Today, 64 years ago, one of the greatest US Army victories was had. Not only a military victory, but a moral victory. Aptly named "The Great Raid", 127 US troops, 2 US pilots, and 200 Philippine Guerrillas went 30 miles behind enemy lines to rescued the "doomed ghosts of Bataan and Corrigedor". 837 men came back out. 512 POWs saved from a grave by the bravery and action of dedicated men, who risked their lives to free those diseased, malnourished, abused prisoners of the Japanese.
So, as a thanks from the family of one POW rescued, I'd like to thank the:
US 6th ARMY RANGER BATTALION
ALAMO SCOUTS
Capt. Kenneth R. Schrieber and Lt. Bonnie B. Rucks of the US ARMY AIR COPRS
PHILIPPINE GUERRILLAS Under Capt. Juan Pajota
In the ancient words of the Talmud
* Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.
- Jerusalem Talmud, Sanhedrin 4:8 (37a)
Those men saved the world, many hundreds of times over. All I have to offer is a small set of words for your deeds, but may it be as heartfelt in the receiving as it is in the giving - Thank You. How very fitting that today is the day of the ancient god Pax.
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