westernjournal--2020-01-30--‘Dog the Bounty Hunter’ Proposes to Son’s Reported Ex-Girlfriend 7 Months After Wife Beth’s Death

Anyone who watches Dog the Bounty Hunter and is a fan has seen the struggle that Duane Chapman has faced after the loss of his wife .
The two seemed like the perfect , sassy couple , and their love didn ’ t end when Beth passed away last June .
Duane has expressed on multiple occasions how lost he feels without his wife by his side , and still remembers her on special dates .
“ There will never be another like you , ” he posted to Instagram on Oct. 29 , Beth ’ s birthday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” When people questioned whether or not he ’ d ever find love again , their daughter , Bonnie , quickly said no .
“ Nope , he found his soulmate , ” she told a fan , according to Fox News .
“ No one can replace her in his heart .
Their love was one of a kind , it made me believe love truly exists.
” The bounty hunter himself told US Weekly that he wouldn ’ t get married again .
“ We both said , ‘ If I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ten [ men ] , I don ’ t care .
But don ’ t marry one , ' ” he said in August .
“ And she said , ‘ Don ’ t take my name off your chest , Dog .
Do not get married.
’ … Don ’ t worry , I will not get married.
” But there ’ s a clip circulating that has taken some people by surprise .
Shared by the Dr. Mehmet Oz Twitter account , the clip — taken from an episode set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange between the bounty hunter , Dr. Oz and family friend Moon Angell .
Angell has been working with the family for a while , and was even one of Beth ’ s bridesmaids .
Dog ’ s daughter , Lyssa Chapman , claimed this month that Angell also used to date one of Lyssa ’ s brothers — though she wouldn ’ t say which one .
The clip highlights some interesting snippets from Duane and Angell , including him crediting her with keeping him from suicidal tendencies .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her around ” and even uttered the words “ Moon Angell , will you marry me ?
” Fans are in an uproar over what appears to be a proposal , and many have commented to criticize him for moving so quickly after his wife ’ s death .
Other remarks the bounty has made recently aren ’ t exactly putting fan fears to rest .
“ Who knows what my future holds , but right now I need her , ” Duane told RadarOnline.com this month .
“ There will never be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t mean I have to be so sad.
” “ She has been with my family through many ups and downs .
All my children are grown and gone on their own , there ’ s no one left to help me !
” “ I know almighty God hears my broken heart and I didn ’ t ask him for another Mrs. Chapman , but I asked him for a friend and He gave me Moon , ” he continued .
Lyssa Chapman has made it very clear that she doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her in a number of rather scathing tweets .
“ You ’ re disgusting woman , ” she tweeted on Dec. 18 .
“ Any person who moves in on a man weeks after losing his wife , who you were supposed to be a ‘ friend ’ to , Is the lowest scum on the planet-Which for you wasn ’ t that far of a step down from where you were before.
” Other sources told TMZ that while Duane was emotional and indeed popped the question , there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate proposal and the two are not engaged — merely good friends .
As we all know , shows often cut segments and paste together parts of interviews to shock people and get them to watch the entire show to boost their ratings .
So , based on what you know , what do you think : Was this a legitimate proposal or will the full episode reveal that it was not really serious ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Anyone who watches Dog the Bounty Hunter and is a fan has seen the struggle that Duane Chapman has faced after the loss of his wife.
The two seemed like the perfect, sassy couple, and their love didn’t end when Beth passed away last June.
Duane has expressed on multiple occasions how lost he feels without his wife by his side, and still remembers her on special dates.
“There will never be another like you,” he posted to Instagram on Oct. 29, Beth’s birthday. “Happy birthday Beth! We ❤you!”
When people questioned whether or not he’d ever find love again, their daughter, Bonnie, quickly said no.
“Nope, he found his soulmate,” she told a fan, according to Fox News. “No one can replace her in his heart. Their love was one of a kind, it made me believe love truly exists.”
The bounty hunter himself told US Weekly that he wouldn’t get married again.
“We both said, ‘If I die, you can have a man. Ten [men], I don’t care. But don’t marry one,'” he said in August. “And she said, ‘Don’t take my name off your chest, Dog. Do not get married.’ … Don’t worry, I will not get married.”
Do you think Dog's proposal was legitimate? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 35% (147 Votes) No: 65% (275 Votes)
But there’s a clip circulating that has taken some people by surprise. Shared by the Dr. Mehmet Oz Twitter account, the clip — taken from an episode set to air Feb. 3 — shows an interview exchange between the bounty hunter, Dr. Oz and family friend Moon Angell.
Angell has been working with the family for a while, and was even one of Beth’s bridesmaids.
Dog’s daughter, Lyssa Chapman, claimed this month that Angell also used to date one of Lyssa’s brothers — though she wouldn’t say which one.
The clip highlights some interesting snippets from Duane and Angell, including him crediting her with keeping him from suicidal tendencies. He also said “I am a lot happier with her around” and even uttered the words “Moon Angell, will you marry me?”
A marriage proposal? After weeks of family turmoil, @DogBountyHunter and Moon Angell join me to set the record straight. Airs 2/3. pic.twitter.com/kUsE7zBPRQ — Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) January 29, 2020
Fans are in an uproar over what appears to be a proposal, and many have commented to criticize him for moving so quickly after his wife’s death.
Other remarks the bounty has made recently aren’t exactly putting fan fears to rest.
“Who knows what my future holds, but right now I need her,” Duane told RadarOnline.com this month. “There will never be another Mrs. Dog but that doesn’t mean I have to be so sad.”
“She has been with my family through many ups and downs. All my children are grown and gone on their own, there’s no one left to help me!”
“I know almighty God hears my broken heart and I didn’t ask him for another Mrs. Chapman, but I asked him for a friend and He gave me Moon,” he continued.
Lyssa Chapman has made it very clear that she doesn’t like or trust Angell, tagging her in a number of rather scathing tweets.
“You’re disgusting woman,” she tweeted on Dec. 18. “Any person who moves in on a man weeks after losing his wife, who you were supposed to be a ‘friend’ to, Is the lowest scum on the planet-Which for you wasn’t that far of a step down from where you were before.”
Other sources told TMZ that while Duane was emotional and indeed popped the question, there’s no ring, it wasn’t a legitimate proposal and the two are not engaged — merely good friends.
As we all know, shows often cut segments and paste together parts of interviews to shock people and get them to watch the entire show to boost their ratings.
So, based on what you know, what do you think: Was this a legitimate proposal or will the full episode reveal that it was not really serious?
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--Trump Campaign Unveils Powerful Super Bowl Ad with a Promise: ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’

It ’ s the biggest game of the year , and President Donald Trump ’ s re-election team is rolling out its best argument .
A 30-second ad released Thursday by Trump ’ s campaign and set to air nationally during Sunday ’ s Super Bowl LIV hits hard on the economic success the country has seen in Trump ’ s three years in the White House .
In a televised event where ads are part of the entertainment , and too many come up way too short , this one is upbeat , positive and powerful .
And even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premise : “ America demanded change , ” the ads narrator intone over news footage of Trump ’ s Nov. 8 , 2016 , upset victory .
“ And change is what we got .
“ Under President Trump , America is stronger , safer and more prosperous than ever before.
” For many voters , it ’ s the “ prosperous ” part that really hits home .
After the malaise of the Obama administration , when stifling government regulation and anti-business sentiment pervaded the federal government , Trump ’ s pro-business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy hit new highs — at all levels of society .
As the ad notes , unemployment is at or near historic lows — including for the black and Hispanic populations Democrats pretend to care about when they need votes .
Wages are rising , which can only spell trouble for a Democratic Party that thrives on class warfare .
Three days before its Super Bowl appearance , the ad was getting rave reviews : According to USA Today , the 2020 election cycle marks the first time campaigns have purchased ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an American secular holiday .
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg , the former New York City mayor and Democratic nomination contender who wants to take his nanny-state view of government to the national stage , has bought a 60-second ad slot , according to USA Today .
The newspaper reported that the Bloomberg ad focuses on gun control — just what every American wants to talk about on Super Bowl Sunday .
Let Bloomberg buy all the air time he wants .
The $ 10 million he ’ s spending for a minute of Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bucket compared to the more than $ 100 million he ’ d blown on campaign advertising by mid-December , according to Fox Business .
In a mid-January interview with The New York Times , Bloomberg even said he was ready to spend up to $ 1 billion of his own money on the race .
But America can only stand to hear so much about overturning the Second Amendment to the Constitution , or getting lectured about the size of their soft drinks .
The Trump ad demonstrates that what Trump is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for normal Americans of all races — the ones who don ’ t have $ 60 billion fortunes like Bloomberg , or poisoned delusions of a poisoned grandeur , like the rest of the Democratic establishment .
For the nation ’ s biggest audience , the Trump team ’ s unveiling its best arguments .
And all the political impeachments for sham reasons in the world aren ’ t going to give Democrats an answer to that .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our @ @ @

