a wise move. Another great idea of Capt. Pajota was a flyover of an American plane to divert the enemy's attention and distract their attention while the troops were moving. His troops held back the advancing Japanese tanks and reinforcements and prevented them from crossing the Cabu Bridge to engaged the rescuers and POWs. He had procured about 50 carabaos (water buffalo) carts for a caravan that was used to transport the prisoners to friendly lines that saved the lives of many prisoners. Later years Juan Pajota left the Philippines and was brought to the United States by his friend and author, Forrest Bryant Johnson, who he had met while Mr. Johnson was researching for a book he wrote on the raid of Cabanatuan which was entitled The Hour of Redemption and originally published in 1977. It later was released in 2002 under Warner Books. 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 his US citizenship goal in 1976. A year later while he was still waiting for his citizenship approval, 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 Filipino actor Cesar Montano. References External links Badass of the Week: Juan Pajota Year of birth missing Filipino military personnel Filipino military personnel of World War II 1976 deaths Filipino guerrillas People from Nueva Ecija