CAPTAIN JUAN PAJOTA: Captain Juan Pajota (c.1914 – 1976) was instrumental in helping to assist in the Raid at Cabanatuan. This was an action which took place in the Philippines on January 30th, 1945 by the Sixth U.S. Army Alamo Scouts and the 6th Ranger Battalion along with Filipino guerrillas. Captain Robert Prince in command of C Company reinforced with a platoon from F Company, accompanied by Lt. Col. Henry Mucci, was to undertake the mission. Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrillas also accompanied the 6th Ranger Force and provided reconnaissance and flank protection This resulted in the Liberation of more than five hundred (500) American prisoners of war (POW’s) from a Japanese POW camp near Cabanatuan.
Captain Juan Pajota, a local from Nueva Ecija, joined the soldiers of the 91st Infantry Division, Philippine Army (USAFFE) during the retreat from Bataan. Later he became a leader of the guerrillas.
Under his command, Captain (later promoted to Major) Juan Pajota, coordinated support and with his Force was responsible for the roadblock at the Cabu River Bridge. This attack totally destroyed the Japanese 359th Independent Infantry Battalion. Without the guerrilla’s support it was unlikely that the raid would have been as successful or even succeeded at all.
Military Tactics:
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 the barking of passing American troops were timely and prudent. His recommendation to Lt. Col. Henry A. Mucci (6th Ranger Battalion Commander) was that the Raid at Cabanatuan be moved back twenty-four (24) hours. Because of heavy Japanese activity, this proved to be a very wise move. A great idea which he also devised was the flyover of an American plane to divert the attention of the enemy and distract their attention while the troops were moving.
His troops held back the advancing Japanese tanks and reinforcements while preventing them from crossing the Cabu Bridge which engaged the rescuers and POW’s. He had procured about fifty (50) caravan carts pulled by carabaos (water buffaloes) which were used to transport the prisoners to friendly lines. This definitely saved the lives of many prisoners.
Death:
A former Dean of the College of Commerce in the Philippines, Juan Pajota came to the U.S., took a job with the Milwaukee Railroad to make ends meet and pursue the goal of attaining his U.S. Citizenship in 1976. A year later while he was still waiting for the approval of his Citizenship, he died of a heart attack a few days before his case was resolved.
Popular Culture:
Captain Juan Pajota appeared as a character for the 2005 John Dahl film, “THE GREAT RAID.” He was played by the Filipino actor Cesar Montano.
“HONOR, RESPECT AND RECOGNITION!!!”
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