For the biggest game of the year, President Donald Trump’s re-election team rolled out its best argument.
A 30-second ad released by Trump’s campaign set to air nationally during Super Bowl LIV hit hard on the economic success the country has seen in Trump’s three years in the White House.
In a televised event where ads are part of the entertainment, and too many come up way too short, this one was upbeat, positive and powerful.
“America demanded change,” the ad’s narrator intoned over news footage of Trump’s Nov. 8, 2016, upset victory.
“And change is what we got.
“Under President Trump, America is stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.”
For many voters, it’s the “prosperous” part that really hits home.
After the malaise of the Obama administration, when stifling government regulation and anti-business sentiment pervaded the federal government, Trump’s pro-business, pro-growth, optimistic agenda has helped the economy hit new highs — at all levels of society.
Do you think political ads for the Super Bowl are a good thing? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 84% (680 Votes) No: 16% (134 Votes)
As the ad notes, unemployment hit near historic lows — including for the black and Hispanic populations Democrats pretend to care about when they need votes.
Wages are rising, which can only spell trouble for a Democratic Party that thrives on class warfare.
Three days before its Super Bowl appearance, the ad was getting rave reviews:
My favorite Trump line is “The best is yet to come!” Not “the world is ending”, “we have 12 years before the end”, “we have to accept the US decline”, “those jobs won’t come back”, “we shouldn’t be the world power.” No: the best is yet to come!! — Educated Deplorable (@old_grouch1) January 30, 2020
“We Are the American People & We Approve This Message!”…. — Proud American (@Alessias_Dad) January 30, 2020
According to USA Today, the 2020 election cycle marks the first time campaigns purchased ad time for the game that has become an American secular holiday.
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor, also bought a 60-second ad slot, according to USA Today.
The newspaper reported that the Bloomberg ad focused on gun control — just what every American wants to talk about on Super Bowl Sunday.
Let Bloomberg buy all the air time he wants.
The $10 million he’s spending for a minute of Super Bowl time is a drop in the bucket compared to the more than $100 million he’d blown on campaign advertising by mid-December, according to Fox Business.
In a mid-January interview with The New York Times, Bloomberg even said he was ready to spend up to $1 billion of his own money on the race.
But America can only stand to hear so much about overturning the Second Amendment to the Constitution, or getting lectured about the size of their soft drinks.
The Trump ad demonstrates that what Trump is doing in the White House is paying off for normal Americans of all races — the ones who don’t have $60 billion fortunes like Bloomberg, or poisoned delusions of a poisoned grandeur, like the rest of the Democratic establishment.
For the nation’s biggest audience, the Trump team’s unveiling its best arguments.
And all the political impeachments for sham reasons in the world aren’t going to give Democrats an answer to that.
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--CDC Announces Coronavirus Has Spread from Person to Person in US

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via AP Health officials on Thursday reported the first U.S. case of person-to-person spread of the new virus from China .
The individual is married to the Chicago woman who got sick from the virus after she returned from a trip to Wuhan , China , the epicenter of the outbreak .
There have been cases reported of the infectious virus spreading to others in a household or workplace in China and elsewhere .
The new case is the sixth reported in the United States .
The other five were travelers who developed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
The latest patient had not been in China .
TRENDING : Nancy Pelosi Says House Will Soon Pass Legislation Aimed at Blocking Trump 's Travel Ban The Chicago woman , who is in her 60s , returned from central China on Jan. 13 , then last week went to a hospital with symptoms and was diagnosed with the viral illness .
She and her husband are hospitalized .
Experts have said they expected additional cases , and that at least some limited spread of the disease in the United States was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus spreads mainly from droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes , similar to how the flu spreads .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Illinois health officials announced the case Thursday .
At a press briefing last Friday , the CDC ’ s Dr. Nancy Messonnier said : “ We are likely going to see some cases among close contacts of travelers and human-to-human transmission.
” The virus can cause fever , coughing , wheezing and pneumonia .
It is a member of the coronavirus family that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past .
The new virus has sickened thousands , mostly in China , and killed about 170 .
RELATED : Commerce Secretary : Coronavirus Will Trigger 'Return of Jobs ' to US An international outbreak caused by the virus first emerged last month in China .
Doctors there began seeing the new virus in people who got sick after spending time at a wholesale food market in Wuhan .
Officials said the virus probably initially spread from animals to people , as did SARS and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Health officials on Thursday reported the first U.S. case of person-to-person spread of the new virus from China.
The individual is married to the Chicago woman who got sick from the virus after she returned from a trip to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
There have been cases reported of the infectious virus spreading to others in a household or workplace in China and elsewhere.
The new case is the sixth reported in the United States. The other five were travelers who developed the illness after returning to the U.S. from China.
The latest patient had not been in China.
The Chicago woman, who is in her 60s, returned from central China on Jan. 13, then last week went to a hospital with symptoms and was diagnosed with the viral illness.
She and her husband are hospitalized.
Experts have said they expected additional cases, and that at least some limited spread of the disease in the United States was likely.
Health officials think the new virus spreads mainly from droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the flu spreads.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Illinois health officials announced the case Thursday.
At a press briefing last Friday, the CDC’s Dr. Nancy Messonnier said: “We are likely going to see some cases among close contacts of travelers and human-to-human transmission.”
The virus can cause fever, coughing, wheezing and pneumonia.
It is a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.
The new virus has sickened thousands, mostly in China, and killed about 170.
An international outbreak caused by the virus first emerged last month in China.
Doctors there began seeing the new virus in people who got sick after spending time at a wholesale food market in Wuhan.
Officials said the virus probably initially spread from animals to people, as did SARS and MERS.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--ABC News Suspends Reporter Over Inaccurate Reporting on Kobe Bryant Crash

In the immediate aftermath of the Sunday helicopter crash that killed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter , Gianna , and seven others , there were plenty of unconfirmed rumors flying around .
And not all of them turned out to be true .
Now , a high-profile reporter who helped spread a big piece of misinformation following the tragic crash has learned his fate .
As news outlets were picking up the story about the crash , Matt Gutman , ABC News ’ chief national correspondent , suggested on the air that all four of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
“ The fact that four of his children are believed to be on that helicopter with him — all daughters , one of them a newborn , is simply devastating , ” Gutman said .
However , the only other member of the Bryant family on the helicopter with him was Gianna — his three other daughters were safe .
Kobe and Gianna Bryant , as well as the six other passengers , were flying to a girl ’ s basketball game that Gianna was set to play in .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
On Wednesday , ABC News said it was suspending Gutman , though the network did not say for how long .
“ Reporting the facts accurately is the cornerstone of our journalism , ” an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times .
“ As he acknowledged on Sunday , Matt Gutman ’ s initial reporting was not accurate and failed to meet our editorial standards.
” Gutman had previously apologized for his inaccurate reporting both on the air and on Twitter .
“ Today I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kobe Bryant ’ s children were on board that flight .
That is incorrect .
I apologize to Kobe ’ s family , friends and our viewers , ” he tweeted Sunday .
He issued another apology in a statement to the LA Times .
“ We are in the business of holding people accountable , ” Gutman said .
“ And I hold myself accountable for a terrible mistake , which I deeply regret .
I want to personally apologize to the Bryant family for this wrenching loss and any additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gutman , who is based out of Los Angeles , has been a correspondent for the network since 2008 .
Gutman ’ s reporting was far from the only misinformation that spread in the aftermath of Bryant ’ s death .
One false rumor which seemed to originate on social media claimed Rick Fox , a former teammate of Bryant ’ s on the Lakers , had died in the crash as well , according to The New York Times .
Moreover , in a segment on Bryant ’ s death , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LeBron James instead of Bryant .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In the immediate aftermath of the Sunday helicopter crash that killed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others, there were plenty of unconfirmed rumors flying around.
And not all of them turned out to be true.
Now, a high-profile reporter who helped spread a big piece of misinformation following the tragic crash has learned his fate.
As news outlets were picking up the story about the crash, Matt Gutman, ABC News’ chief national correspondent, suggested on the air that all four of Bryant’s children had perished with him.
“The fact that four of his children are believed to be on that helicopter with him — all daughters, one of them a newborn, is simply devastating,” Gutman said.
Wow. @ABC just admitted they were wrong about this report. Kobe Bryant’s daughters were NOT on board. ABC should be ashamed for adding to the tragedy by making fans, loved ones and friends think his daughters died. Sickening they reported this unconfirmed. pic.twitter.com/k3N5ja8UJH — Darren F. Wilson (@DWilson2121) January 26, 2020
However, the only other member of the Bryant family on the helicopter with him was Gianna — his three other daughters were safe.
Kobe and Gianna Bryant, as well as the six other passengers, were flying to a girl’s basketball game that Gianna was set to play in.
Do you think ABC News should fire Gutman? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 84% (500 Votes) No: 16% (93 Votes)
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
On Wednesday, ABC News said it was suspending Gutman, though the network did not say for how long.
“Reporting the facts accurately is the cornerstone of our journalism,” an ABC News spokesperson said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
“As he acknowledged on Sunday, Matt Gutman’s initial reporting was not accurate and failed to meet our editorial standards.”
Gutman had previously apologized for his inaccurate reporting both on the air and on Twitter.
“Today I inaccurately reported it was believed that four of Kobe Bryant’s children were on board that flight. That is incorrect. I apologize to Kobe’s family, friends and our viewers,” he tweeted Sunday.
Today I inaccurately reported it was believed that four of Kobe Bryant’s children were on board that flight. That is incorrect. I apologize to Kobe’s family, friends and our viewers. pic.twitter.com/yYwuB9vpZl — Matt Gutman (@mattgutmanABC) January 27, 2020
He issued another apology in a statement to the LA Times.
“We are in the business of holding people accountable,” Gutman said.
“And I hold myself accountable for a terrible mistake, which I deeply regret. I want to personally apologize to the Bryant family for this wrenching loss and any additional anguish my report caused.”
The 42-year-old Gutman, who is based out of Los Angeles, has been a correspondent for the network since 2008.
Gutman’s reporting was far from the only misinformation that spread in the aftermath of Bryant’s death.
One false rumor which seemed to originate on social media claimed Rick Fox, a former teammate of Bryant’s on the Lakers, had died in the crash as well, according to The New York Times.
I have personally communicated with Rick Fox via text since the news about Kobe dying came out PLEASE STOP spreading “news” unless you personally can confirm it! — Jared Greenberg (@JaredSGreenberg) January 26, 2020
Moreover, in a segment on Bryant’s death, the BBC featured game clips of Lakers star LeBron James instead of Bryant.
I genuinely cannot believe that the actual BBC News at 10 just did this pic.twitter.com/n6csMV9OOG — Matthew Champion (@matthewchampion) January 26, 2020
The network later apologized.
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--Man Arrested in Slayings of His 5 Infant Children After Cold Case Haunted Authorities for Years

