The actions by the Filipino Guerrillas and the support of the Filipino People were an outstanding demonstration to fight for freedom. That is what draws me back to this bridge to remind me of WWII History. I participated at the 80th Anniversary of the Great Raid at the American Memorial in Cabanatuan nearby and had a look here. The WWII wooden bridge is gone and the 1950 bridge was replaced in 2023. They ought to put an historical plaque at this bridge site!
The Cabu Bridge Defense under Capt. Pajota, Wikipedia says:
The Raid at Cabanatuan was a rescue of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians from a Japanese camp near Cabanatuan City, in the Philippines. On January 30, 1945, during World War II, United States Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Filipino guerrillas liberated more than 500 from the POW camp.
Under the command of Captain (later promoted Major) Juan Pajota, who coordinated support, this force was responsible for the roadblock at the Cabu River bridge that totally destroyed the Japanese 359th Independent Infantry Battalion. Without the guerrilla’s support it is unlikely that the raid would have been as successful or even succeeded at all
He was trained in the 45th Inf. Philippine Scouts and with the rank of Lt. assigned as an Instructor to the 91st Div. 92nd Inf., Philippine Army in May 1941. The 91st Div. 92nd Inf. was established on Samar and on Sept 12, 1941 they were transferred to Luzon and their training camp was near Cabanatuan. About Dec. 20th they were ordered to assist the 26th Cavalry Philippine Scouts in Pampanga province and engaged in combat until the retreat to Bataan near the end of Dec. During the retreat he and some others of the 91st were cut off by the Japanese and delayed getting into Bataan in January where they found their former training camp had been taken over by the Japanese. He and another member of the 45th Inf. Philippine Scouts, Lt. Robert Lapham, formed a guerrilla unit on the Luzon Central Plains, and Juan became a leader of this unit and promoted to Captain. This unit included the remnant of the 91st that were with him and new recruits.
His intimate knowledge of the enemy’s activity, the local people and terrain proved to be crucial to the rescue. His instructions to the local villagers to muzzle their dogs to quell barking at passing American troops were timely and prudent. His recommendation that the mission be moved back 24 hours to Lt. Col. Henry A. Mucci due to heavy Japanese activities proved to be a wise move. Another great idea of Capt. Pajota was a flyover of an American plane to divert the enemy’s attention and distract their attention while the troops were moving. His troops held back the advancing Japanese tanks and reinforcements and prevented them from crossing the Cabu Bridge to engage the rescuers and POWs. He had procured about 50 carabaos (water buffalo) carts caravan that was used to transport the prisoners to friendly lines that saves the lives of many prisoners.
Karl says: To me, this is a great sample of the Filipino and American Brothers in Arms during WWII. That is what attracts me going to this bridge. The wooden WWII Bridge is gone, and the 1950 bridge is on standby and the new bridge was built in 2023. They ought to install a plaque honoring the Guerrillas doing this outstanding and hero’s task. These pictures were shot 31st Jan. 2025!
