom gave this to me.
Well, how's your mom feel about ten bucks?
- How's your mom feel about ten bucks? - Hey.
I'm sorry. Have you seen Major Gibson?
Yeah, he was with us at the river. Check with the medics, ma'am, down by the carts.
Thank you.
Margaret.
Where is he?
He wanted me to give you this.
"Dear Margaret,
"after three long years of witnessing so much destruction and suffering,
"a simple letter seems so pointless.
"I've often wondered what my life would have been like had we been together.
"However, as time passes,
"I realize this may never happen.
"There is one thing I wanted you to know,
"you've come to mean the world to me.
"And not just to me, to all of us here.
"You've given me the strength to give these men hope.
"And maybe one day, a second chance.
"I miss you more than you can imagine
"and owe you more than you can ever know.
"All my love, Daniel. "
Captain Prince!
General, this is the man who led the raid, Captain Prince.
Congratulations, Captain Prince.
I'm very sorry about your losses.
I want you to know you have done a great service for your country.
- Thank you, sir. - Gentlemen.
- After you, Major. - Nice job.
So...
how do you feel?
All right.
I'm proud of you.
Thank you, sir.
Never in our history had such a large group of men
endured so much and complained so little.
Many were unable to shake the belief that their country had abandoned them,
left them to die in a foreign land.
It was said to be of no significance to the war effort,
although for me, saving them was a way of setting things right.
It's true -
they had been left behind.
But never forgotten.
Ripped by: SkyFury