California authorities have arrested a man in connection with the deaths of five of his children who were all killed in the first six months of their lives , the Yolo County Sheriff ’ s Office announced .
Paul Perez , the father of the five victims , was arrested for the individual murder of each baby , Sheriff Tom Lopez said in a news release issued Monday .
The arrest was made thanks to DNA technology which identified Perez , 57 , as the father of a deceased infant found in 2007 by a fisherman in rural Yolo County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information was available to propel an investigation .
But in October 2019 , investigators positively identified the baby as Nikko Lee Perez by DNA comparison .
Baby Nikko was born on Nov. 8 , 1996 , in Fresno , California , according to the sheriff ’ s report .
The Yolo County coroner estimated baby Nikko to be around one to three months old when he was murdered and placed inside a heavily weighed-down metal cooler chest which was then tossed in a waterway east of Woodland , California .
The baby had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blanket before being wrapped in plastic and placed inside the cooler , according to the coroner ’ s 2007 report .
The identification of baby Nikko led investigators to the discovery of four of Nikko ’ s siblings , all believed to be deceased .
Nikko ’ s first sibling , Kato Allen Perez , was born in 1992 and is known to be deceased , the sheriff ’ s office news release said .
Nikko ’ s three remaining siblings , one of whom shares the same name as baby Nikko , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities have yet to locate the remains of any of the babies , named Mika Alena Perez , born in 1995 , Nikko Lee Perez , born in 1997 and Kato Krow Perez , born in 2001 .
RELATED : Former Gov Hosts Spaghetti Fundraiser for 95-Year-Old Woman Scammed Out of Thousands “ While I am proud of the efforts of my investigators and coroner ’ s office , this is not a day that will bring joy to any one of us , ” Lopez said .
“ In my 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not think of a case more disturbing than this one , ” he added .
“ There can be no victim more vulnerable and innocent than an infant , and unfortunately this case involves five.
” Perez is a convicted sex offender already serving time at the Kern Valley State Prison for unrelated crimes , People reported .
“ The allegations announced today are heartbreaking .
There is absolutely no place in our society for horrendous crimes against children , ” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in the news release .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will do everything in our power to track down criminals who think they have evaded the grip of justice .
We are thankful for the hard work of our DNA team and our partners at the Yolo County Sheriff ’ s and District Attorney ’ s offices who are fighting every day to keep our communities safe.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

California authorities have arrested a man in connection with the deaths of five of his children who were all killed in the first six months of their lives, the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office announced.
Paul Perez, the father of the five victims, was arrested for the individual murder of each baby, Sheriff Tom Lopez said in a news release issued Monday.
The arrest was made thanks to DNA technology which identified Perez, 57, as the father of a deceased infant found in 2007 by a fisherman in rural Yolo County.
The case went cold after no information was available to propel an investigation.
But in October 2019, investigators positively identified the baby as Nikko Lee Perez by DNA comparison.
Baby Nikko was born on Nov. 8, 1996, in Fresno, California, according to the sheriff’s report.
The Yolo County coroner estimated baby Nikko to be around one to three months old when he was murdered and placed inside a heavily weighed-down metal cooler chest which was then tossed in a waterway east of Woodland, California.
The baby had been wrapped in a Winnie the Pooh blanket before being wrapped in plastic and placed inside the cooler, according to the coroner’s 2007 report.
Paul Perez, 57, a convicted sex offender with a 20-year criminal history, was charged in the deaths of the children born between 1992 and 2001. https://t.co/xhFJxQQvfy — KOIN News (@KOINNews) January 28, 2020
The identification of baby Nikko led investigators to the discovery of four of Nikko’s siblings, all believed to be deceased.
Nikko’s first sibling, Kato Allen Perez, was born in 1992 and is known to be deceased, the sheriff’s office news release said.
Nikko’s three remaining siblings, one of whom shares the same name as baby Nikko, are believed to be deceased as well.
Authorities have yet to locate the remains of any of the babies, named Mika Alena Perez, born in 1995, Nikko Lee Perez, born in 1997 and Kato Krow Perez, born in 2001.
Do you think Perez should be sentenced to life in prison if found guilty? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 98% (500 Votes) No: 2% (10 Votes)
“While I am proud of the efforts of my investigators and coroner’s office, this is not a day that will bring joy to any one of us,” Lopez said.
“In my 40 years in law enforcement, I cannot think of a case more disturbing than this one,” he added.
“There can be no victim more vulnerable and innocent than an infant, and unfortunately this case involves five.”
Five victims in mass murder case in Yolo County.Father is under arrest. pic.twitter.com/GRVG14fQg6 — Mike Luery (@KCRALuery) January 27, 2020
Perez is a convicted sex offender already serving time at the Kern Valley State Prison for unrelated crimes, People reported.
“The allegations announced today are heartbreaking. There is absolutely no place in our society for horrendous crimes against children,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in the news release.
“At the California Department of Justice, we will do everything in our power to track down criminals who think they have evaded the grip of justice. We are thankful for the hard work of our DNA team and our partners at the Yolo County Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices who are fighting every day to keep our communities safe.”
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--Secret Service Turns Away Process Server as ‘Intimidated’ Hillary Dodges Gabbard’s Lawsuit: Report

