January 30, 1945.
Cabanatogram.
Meng Shaoyuan didn't find a cigarette.
Will he be caught by the Japanese?
Instead he didn't care.
Where's the cigarette?
There’s not even a cigarette in this huge Cabanat?
Meng Shaoyuan's head hurt.
It hurts like hell!
Is this compulsory smoking cessation?
This feeling is unpleasant.
He checked the time.
5:30.
The rescue operation is about to begin.
Just wait.
This is also his only chance to leave this place alive.
…
Colonel Sander was uneasy.
According to David Beckham, today should be the last day of rescue time.
But the past few days have been calm.
Except for the previous big explosion that shook the earth.
And not even David Beckham showed up.
Was it an accident?
I stopped my planned jailbreak plan and put all my hopes on a stranger. Is this right or wrong?
…
U.S. Army Air Forces.
Captain Kenneth R. Schreiber peeled off a piece of gum and threw it into his mouth.
"General!"
At this time, he heard a voice behind him.
Kenneth turned around.
It turned out to be Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, commander of the Army's Sixth Army, who came in person.
"General!"
Kenneth gave a non-standard military salute.
"Hey, those people in Cabanatua are waiting for our rescue." General Kruger did not mince words: "Remember your mission, I trust you, young man."
"Don't worry, General!"
Kenneth boarded the P-61 Black Widow fighter plane with confidence.
…
"Let's go, let's go!"
Lieutenant Colonel Musi finally gave the order.
The Rangers set off from the village of Pladino.
The troops' secret sneaking went smoothly, because the guerrillas in Pajata had informed residents along the route not to go out and detained outside guests until the rescue operation was over. At the same time, they also asked the villagers to put chickens in chicken coops and tie dogs into kennels. And wear muzzles to prevent these animals from barking when Musi's team passes by and alert the Japanese army.
Villagers living near the target area were told for safety's sake to leave their homes and go to safe areas but to remain hidden so as not to alert the Japanese troops.
The Cabanatuan rescue has officially begun!
…
"what sound?"
A Japanese soldier suddenly raised his head and looked toward the sky.
It was past 6 o'clock and the sky was still white.
A black dot appeared in the distance.
airplane!
That's a plane!
The Japanese army suddenly became nervous.
Gradually getting closer.
The Japanese army was no longer worried.
Because there is only one plane!
Judging from experience, this is definitely not to bomb Cabanatu, but just to conduct reconnaissance.
…
airplane!
In the prison camp, the prisoners who had just finished dinner also discovered it.
There is only one plane!
…
It's now!
Captain Kenneth R. Schreiber shut down the left engine 450 meters above the prisoner of war camp and restarted it, causing the engine to backfire and make a loud noise.
He repeated the maneuver twice and dropped to a height of 60 meters above the ground, pretending that the aircraft was damaged.
He then flew the plane towards a hill, hid behind the mountain and flew 30 meters close to the ground.
The Japanese troops thought that the plane had crashed, so they all watched the direction of the hill and waited for the fireball to appear after the plane exploded.
This provided effective cover for the Rangers' actions.
…
"Please be patient, you will see the rescue signal!"
David Beckham's words rang in Colonel Sander's ears.
With many years of experience and sensitivity as a professional soldier, Colonel Sander suddenly knew that the plane was the signal!
Otherwise, why would there be a lone plane?
Otherwise, why did it suddenly malfunction again after flying over Cabanatu?
This is no coincidence.
This is sending a message to yourself:
The big rescue has begun!
…
127 Rangers, led by Captain Robert Prince, relied on the cover of aircraft and entered Cabanatua effortlessly.
Prisoner of war camp, just ahead.
Captain Prince checked the time.
Now, it's 19:40.
He pulled the gun's safety:
"action!"
…
"Tu tu tu tu"!
Fierce gunshots and explosions suddenly sounded in Cabanatu.
Meng Shaoyuan breathed a long sigh of relief.
Finally, it came.
And he, at 7 o'clock in the evening, was already ambushing near the prisoner of war camp.
Those damn American soldiers must have cigarettes on them, right?
…
The Cabanatuan rescue officially begins at 19:40!
The rangers in front of the gate used firepower to suppress the Japanese guarding the barracks.
At the same time, the Rangers behind the prisoner of war camp eliminated the Japanese troops near the prisoner of war shacks.
An anti-tank team from Company F, led by Sergeant Major Manton P. Stewart, entered the gate and sprinted 300 yards toward the center of the camp, using bazookas to destroy two trucks and the metal-reinforced tank garage.
At that time, one of the trucks was carrying about a dozen Japanese soldiers, who were killed on the spot.
The surrounding Japanese troops who escaped were quickly wiped out by the firepower of Company F.
…
"What's wrong, what's wrong, Colonel!"
The prison camp was alarmed.
Major Street shouted through the prison bars.
He had to raise his voice to be heard by the colonel.
However, the sound of gunfire was too intense.
He could not hear Colonel Sander's reply at all.
…
"Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
Iwamori Yuyuki picked up the phone and said frantically: "Reinforcements, I need more people here!"
The sound of gunfire outside is getting more intense!
…
Cabanatua is attacked!
Japanese troops who heard the alarm nearby rushed to the nearby Kabu River and tried to cross the bridge to support the Japanese troops in the prisoner of war camp.
They were falling into the ambush zone of the Pagata guerrillas.
Juan Pagata had placed a bomb on the bridge in advance and detonated it at 19:40.
However, the bridge was not destroyed, but a large hole was blown in the bridge deck, which made it impossible for Japanese tanks to pass.
Japanese troops swarmed towards the bridge, but were pushed back by the firepower of Filipino guerrillas.
A guerrilla who had just learned to use a bazooka a few hours earlier destroyed and severely damaged four Japanese tanks hidden behind trees.
Juan's guerrillas showed outstanding achievements in this rescue operation!
…
"Captain!"
"do what!"
The Japanese troops on the front have been basically defeated.
Captain Price, who was in a good mood, looked back.
His subordinates appeared with a young man wearing local clothes.
"Get a translator!"
Captain Prince just finished speaking, but unexpectedly the young man had already said:
"Captain, I'm David Beckham!"
Um?
Why is this name so familiar?
"Ah, in Juan Pagata, my name is Charles!"
"Charles!"
Captain Price was startled, then immediately reacted and was overjoyed:
"Hey, Charles, Charles! Lieutenant Colonel Musi has repeatedly ordered us to find you. That's great. You're still alive. That's great! Please stay with us, Mr. Charles!"
Meng Shaoyuan smiled, and then suddenly asked: "Is there any cigarette?"
