
During World War II, U.S. Army Rangers with Filipino guerrillas led a mission to free 513 prisoners of war being held by Japan at the Cabanatuan prison camp in the Philippines. The 30-minute raid took place on January 30, 1945. It was one of the most successful rescue missions in U.S. military history.

Among the rescued prisoners was Col. James Duckworth, who broke his left arm at the start of the war. He fell during the raid and broke his other arm.

Those freed from the Cabanatuan prison camp also told of surviving the infamous Bataan Death March.

Rescued American POWs move out on the first leg of their journey home.

Here are more American POWs, including one with a wooden leg, who were freed from the prison camp.

Exhausted Army Rangers sleep on straw-covered ground in front of some of the POWs they rescued.

Allied POWs smoke cigarettes for the first time in three years.

Allied POWs rescued from the Japanese prison camp receive medical treatment.