When it comes to Hillary Clinton , the rules are for everyone else .
According to the New York Post , Secret Service agents for the former first lady , secretary of state and failed Democratic presidential candidate prevented Clinton from being served with papers regarding the $ 50 million defamation lawsuit filed against her by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard .
A process server who sought to deliver the lawsuit to Clinton at her home in Chappaqua , New York , was turned away by the agents , the Post reported .
The server was reportedly told to take the papers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , attorney David Kendall declined to accept them , Gabbard ’ s lawyer Brian Dunne told the newspaper .
TRENDING : Nancy Pelosi Says House Will Soon Pass Legislation Aimed at Blocking Trump 's Travel Ban “ I find it rather unbelievable that Hillary Clinton is so intimidated by Tulsi Gabbard that she won ’ t accept service of process , ” Dunne told the newspaper .
“ But I guess here we are.
” It wasn ’ t clear if Clinton was home in Chappaqua at the time the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is clear that Gabbard isn ’ t giving up quickly on her efforts to hold Clinton accountable for publicly suggesting Gabbard is a “ Russian asset.
” The lawsuit was filed Jan. 22 in federal court in the Southern District of New York .
It stems from comments Clinton made during a podcast interview in October with David Plouffe .
In the lawsuit Gabbard , a Hawaiian representative who is mounting a long-shot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination , argues “ Clinton falsely stated that Tulsi — an Army National Guard officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her entire adult life serving this country — is a ‘ Russian asset.
’ Clinton ’ s false assertions were made in a deliberate attempt to derail Tulsi ’ s presidential campaign.
” Gabbard has been public about defending herself , taking to the liberal lion ’ s den of ABC ’ s “ The View ” in November , and having her attorneys demand a retraction in writing from Clinton the same month .
Clearly , she means business — and nothing says “ business ” like a lawsuit seeking $ 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or infamous , women in the United States .
Even the former first lady ’ s supporters have to understand that appearing to dodge a process server is not a good look for a woman in the public eye as much as Clinton is .
And that showed on social media .
RELATED : Schiff Now Openly Claiming Trump 2020 Victory Could Be Illegitimate That last one hits home .
From her days as President Bill Clinton ’ s spouse in the White House , through her tenure as President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her winning the 2016 Democratic nomination thanks to the Democratic National Committee ’ s help in the primary contest against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , Clinton has demonstrated she doesn ’ t play by the same rules as everyone else .
For most people , publicly sliming a military veteran and member of Congress like Gabbard as the subject of “ grooming ” by a geopolitical rival of the United States would be beyond the imagination .
But for Hillary Clinton , that ’ s not unthinkable at all .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawsuit that tries to hold her to account for it .
Because when it comes to Hillary , the rules are for everyone else .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When it comes to Hillary Clinton, the rules are for everyone else.
According to the New York Post, Secret Service agents for the former first lady, secretary of state and failed Democratic presidential candidate prevented Clinton from being served with papers regarding the $50 million defamation lawsuit filed against her by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
A process server who sought to deliver the lawsuit to Clinton at her home in Chappaqua, New York, was turned away by the agents, the Post reported.
The server was reportedly told to take the papers to Clinton’s attorney.
But on Wednesday, attorney David Kendall declined to accept them, Gabbard’s lawyer Brian Dunne told the newspaper.
“I find it rather unbelievable that Hillary Clinton is so intimidated by Tulsi Gabbard that she won’t accept service of process,” Dunne told the newspaper. “But I guess here we are.”
It wasn’t clear if Clinton was home in Chappaqua at the time the process server visited on Tuesday. But it is clear that Gabbard isn’t giving up quickly on her efforts to hold Clinton accountable for publicly suggesting Gabbard is a “Russian asset.”
The lawsuit was filed Jan. 22 in federal court in the Southern District of New York.
It stems from comments Clinton made during a podcast interview in October with David Plouffe.
Do you think Hillary is dodging Tulsi Gabbard's defamation case? Yes No
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In the lawsuit Gabbard, a Hawaiian representative who is mounting a long-shot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, argues “Clinton falsely stated that Tulsi — an Army National Guard officer and United States Congresswoman who has spent her entire adult life serving this country — is a ‘Russian asset.’ Clinton’s false assertions were made in a deliberate attempt to derail Tulsi’s presidential campaign.”
Gabbard has been public about defending herself, taking to the liberal lion’s den of ABC’s “The View” in November, and having her attorneys demand a retraction in writing from Clinton the same month.
Clearly, she means business — and nothing says “business” like a lawsuit seeking $50 million from one of the most famous, or infamous, women in the United States.
Even the former first lady’s supporters have to understand that appearing to dodge a process server is not a good look for a woman in the public eye as much as Clinton is. And that showed on social media.
The refusals show HRC’s complete arrogance for our country’s laws & one of the underlying reasons she lost in 16.
Nothing screams guilty more than behavior like this.
The fact the @DNC is helping HRC exact unjustifiable vengeance against @TulsiGabbard is completely unacceptable — Ryan OConnor (@RyanOCo22618099) January 30, 2020
No worries, New York law provides for other methods of personal service. Evading in bad faith is not a good look — especially in light of the facts of the case. It gives the appearance that Mrs. Clinton believes that the law does not apply to her — Holly #NoWarWithIran (@HollyBlomberg) January 30, 2020
Go to her next book signing…she doesn’t have to sign for it, she can refuse, then you drop it at her feet and tell her “You’ve been served”…done every day..,. — Bang Ding Ow ??? (@steamjetboomer) January 30, 2020
Democrats get to play by a different set of rules. Many rules don’t apply to them. #corruption #drainit #ClintonCrimeFamily #KAG2020 — the Georgia Glass (@The_MrsGlass) January 30, 2020
That last one hits home.
From her days as President Bill Clinton’s spouse in the White House, through her tenure as President Barack Obama’s secretary of state, through her winning the 2016 Democratic nomination thanks to the Democratic National Committee’s help in the primary contest against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton has demonstrated she doesn’t play by the same rules as everyone else.
For most people, publicly sliming a military veteran and member of Congress like Gabbard as the subject of “grooming” by a geopolitical rival of the United States would be beyond the imagination.
But for Hillary Clinton, that’s not unthinkable at all. What’s apparently unthinkable is that she will accept a lawsuit that tries to hold her to account for it.
Because when it comes to Hillary, the rules are for everyone else.
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--CNN’s Accidental Trump Ad Is So Good, the GOP Is Actually Running It

It should be no secret after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ’ s infamous “ basket of deplorables ” line in 2016 that many liberals despise conservatives .
It is not just policy issues or disagreements on taxes and trade — they loathe our very being and our presence in their world .
This became even more evident on Saturday when CNN host Don Lemon and his guests — Never Trumper Rick Wilson and liberal journalist Wajahat Ali — had a hearty laugh at the expense of President Donald Trump and his supporters .
But now the Republican National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bite them .
This week , Lemon gave a half-hearted apology in which he claimed he was laughing at the joke and not the people who support Trump , although the joke was about the people who support Trump .
But the damage was done .
A new ad by the RNC shows what occurred after Lemon asked Wilson about reports that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got nasty with a reporter for NPR .
“ He ’ s just trying to demean her , and obviously it ’ s false .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his heart that Donald Trump couldn ’ t find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter U and the picture of an actual , physical crane next to it , ” Wilson began .
“ He knows that this is an administration defined by ignorance of the world , ” the supposed Republican said as Lemon was laughing .
“ That ’ s partly him playing to their base and playing to their audience — the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump , um , that wants to think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southern accent — “ Donald Trump ’ s the smart one and y ’ all elitists are dumb.
” “ You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling , ” Ali said , mocking Trump voters .
“ Your math and your reading , ” Wilson said .
“ Yeah , your reading , you know , your geography , knowing other countries , sipping your latte , ” Ali continued .
“ All those lines on the map , ” Wilson said .
RELATED : McConnell Stands Firmly with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Only them elitists know where Ukraine is , ” Ali said as Lemon laughed uncontrollably .
The segment was immediately attacked by Trump supporters and others , including liberal journalist Soledad O ’ Brien , who said , “ I think this segment was not worthy of being on a newscast.
” The RNC quickly produced an ad featuring the segment , along with the clip of Clinton referring to half of the president ’ s supporters as a “ basket of deplorables.
” It also showed two 2020 Democratic presidential contenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg — as well as MSNBC host Chris Matthews denigrating those who support Trump .
“ They think you ’ re a joke , ” the video says on screen .
“ Prove them wrong in November.
” That is something Lemon could not have ever imagined — helping to drive voters to the polls for Trump .
And it is not likely that Lemon , his cohorts at CNN or other prominent liberals will stop mocking us before the election .
They can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneath them .
They think they are better and that they know better .
Come November , they could be in for the shock of their lives — again .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It should be no secret after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” line in 2016 that many liberals despise conservatives.
It is not just policy issues or disagreements on taxes and trade — they loathe our very being and our presence in their world.
This became even more evident on Saturday when CNN host Don Lemon and his guests — Never Trumper Rick Wilson and liberal journalist Wajahat Ali — had a hearty laugh at the expense of President Donald Trump and his supporters.
But now the Republican National Committee has made sure it came back to bite them.
This week, Lemon gave a half-hearted apology in which he claimed he was laughing at the joke and not the people who support Trump, although the joke was about the people who support Trump.
But the damage was done.
A new ad by the RNC shows what occurred after Lemon asked Wilson about reports that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo got nasty with a reporter for NPR.
“He’s just trying to demean her, and obviously it’s false. And look, he also knows deep in his heart that Donald Trump couldn’t find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter U and the picture of an actual, physical crane next to it,” Wilson began.
“He knows that this is an administration defined by ignorance of the world,” the supposed Republican said as Lemon was laughing.
“That’s partly him playing to their base and playing to their audience — the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump, um, that wants to think that” — putting on a stereotypical Southern accent — “Donald Trump’s the smart one and y’all elitists are dumb.”
“You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling,” Ali said, mocking Trump voters.
“Your math and your reading,” Wilson said.
“Yeah, your reading, you know, your geography, knowing other countries, sipping your latte,” Ali continued.
“All those lines on the map,” Wilson said.
“Only them elitists know where Ukraine is,” Ali said as Lemon laughed uncontrollably.
The segment was immediately attacked by Trump supporters and others, including liberal journalist Soledad O’Brien, who said, “I think this segment was not worthy of being on a newscast.”
The RNC quickly produced an ad featuring the segment, along with the clip of Clinton referring to half of the president’s supporters as a “basket of deplorables.”
It also showed two 2020 Democratic presidential contenders — former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg — as well as MSNBC host Chris Matthews denigrating those who support Trump.
“They think you’re a joke,” the video says on screen. “Prove them wrong in November.”
Do you think the RNC's ad is effective? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (1602 Votes) No: 3% (43 Votes)
That is something Lemon could not have ever imagined — helping to drive voters to the polls for Trump.
And it is not likely that Lemon, his cohorts at CNN or other prominent liberals will stop mocking us before the election.
They cannot stand us. They believe we are beneath them. They think they are better and that they know better.
Come November, they could be in for the shock of their lives — again.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--After Dog Saved from Deadly Cancer, CEO Buys $6 Million Super Bowl Ad Featuring Pet To Thank Veterin

