Today  in 1945, Bridgeport native Lt. Col. Henry Mucci led a coalition of U.S. Rangers and Filipino allies in a daring raid deep into heavily occupied enemy territory to rescue over 500 Allied prisoners of war from a Japanese concentration camp. The mission, known as the Raid on Cabanatuan or simply “The Great Raid,” was the most successful rescue operation in U.S. military history, and it instantly transformed Mucci into one of Connecticut’s most famous World War II heroes.

Born in 1909 to Italian immigrants living in Bridgeport, Henry Andrew Mucci’s first military experience was with the Connecticut National Guard, which he joined at the age of 20. A few years later, after being initially rejected for being “too short,” he was accepted into the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating with a commission in 1936. After gaining an extensive infantry background, Mucci was placed in charge of the 98th Field Artillery Batallion in 1943 and promptly began transforming it into an elite Special Forces unit. Following a year of intense training in the Pacific islands, Mucci was ready to lead the men of the newly created 6th Ranger Battalion into action.

In 1944, as Allied forces fought their way across the Philippines to liberate the islands from Japanese control, troubling reports emerged that the Japanese intended to execute prisoners of war in response to the Allies’ advance. With General Douglas MacArthur’s blessing, and logistical help from 250 Filipino guerillas, Lt. Col. Mucci led 121 Rangers on an incredibly dangerous mission to rescue Allied POWs from the heavily guarded Cabanatuan camp, 30 miles deep into enemy-held territory. With only 48 hours’ worth of planning, Mucci’s small coalition trekked through thick tropical jungle, and with help from their Filipino guides, were able to completely overwhelm the Japanese guards at the prison camp (who outnumbered them at least 2 to 1) and liberate over 500 prisoners, most of whom were American soldiers who had survived the brutal Bataan Death March of 1942 — all with the loss of only two Rangers killed in action.

News of Mucci’s successful rescue operation spread like wildfire throughout the United States, and at war’s end, he was welcomed back to Connecticut as a hero. He received many citations, awards, and other accolades for his heroism and leadership, but perhaps none were dearer to him than the effusive praise of the men who served under his command. They described him as “so charismatic you couldn’t believe it” and swore they would follow him into any situation, no matter how dangerous. Captain Robert Prince summed up the thoughts of many when he later said, “[Mucci] made a Ranger battalion out of a bunch of mule skinners, and he inspired us and trained us… Any success we had belongs to Colonel Mucci.” Thanks to Henry Mucci, not a single POW was left behind, today in Connecticut history.

Further Reading

“Bataan Rescue: Henry Mucci and the Rangers,” PBS American Experience

Mike Perry, “Remembering the Great Raid,” NewsRep

Robert Thomas Jr., “Henry A. Mucci; Rescued Survivors of Bataan,” New York Times

Erik Ofgang, “One of the Most Successful P.O.W. Rescues in U.S. History Was Led by a Legendary Connecticut Ranger,” Connecticut Magazine