6th Ranger Battalion ( United States ) The 6th Ranger Battalion was a United States Army Ranger Battalion which saw action in the Pacific during World War II . The battalion is best known for its role in the Raid at Cabanatuan in January 1945 . 98th Field Artillery Battalion . The 6th Rangers history begins with a mule - drawn pack artillery unit , the 98th Field Artillery Battalion . The 98th Field Artillery was formed at Camp Carson , Colorado in 1942 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Callicut . In December 1942 , the battalion embarked for Brisbane , Australia , but due to Australian animal importation laws , the Battalion was redirected to New Guinea , arriving at Port Moresby on 17 February 1943 . The Battalion spent the next 12 months in training , but saw no combat . In February 1943 , US Sixth Army decided that the battalion was obsolete , and removed the unit ' s 800 mules , as well as its commander , who was transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division . The battalion ' s new commander was Lieutenant Colonel Henry A . Mucci . Ranger training . Mucci had led a training camp in Hawaii which used Ranger training techniques . He announced that the Battalion was being converted from Field Artillery to Rangers , and downsized from 1 , 000 men to only 500 . Most of the artillery officers were transferred out and replaced by Infantry and Engineer officers . Later the training camp was moved to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where the 6th Rangers are currently part of US Army Training and Doctrine Command ( TRADOC ) and instruct candidates for graduation from the prestigious US Army Ranger School . The task of conversion and training took over a year , but by July 1944 it was completed . The battalion was transferred to Finchhaven , New Guinea , where it was reorganised as a Ranger Battalion and redesignated as the 6th Ranger Battalion . Philippine campaign . The 6th Rangers were to lead the invasion of the Philippines . The battalion left Finchhaven for Leyte in the Philippines on 10 October 1944 . It was to secure the islands of Dinagat , Homonhon and Suluan , located in the entrance to the Leyte Gulf . These islands had the potential to disrupt 6th Army ' s landing operations if they remained in Japanese hands . After initial delays due to bad weather , the operation went ahead on 18 October , and was a success . The 6th Rangers on Dinagat raised the first American flag on Philippine soil as part of General Douglas MacArthur ' s ' Return to the Philippines ' . After the success of this mission , the Invasion of Leyte got underway on 20 October 1944 . The 6th Rangers were moved to Tacloban on Leyte , where they were mostly used for patrolling actions . Late in the year , the order came through for the battalion to prepare to take part in the landings in Lingayen Gulf , which were to form the invasion of Luzon . On 1 January 1945 , the Rangers were transported by sea from Tacloban to Lingayen Gulf , and were landed on Lingayen Gulf Beach on 10 January 1945 . Elements of the battalion were sent to Santiago Island to secure the entrance to the Gulf and prevent the enemy outflanking the landing area . Cabanatuan raid . Sixth Army Intelligence indicated that the Japanese were holding a large number of American POW s in Cabanatuan , 60 miles north of Manila . An incident at a camp on Palawan led intelligence to believe that the POWs would be executed as the Imperial Japanese Army retreated . General Walter Krueger , 6th Army commander , ordered 6th Rangers to " bring the prisoners out alive " . C Company , under Capt . Robert Prince , reinforced with a platoon from F Company and accompanied by Lt . Col . Mucci , was to undertake the mission . Alamo Scouts and Filipino Guerillas accompanied the 6th Ranger force , and provided reconnaissance and flank protection . The attack went ahead at dusk on 30 January . During the following battle , the Rangers rescued 511 POWs , and killed 523 enemy troops for the loss of two rangers Killed & 1 POW died and 21 Filipino Guerillas wounded . Both Mucci and Prince received the Distinguished Service Cross ( United States ) , all other officers involved in the raid the Silver Star and all enlisted men the Bronze Star . The operation is still classed as the most successful rescue operation in the history of the US military .