After Dog Saved from Deadly Cancer, CEO Buys $6 Million Super Bowl Ad Featuring Pet To Thank Veterinarians

When cancer threatens a loved one ’ s life , we often dive into finding out as much as we can about the type of cancer and its possible treatments .
Even when the prognosis doesn ’ t look good , so many people hold out hope that a cure will be found .
That applies to our four-legged friends , too .
We have a responsibility to care for the creatures in our lives , and for dog owner David MacNeil , that meant finding the silver lining in a grim situation .
MacNeil owns Scout , a 7-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit of a mascot at WeatherTech — a company that manufactures automotive accessories and home and pet care products — where MacNeil is also the CEO .
Last year , Scout and MacNeil got some horrible news : Scout had a tumor on his heart .
The cancer was labeled aggressive , and the pup was given a 1 percent chance of survival and one month to live .
Many people would ’ ve been stopped by news that dire — but MacNeil wanted to fight .
“ There he was in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he ’ s wagging his tail at me , ” MacNeil told WMTV .
“ I ’ m like , ‘ I ’ m not putting that dog down .
There ’ s just absolutely no way . '
” MacNeil turned to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine , which , according to Scout ’ s story on WeatherTech , came up with a “ cutting-edge treatment plan that has resulted in Scout ’ s tumor all but disappearing.
” While the dog will continue treatment at the university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better and continuing to uphold his mascot duties .
He made a positive impact with the people who cared for him , too .
RELATED : Inmates in Florida Jail Are Sewing Cloth Pouches for Orphaned Kangaroos and Koalas “ Scout is kind of the perfect patient in that he ’ s tolerated multiple modes of therapy very well , his primary tumor has responded beautifully to treatment , and we ’ ve been able to maintain his quality of life at a very high level , ” David Vail , a professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told WMTV .
“ At the end of the day , Scout ’ s quality of life is his family ’ s most important concern , as it is ours.
” Not every dog owner has the sort of sway that MacNeil has , but certainly many have felt the depth of gratitude he experienced after his very good boy was cared for and started to heal .
In a bid to thank the medical team and bring the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine more notice ( and hopefully , donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad made , featuring Scout and his carers .
The bill for the advertisement came in at around $ 6 million .
“ This is an amazing opportunity not only for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the School of Veterinary Medicine , but for veterinary medicine worldwide , ” Mark Markel , the School of Veterinary Medicine ’ s dean , said .
“ So much of what ’ s known globally today about how best to diagnose and treat devastating diseases such as cancer originated in veterinary medicine .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how our profession benefits beloved animals like Scout and helps people , too.
” “ When our clinicians began caring for Scout in July 2019 , they had no idea they would soon inspire , and appear in , a national commercial , ” the school posted on Tuesday .
“ As Super Bowl LIV airs on Sunday , the UW Veterinary Care patient will appear alongside the school ’ s faculty and staff who have been part of his cancer treatment journey.
” Scout and MacNeil certainly appear thankful for the role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no doubt many more dogs and their humans will be helped by the innovative care at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When cancer threatens a loved one’s life, we often dive into finding out as much as we can about the type of cancer and its possible treatments.
Even when the prognosis doesn’t look good, so many people hold out hope that a cure will be found.
That applies to our four-legged friends, too.
We have a responsibility to care for the creatures in our lives, and for dog owner David MacNeil, that meant finding the silver lining in a grim situation.
MacNeil owns Scout, a 7-year-old golden retriever who’s become a bit of a mascot at WeatherTech — a company that manufactures automotive accessories and home and pet care products — where MacNeil is also the CEO.
Last year, Scout and MacNeil got some horrible news: Scout had a tumor on his heart.
The cancer was labeled aggressive, and the pup was given a 1 percent chance of survival and one month to live.
Many people would’ve been stopped by news that dire — but MacNeil wanted to fight.
“There he was in this little room, standing in the corner… and he’s wagging his tail at me,” MacNeil told WMTV. “I’m like, ‘I’m not putting that dog down. There’s just absolutely no way.'”
MacNeil turned to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, which, according to Scout’s story on WeatherTech, came up with a “cutting-edge treatment plan that has resulted in Scout’s tumor all but disappearing.”
While the dog will continue treatment at the university, he’s doing so much better and continuing to uphold his mascot duties.
He made a positive impact with the people who cared for him, too.
“Scout is kind of the perfect patient in that he’s tolerated multiple modes of therapy very well, his primary tumor has responded beautifully to treatment, and we’ve been able to maintain his quality of life at a very high level,” David Vail, a professor of comparative oncology at the school, told WMTV.
“At the end of the day, Scout’s quality of life is his family’s most important concern, as it is ours.”
Not every dog owner has the sort of sway that MacNeil has, but certainly many have felt the depth of gratitude he experienced after his very good boy was cared for and started to heal.
In a bid to thank the medical team and bring the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine more notice (and hopefully, donations), MacNeil had a Super Bowl ad made, featuring Scout and his carers.
The bill for the advertisement came in at around $6 million.
“This is an amazing opportunity not only for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the School of Veterinary Medicine, but for veterinary medicine worldwide,” Mark Markel, the School of Veterinary Medicine’s dean, said.
“So much of what’s known globally today about how best to diagnose and treat devastating diseases such as cancer originated in veterinary medicine. We’re thrilled to share with Super Bowl viewers how our profession benefits beloved animals like Scout and helps people, too.”
“When our clinicians began caring for Scout in July 2019, they had no idea they would soon inspire, and appear in, a national commercial,” the school posted on Tuesday. “As Super Bowl LIV airs on Sunday, the UW Veterinary Care patient will appear alongside the school’s faculty and staff who have been part of his cancer treatment journey.”
Scout and MacNeil certainly appear thankful for the role the university played in their lives, and no doubt many more dogs and their humans will be helped by the innovative care at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--Trump Slams Bolton, Book: ‘If I Listened to Him, We Would Be in World War Six by Now’

