Posted on 08/13/2005 1:12:42 AM PDT by beaversmom
Hearing stories about popping popcorn with Filipino natives in 1945, a former Whiteland resident grew up with a rosy picture of her father’s World War II military service.
When he returned home from the Philippines, Cpl. Marvin Kinder liked to tell stories to his 10-year-old daughter, Kathy.
But there was one story Kinder didn’t tell his child.
It wasn’t until she was 45 that Kathy Hasty found out her father participated in one of the most daring and dangerous rescue missions in U.S. history.
In 1945, Kinder was a member of the U.S. Army’s 6th Ranger Battalion, which rescued more than 500 Allied prisoners of war from a Japanese military camp in the Philippines.
Even though the rescue from Cabanatuan on the island of Luzon was one of the most dramatic rescue operations in U.S. history, he didn’t talk about it to co-workers, neighbors or even his family.
“I just didn’t think it was necessary to tell,” Kinder, a Greenwood resident said. “The world is going so fast, and there are so many other things to think about. I didn’t think people wanted to hear about it because they get wrapped up in their own stories.”
But Hollywood wanted to tell the story.
With Friday’s release of the movie “The Great Raid,” Kinder is excited that more people will learn what happened on the Pacific island.
The movie is based on two books, weaving together the tale of the battalion and Filipino guerrilla leaders who rescued a group of POWs being held by Japanese soldiers. It stars Benjamin Bratt as Lt. Col. Henry Mucci.
Kinder went to a special sneak preview of the film last week with his family and planned to go again Friday night. He said that, once he heard about the film, he couldn’t wait for it to be released in theaters.
“I just wanted them to get it done before I died,” the 87-year-old Kinder said, smiling.
Wearing a Ranger shirt and hat, he sat in the middle of the sold-out theater. Before the film began, some moviegoers noticed his attire and wanted to know if he was a “real Ranger.”
After the credits rolled, a line of people shook his hand and thanked him for his military service.
Kinder’s granddaughter, Lora Hasty, described the 133-minute film as one of the most powerful and memorable movie experiences she’s ever had.
“I sat right next to him, and I don’t think he blinked during the whole movie,” Hasty said.
Watching the movie, Kinder was taken back to the four years he served with the battalion.
Before each Ranger signed up for the mission, they were interviewed to make sure they had the right attitude.
“Nobody told us that we had to go,” Kinder said. “We were all volunteers. If you told Colonel Mucci that you had a sore throat or sore feet, he’d send you someplace else.”
Mucci didn’t give the 121 Rangers much information about the mission, but he advised men with families not to get involved.
Even though Kinder had a wife and daughter back home in Indiana, he still volunteered. As one of the few married men in the unit, fellow Rangers nicknamed the 23-year-old “Papa Kinder.”
After Mucci selected his men, he told troops about the plan to free U.S. and British POWs at the camp near Cabanatuan. Held captive for three years, the 513 prisoners were the remaining survivors of the Bataan Death March.
“We weren’t going to be Superman, but we were devoted to doing our job,” Kinder said.
On the evening before the raid on Jan. 27, the men prayed. They didn’t know what they were getting into. They just wanted to come out alive.
Before the troops launched their assault, an Army Air Forces P-61 Black Widow night fighter flew over the camp three times to distract the guards. Then, with the help of Filipino guerrillas, the unit shot open the lock on the main gate and broke into the camp.
Kinder remembers the smell of gunfire smoke and seeing rugged buildings, but he didn’t have enough time to observe his surroundings. They had only 20 minutes to rescue the POWs.
Suffering from malaria, torture or malnutrition, some of the POWs didn’t know what was happening.
With two ammunition packs and without steel helmets, the Rangers’ uniforms were different from traditional Army gear. At first, many POWs were scared of their rescuers.
“It was confusing for them,” Kinder said. “We would just grab them up, whether they wanted to go or not. I didn’t have a lot of time to think about what was happening because we were moving so quickly.”
Once the prisoners were liberated, they were sent back home. Kinder was eager to get back to his family, but he was stationed in the Philippines for seven more months.
When Kinder thinks back to his experience, he can’t help but be proud of what he helped accomplished.
“I don’t know if it was luck or skill, but it all worked out all right,” Kinder
Lora Hasty said that watching the movie with her grandfather was one of the proudest moments of her life, especially when people thanked him for his service.
“A lot of people aren’t aware of the story,” she said. “The movie brings recognition to the Rangers and the POWs who suffered so much.”
Saw it last Sat. night, and it is a very good flick. Recommended by truth_seeker.
But But But.... I didn't want to know what the Grand Daughter thought of the movie, I wanted to know what the Vet thought!! Was it true to history?
Who are these "journalists" who can fall face first into a story like this and never even GO THERE???
Saw it opening day in Cleveland. The movie was much better than the average Hollyweird yawner produced by the usual anti-USA suspects.
OLA
"Who are these "journalists" who can fall face first into a story like this and never even GO THERE???"
Leftist scumbags.
Piece of filth mangaged to slip in some shots, even writing about something like this.
FYI
During the week,the History Channel had 2 specials on the raid along with commercials for the movie. Saw the movie last night. By my tastes,it was no better and in many instances didn't reflect what the TV specials showed.I wish they had done a better job so more people would go see it.
If you get a chance to see the specials on TV,they're well worth your time.The American women involved in the resistance in the Phillipines are covered in much more depth. Their stories need no dramatization,there was plenty enough in their deeds,their courage.
We are here and free only because we can stand on the shoulders of giants like Cpl. Marvin Kinder.
“"I don’t know if it was luck or skill, but it all worked out all right,.."
A lot of both, fella. But without skill (and a great big pair of balls) luck can never come into play.
Discovery was doing something about it as well but I missed most of that. Unfortunately, we don't have the History Channel but I could always go to my parent's house to try and catch a replay of it. Some of those recreations they do for TV (Disovery/History) are very well made. Medved gave the movie 4 out of 4 stars. Said you'll definitely thank him for recommending it. I've seen mixed reviews of the movie but I'm chalking a lot of the negative ones to leftist reviewers.
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