President Donald Trump slammed former National Security Advisor John Bolton on Wednesday over his new book and his performance in the Trump White House .
According to media accounts , Bolton claims in a book scheduled to be published in March that Trump linked military aid to Ukraine with the country ’ s willingness to investigate alleged corruption involving former Vice President Joe Biden and his son , Hunter .
While the aid ended up being released to Ukraine , the Bolton claim has roiled the waters of Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial because it is at the heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted several tweets regarding Bolton on Wednesday , two reflecting the policy differences that saw the president jettison Bolton last year .
Had Trump listened to Bolton , who has long been known as a foreign policy hawk , the U.S. would be have become embroiled in another war , the president said .
TRENDING : Nancy Pelosi Says House Will Soon Pass Legislation Aimed at Blocking Trump 's Travel Ban “ For a guy who couldn ’ t get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago , couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begged ’ me for a non Senate approved job , which I gave him despite many saying ‘ Don ’ t do it , sir , ’ takes the job , mistakenly says ‘ Libyan Model ’ on T.V.
, and many more mistakes of judgement , gets fired because frankly , if I listened to him , we would be in World War Six by now , and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book , ” Trump wrote .
“ All Classified National Security .
Who would do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outspoken Bolton , who was fired as national security advisor in September , didn ’ t go public with the issues he had regarding Trump ’ s Ukraine policy until now .
“ Why didn ’ t John Bolton complain about this ‘ nonsense ’ a long time ago , when he was very publicly terminated .
He said , not that it matters , NOTHING !
” Trump tweeted .
Later , Trump posted a tweeted showing Bolton during an August interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty .
RELATED : US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , But Holds Back in Some Areas During the interview , which came the month after the now-infamous July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that is at the center of the impeachment controversy , Bolton made no mention of any quid pro quo , and said fighting corruption in Ukraine was among America ’ s top priorities for the country .
Further , Fox News reported that multiple videos have surfaced showing Democrats , including House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff and former president and then-Sen. Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is someone who ’ s likely to exaggerate the dangerous impulses of the president toward belligerence , his proclivity to act without thinking , and his love of conspiracy theories , ” Schiff said in a March 2018 interview at the time Bolton was appointed Trump ’ s national security advisor .
In the interview , Schiff said that having Bolton on board added “ another big dose of unreality in the White House.
” At the time of Bolton ’ s appointment , some Democrats raised policy concerns that echoed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The person who will be first in first out of the Oval Office on national security matters passionately believes the U.S. should launch pre-emptive war against both Iran and North Korea with no authorization from Congress , ” Sen. Christopher Murphy of Connecticut said then , according to The New York Times .
“ My God , ” he added .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump slammed former National Security Advisor John Bolton on Wednesday over his new book and his performance in the Trump White House.
According to media accounts, Bolton claims in a book scheduled to be published in March that Trump linked military aid to Ukraine with the country’s willingness to investigate alleged corruption involving former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
While the aid ended up being released to Ukraine, the Bolton claim has roiled the waters of Trump’s Senate impeachment trial because it is at the heart of the allegations against him.
Trump posted several tweets regarding Bolton on Wednesday, two reflecting the policy differences that saw the president jettison Bolton last year.
Had Trump listened to Bolton, who has long been known as a foreign policy hawk, the U.S. would be have become embroiled in another war, the president said.
“For a guy who couldn’t get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldn’t get approved for anything since, ‘begged’ me for a non Senate approved job, which I gave him despite many saying ‘Don’t do it, sir,’ takes the job, mistakenly says ‘Libyan Model’ on T.V., and many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book,” Trump wrote.
….many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020
“All Classified National Security. Who would do this?”
Do you think John Bolton is a reliable source? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 1% (9 Votes) No: 99% (688 Votes)
Trump further noted that the outspoken Bolton, who was fired as national security advisor in September, didn’t go public with the issues he had regarding Trump’s Ukraine policy until now.
“Why didn’t John Bolton complain about this ‘nonsense’ a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING!” Trump tweeted.
Why didn’t John Bolton complain about this “nonsense” a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020
Later, Trump posted a tweeted showing Bolton during an August interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
During the interview, which came the month after the now-infamous July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that is at the center of the impeachment controversy, Bolton made no mention of any quid pro quo, and said fighting corruption in Ukraine was among America’s top priorities for the country.
Bolton called Trump’s communications with Zelensky “cordial.”
Trump captioned that tweet, “GAME OVER.”
Further, Fox News reported that multiple videos have surfaced showing Democrats, including House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff and former president and then-Sen. Barack Obama questioning Bolton’s credibility.
“This is someone who’s likely to exaggerate the dangerous impulses of the president toward belligerence, his proclivity to act without thinking, and his love of conspiracy theories,” Schiff said in a March 2018 interview at the time Bolton was appointed Trump’s national security advisor.
In the interview, Schiff said that having Bolton on board added “another big dose of unreality in the White House.”
At the time of Bolton’s appointment, some Democrats raised policy concerns that echoed Trump’s Wednesday tweets.
“The person who will be first in first out of the Oval Office on national security matters passionately believes the U.S. should launch pre-emptive war against both Iran and North Korea with no authorization from Congress,” Sen. Christopher Murphy of Connecticut said then, according to The New York Times. “My God,” he added.
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--Republican Scores Surprisingly Dominant Win in Key Texas Special Election

Democratic hopes that a special state House election in Texas would show they had the clout to turn the Lone Star State blue were dashed Tuesday night after voters handed a massive win to Republican Gary Gates .
Gates defeated Democrat Eliz Markowitz 58 percent to 42 percent in the 28th District special election to fill a vacant seat , according to The Hill .
“ Democrats everywhere said this Texas election was a ‘ bellwether ’ — and that it would set the tone for the entire 2020 election cycle , ” said Austin Chambers , president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Houston Chronicle .
“ Spoiler alert : They ’ re right , it was — just not with the outcome Democrats hoped for , ” he said .
“ Today , voters resoundingly rejected the Democrats ’ socialist ideology and took a major step toward keeping Texas red .
As we look ahead to the 2020 election , we must be prepared to replicate this success across the state if we are to secure a more prosperous future for Texas , ” he said , according to The Hill .
The district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump won it by 10 points in 2016 , Republican Sen. Ted Cruz won it by only 3 points when he defeated O ’ Rourke last year .
Democrats nationally and in Texas put more than $ 1 million into the race , CBS reported .
A parade of current and former Democratic presidential contenders had endorsed Markowitz or campaigned in the suburban Houston district to support Markowitz .
The list included former Vice President Joe Biden , former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Julian Castro and former Rep. Beto O ’ Rourke , according to CBS .
One commentator said that was part of the problem .
“ They made a big mistake by nationalizing , ” Republican strategist Karl Rove said , according to The Associated Press .
Many on Twitter derided the Democrats for failing to flip the seat , which had been held by former state Rep. John Zerwas .
RELATED : A-O-Me : Ocasio-Cortez Fills In for Bernie at Rally but Does n't Even Mention His Name Once O ’ Rourke had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority was giving Democrats control of the state House .
“ Everything flows up from that , ” he said , according to the Texas Tribune .
“ So not only could Democrats gain control of the House and make progress on stormwater infrastructure , health care , gun violence , climate and education , but that will incidentally help the federal races — from U.S. Congress to U.S. Senate — and I also think it ’ s also going to lay the groundwork for whoever the presidential nominee is.
” His connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported , when he introduced himself at a December rally as “ Beto O ’ Rourke , volunteer for the Eliz Markowitz campaign.
” Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey said Republicans were able to offset the infusion of outside influence by collaboration and coordination .
“ We will defend Texas from the liberals ’ socialism and we will unite to fight again for victories from the White House to the courthouse this November .
We will keep Texas red , ” Dickey said , according to CBS .
We are committed to truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our editorial standards .

Democratic hopes that a special state House election in Texas would show they had the clout to turn the Lone Star State blue were dashed Tuesday night after voters handed a massive win to Republican Gary Gates.
Gates defeated Democrat Eliz Markowitz 58 percent to 42 percent in the 28th District special election to fill a vacant seat, according to The Hill.
“Democrats everywhere said this Texas election was a ‘bellwether’ — and that it would set the tone for the entire 2020 election cycle,” said Austin Chambers, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“Spoiler alert: They’re right, it was — just not with the outcome Democrats hoped for,” he said.
In a statement, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the party’s victory.
“Today, voters resoundingly rejected the Democrats’ socialist ideology and took a major step toward keeping Texas red. As we look ahead to the 2020 election, we must be prepared to replicate this success across the state if we are to secure a more prosperous future for Texas,” he said, according to The Hill.
Republican Gary Gates handily beats Democrat Eliz Markowitz in Texas House District 28 runoffhttps://hillcountrypost.org/republican-gary-gates-handily-beats-democrat-eliz-markowitz-in-texas-house-district-28-runoff/ pic.twitter.com/jQnlJwdmMA — Hill Country Post (@HC_PostTexas) January 29, 2020
The district appeared to be at play because although President Donald Trump won it by 10 points in 2016, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz won it by only 3 points when he defeated O’Rourke last year.
Democrats nationally and in Texas put more than $1 million into the race, CBS reported.
A parade of current and former Democratic presidential contenders had endorsed Markowitz or campaigned in the suburban Houston district to support Markowitz.
The list included former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, according to CBS.
One commentator said that was part of the problem.
“They made a big mistake by nationalizing,” Republican strategist Karl Rove said, according to The Associated Press.
Many on Twitter derided the Democrats for failing to flip the seat, which had been held by former state Rep. John Zerwas.
There was a special election for a Texas State House district, #28, in Fort Bend County today. Democrats made a big deal about flipping it – even persuaded @politico to write about it. Well, the Republican kicked butt. https://t.co/PIRqKGBEsm — Kelly D Johnston (@johnston_kelly) January 29, 2020
Congratulations to my new colleague in the Texas House, Gary Gates, on his victory in the special election for District 28! This was a hard fought battle, drawing nationwide attention from Dems who thought they could flip this seat. HD-28 showed them otherwise! #KeepTexasRed pic.twitter.com/hVExvA4Av2 — Will Metcalf (@willmetcalfTX) January 29, 2020
O’Rourke had said in December that his top political priority was giving Democrats control of the state House.
Do you think Texas will stay Republican? Yes No
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“Everything flows up from that,” he said, according to the Texas Tribune. “So not only could Democrats gain control of the House and make progress on stormwater infrastructure, health care, gun violence, climate and education, but that will incidentally help the federal races — from U.S. Congress to U.S. Senate — and I also think it’s also going to lay the groundwork for whoever the presidential nominee is.”
His connection with Markowitz was underlined, the Tribune reported, when he introduced himself at a December rally as “Beto O’Rourke, volunteer for the Eliz Markowitz campaign.”
Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey said Republicans were able to offset the infusion of outside influence by collaboration and coordination.
“We will defend Texas from the liberals’ socialism and we will unite to fight again for victories from the White House to the courthouse this November. We will keep Texas red,” Dickey said, according to CBS.
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westernjournal--2020-01-30--Army Rangers Conducted the Most Successful Rescue Mission in U.S. History 75 Years Ago

Seventy-five years ago a company of Army Rangers and Filipino guerrilla fighters conducted the most successful rescue mission in U.S. military history , freeing over 500 prisoners of war being held by the Japanese .
The raid took place at Cabanatuan prison camp , located about 65 miles north of Manila , in the Philippines .
Most of the POWs in the camp were survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March , which took place in the spring of 1942 .
The Japanese had struck the Philippines only hours after hitting Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and with the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American airpower and naval forces stationed in the U.S. territory .
Shortly thereafter , over 57,000 seasoned Japanese soldiers landed on Luzon and pushed the combined American and Filipino forces under General Douglas MacArthur into retreat to the Bataan Peninsula at the mouth of Manila Harbor , where they awaited American reinforcements and supplies , which never came .
The Americans and Filipinos made a brave stand for four months against the Japanese onslaught until a lack of food and supplies , as well as the spread of disease , made surrender appear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President Franklin Roosevelt directed General MacArthur to relinquish his command and break through the enemy lines to Australia to lead the Allied counteroffensive against the Japanese .
MacArthur , heartsick , obeyed , and upon reaching Australia , resolutely told reporters , “ I came through and I shall return.
” His promise , “ I shall return , ” became a rallying cry among Filipinos in the then-occupied American commonwealth .
The Japanese made their final push in the Philippines on Good Friday , April 3 , 1942 .
Six days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the largest surrender of U.S. forces in the nation ’ s history .
The 65-mile Bataan Death March to a POW camp followed .
Approximately 6,000 of the 78,000 of the combined American and Filipino troops died on the march , due to Japanese brutality , denial of food and water and exhaustion from the months of previous fighting .
Thousands more died within a month after arriving at the prisoner of war camps from the effects of the march .
RELATED : Puerto Ricans March Guillotine to Gov 's Mansion as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first anniversary of the fall of Bataan in April 1943 , MacArthur issued a communique reminding Americans of the thousands of their countrymen languishing and dying as prisoners of the Japanese .
“ I pray that a merciful God may not delay too long their redemption , that the day of salvation be not so far removed that they perish , that it be not again too late , ” MacArthur said .
“ Until we claim again the ghastly remnants of its last gaunt garrison , we can but stand humble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our Holy Grail , ” the general added in another statement a month later on the anniversary of the surrender of all U.S. forces in the Philippines to Japan .
Dr. Conrad Crane , chief of historical services for the Army Heritage and Education Center , told The Western Journal that fulfilling his pledge to redeem the Philippines was personal to MacArthur .
“ There ’ s a lot of honor and prestige for MacArthur wrapped up in the Philippines and a part of that too is an obligation not just to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those troops left behind , ” Crane said .
It would take general two-and-a-half years to make good on his pledge , as he led the 3,500-mile push from Australian back to the archipelago .
Finally , in October 1944 , the war leader could proclaim from a beachhead on Leyte Island , “ People of the Philippines , I have returned … The hour of your redemption is here.
” In early January 1945 , U.S. forces landed on Luzon island and began the push toward Manila .
By this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transported back to Japan or Manchuria to work as slave laborers .
However , among those remaining were over 500 being held at Cabanatuan .
When one of MacArthur ’ s top generals , Sixth Army commander Gen. Walter Krueger , learned of the camp , he green-lit a mission to rescue the POWs , knowing they were in danger of being killed by the Japanese as American forces drew near .
Jim Zobel , the archivist at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk , Virginia , told The Western Journal that Krueger was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American POWs the previous month on Palawan Island .
Charlie Company of the 6th Ranger Battalion , beefed up with an extra platoon to be 120 strong , was chosen for the perilous mission to slip 30 miles behind enemy lines , undetected , liberate the camp and lead the POWs back to freedom .
They would be supported on the mission by 200 Philippine guerrilla fighters .
Opposing them would be approximately 250 Japanese guards and other troops housed at Cabanatuan , with nearly 1,000 Japanese soldiers positioned less than a mile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , at Cabanatuan City , were an additional 9,000 Japanese forces .
After explaining the odds they were up against , Mucci urged any of his Rangers who had doubts not to go on the mission , Hampton Sides recorded in his bestselling 2001 book “ Ghost Soldiers.
” “ It ’ s going to be extremely dangerous , ” he said .
“ Some of you might not make it back … I only want men who feel lucky.
” The West Point graduate waited a moment to let his words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers backed out , according to William Breuer in his 1994 book “ The Great Raid.
” “ One other thing , ” Mucci said .
“ There ’ ll be no atheists on this trip.
” “ Men , I want all of you to go to church .
Get down on your knees and pray .
Swear to God that ’ ll you ’ ll die if need be rather than let any harm come to our POWs !
” Robert Prince , commander of Charlie Company , confirmed to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mucci ’ s remarks .
All the Rangers going on the mission heeded the request and went to chapel services .
Armed with intelligence provided by Filipino guerrillas and the 6th Army ’ s Alamo Scouts , Mucci and his men crossed into enemy-held territory on the morning of Jan. 28 .
They carefully evaded significant numbers of Japanese forces , including a column of tanks that could have ripped their ranks to shreds , and reached the vicinity of Cabanatuan on the 29th .
There they learned more about the Japanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of enemy troops were moving through the area .
Mucci and Prince decided to delay their rescue operation a day .
The Rangers launched the raid of Cabanatuan on the evening of Jan. 30 .
A P-61 Black Widow fighter plane flew low over the camp creating a diversion , so the U.S. troops could draw in close to the fence-line undetected .
Suddenly , at 7:44 p.m. local time , the night sky lit up with a fusillade of gunfire as Rangers took out the Japanese guards in their assigned sectors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gate and fanned out into the camp .
Many of the POWs were terrified when they heard all the gunfire , thinking the Japanese had decided to kill them rather than let them be liberated .
POW Ralph Hibbs shouted at Rangers bounding by him , “ What the hell is going on ?
” “ Where ’ d you come from ?
Are you guerrillas ?
” the Army physician asked .
Hibbs and the other POWs were confused by the Rangers ’ uniforms and weapons , which were all new to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — General Krueger ’ s boys ” came the response to Hibbs .
“ What are Rangers ?
” the POW wanted to know .
The first elite Ranger units were not formed until June 1942 .
A rescuer finally lost patience with the dialogue as gunfire continued to erupt around the camp and gave Hibbs “ a ten-foot kick squarely in the ass ” to send the message to get to the front gate .
The frenetic scene during the liberation was depicted in the 2005 film “ The Great Raid.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the front gate if they could walk ( or Rangers carried them ) .
There , they were met and escorted to a nearby riverbed .
The most fragile among them were then loaded onto caraboa ( ox ) carts provided by the local Filipinos .
Meanwhile , less than a mile from Cabanatuan , 200 Philippine guerrillas under the leadership of Captain Juan Pajota held off nearly a thousand Japanese soldiers .
Pajota ’ s men managed to partially blow a bridge over the Cabu River , which ran between Cabanatuan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tanks and other heavy vehicles from crossing .
The guerrillas then mowed down Japanese troops with machine-gun fire as they repeatedly tried to make Bonzai charges over what remained of the bridge .
The liberated POWs , guarded by the Rangers and guerrillas , marched through the night toward the American lines , only encountering some light Japanese resistance along the way .
Things had come full circle from the spring of 1942 .
Now instead of being forced to endure a Death March , they willingly marched to life and freedom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hibbs was the sight of an American flag , flying on top of a U.S. Army tank .
He realized it was the first time he ’ d seen the Stars and Stripes since being taken captive nearly three years before .
Hibbs told me during an interview in 1997 that MacArthur came to visit the liberated POWs days after their rescue , and the general cried when he saw them .
Hibbs felt the tears were a genuine expression of the emotion the general felt at being reunited with his men and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken on them .
Zobel said that MacArthur did not stay for minutes , but hours listening to the POWs ’ stories of deprivation and abuse , and repeatedly apologized , saying , “ I ’ m too late .
I ’ m too late.
” No precise number exists of the Americans who died while being held as Japanese POWs , but it is likely about 40 percent or just shy 11,000 .
Of these , 2,656 perished at Cabanatuan .
Two Rangers died during the liberation of the camp and four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guerrillas suffered no dead , but over a dozen casualties .
One POW died of a heart attack during the raid .
“ It was a brilliant operation done with the minimum of casualties and the maximum of result .
It was a model for other operations , ” Crane said .
The military historian added that by taking on the mission , America proved its commitment not to forget her soldiers held as POWs .
Both Mucci and Prince were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their leadership during the raid on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or Bronze stars for their heroism .
Prince and some of his fellow Rangers returned to the United States in March of 1945 to a heroes ’ welcome , which included a visit with President Roosevelt in the Oval Office .
San Francisco rolled out the red carpet that same month for the returning POWs .
Thousands crowded on the Golden Gate Bridge waving American flags as the POWs ’ ship passed through .
Huge banners could be seen reading , “ Welcome Home Heroes of Bataan and Corregidor ” and “ God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to thank us .
I think the thanks should go the other way around , ” Prince told reporters at the time of his stateside return .
“ I ’ ll be grateful for the rest of my life that I had a chance to do something in this war that was not destructive , ” he explained .
“ Nothing for me can ever compare with the satisfaction I got from helping free our prisoners.
” Portions of the article first appeared in “ We Hold These Truths ” by Randall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Seventy-five years ago a company of Army Rangers and Filipino guerrilla fighters conducted the most successful rescue mission in U.S. military history, freeing over 500 prisoners of war being held by the Japanese.
The raid took place at Cabanatuan prison camp, located about 65 miles north of Manila, in the Philippines.
Most of the POWs in the camp were survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March, which took place in the spring of 1942.
The Japanese had struck the Philippines only hours after hitting Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and with the same devastating effect, destroying most of the American airpower and naval forces stationed in the U.S. territory.
Shortly thereafter, over 57,000 seasoned Japanese soldiers landed on Luzon and pushed the combined American and Filipino forces under General Douglas MacArthur into retreat to the Bataan Peninsula at the mouth of Manila Harbor, where they awaited American reinforcements and supplies, which never came.
The Americans and Filipinos made a brave stand for four months against the Japanese onslaught until a lack of food and supplies, as well as the spread of disease, made surrender appear inevitable.
As the end drew near, President Franklin Roosevelt directed General MacArthur to relinquish his command and break through the enemy lines to Australia to lead the Allied counteroffensive against the Japanese.
MacArthur, heartsick, obeyed, and upon reaching Australia, resolutely told reporters, “I came through and I shall return.” His promise, “I shall return,” became a rallying cry among Filipinos in the then-occupied American commonwealth.
The Japanese made their final push in the Philippines on Good Friday, April 3, 1942. Six days later, the Americans surrendered. It was the largest surrender of U.S. forces in the nation’s history.
Had you heard about this rescue mission before? Yes No
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The 65-mile Bataan Death March to a POW camp followed.
Approximately 6,000 of the 78,000 of the combined American and Filipino troops died on the march, due to Japanese brutality, denial of food and water and exhaustion from the months of previous fighting.
Today we mark National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day, commemorating the April 9, 1942 surrender of approximately 10,000 US military personnel & 65,000 Filipino soldiers on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines to the invading Imperial Japanese Army #WWII #History pic.twitter.com/tnc0iaSEyE — WWII Memorial Friends (@WWIIMemorial) April 9, 2019
Thousands more died within a month after arriving at the prisoner of war camps from the effects of the march.
On the first anniversary of the fall of Bataan in April 1943, MacArthur issued a communique reminding Americans of the thousands of their countrymen languishing and dying as prisoners of the Japanese.
“I pray that a merciful God may not delay too long their redemption, that the day of salvation be not so far removed that they perish, that it be not again too late,” MacArthur said.
“Until we claim again the ghastly remnants of its last gaunt garrison, we can but stand humble supplicants before Almighty God. There lies our Holy Grail,” the general added in another statement a month later on the anniversary of the surrender of all U.S. forces in the Philippines to Japan.
Dr. Conrad Crane, chief of historical services for the Army Heritage and Education Center, told The Western Journal that fulfilling his pledge to redeem the Philippines was personal to MacArthur.
“There’s a lot of honor and prestige for MacArthur wrapped up in the Philippines and a part of that too is an obligation not just to the Filipinos left behind, but also to those troops left behind,” Crane said.
It would take the general two-and-a-half years to make good on his pledge, as he led the 3,500-mile push from Australia back to the archipelago.
Finally, in October 1944, the war leader could proclaim from a beachhead on Leyte Island, “People of the Philippines, I have returned … The hour of your redemption is here.”
In early January 1945, U.S. forces landed on Luzon island and began the push toward Manila.
By this time, most of the American POWs had been transported back to Japan or Manchuria to work as slave laborers.
However, among those remaining were over 500 being held at Cabanatuan.
When one of MacArthur’s top generals, Sixth Army commander Gen. Walter Krueger, learned of the camp, he green-lit a mission to rescue the POWs, knowing they were in danger of being killed by the Japanese as American forces drew near.
Jim Zobel, the archivist at the MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia, told The Western Journal that Krueger was aware of the massacre of about 140 American POWs the previous month on Palawan Island.
Charlie Company of the 6th Ranger Battalion, beefed up with an extra platoon to be 120 strong, was chosen for the perilous mission to slip 30 miles behind enemy lines, undetected, liberate the camp and lead the POWs back to freedom.
They would be supported on the mission by 200 Philippine guerrilla fighters.
Opposing them would be approximately 250 Japanese guards and other troops housed at Cabanatuan, with nearly 1,000 Japanese soldiers positioned less than a mile from the camp.
Only four miles away, at Cabanatuan City, were an additional 9,000 Japanese forces.
Lt. Col. Henry Mucci led the American rescue operation.
After explaining the odds they were up against, Mucci urged any of his Rangers who had doubts not to go on the mission, Hampton Sides recorded in his bestselling 2001 book “Ghost Soldiers.”
“It’s going to be extremely dangerous,” he said. “Some of you might not make it back … I only want men who feel lucky.”
The West Point graduate waited a moment to let his words sink in; not one of his soldiers backed out, according to William Breuer in his 1994 book “The Great Raid.”
“One other thing,” Mucci said. “There’ll be no atheists on this trip.”
“Men, I want all of you to go to church. Get down on your knees and pray. Swear to God that’ll you’ll die if need be rather than let any harm come to our POWs!”
Robert Prince, commander of Charlie Company, confirmed to me during an interview in the late 1990s, Mucci’s remarks.
All the Rangers going on the mission heeded the request and went to chapel services.
Armed with intelligence provided by Filipino guerrillas and the 6th Army’s Alamo Scouts, Mucci and his men crossed into enemy-held territory on the morning of Jan. 28.
They carefully evaded significant numbers of Japanese forces, including a column of tanks that could have ripped their ranks to shreds, and reached the vicinity of Cabanatuan on the 29th.
There they learned more about the Japanese troops in the camp and that thousands of enemy troops were moving through the area.
Mucci and Prince decided to delay their rescue operation a day.
The Rangers launched the raid of Cabanatuan on the evening of Jan. 30.
A P-61 Black Widow fighter plane flew low over the camp creating a diversion, so the U.S. troops could draw in close to the fence-line undetected.
75 years ago first flight Northrop P-61 Black Widow, the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and first aircraft designed to use radar. The prototype was powered by R-2800-25S Double Wasp radials turning 12 ft 2 in diameter Curtiss C5425-A10 4-blade props pic.twitter.com/C7apaFG593 — FAST Museum ✈ (@FASTmuseum) November 20, 2017
Suddenly, at 7:44 p.m. local time, the night sky lit up with a fusillade of gunfire as Rangers took out the Japanese guards in their assigned sectors.
The Americans quickly broke through the front gate and fanned out into the camp.
Many of the POWs were terrified when they heard all the gunfire, thinking the Japanese had decided to kill them rather than let them be liberated.
POW Ralph Hibbs shouted at Rangers bounding by him, “What the hell is going on?”
“Where’d you come from? Are you guerrillas?” the Army physician asked.
Hibbs and the other POWs were confused by the Rangers’ uniforms and weapons, which were all new to them.
“We’re Rangers — General Krueger’s boys” came the response to Hibbs.
“What are Rangers?” the POW wanted to know. The first elite Ranger units were not formed until June 1942. A rescuer finally lost patience with the dialogue as gunfire continued to erupt around the camp and gave Hibbs “a ten-foot kick squarely in the ass” to send the message to get to the front gate.
The frenetic scene during the liberation was depicted in the 2005 film “The Great Raid.”
All the POWs were directed to go to the front gate if they could walk (or Rangers carried them). There, they were met and escorted to a nearby riverbed.
The most fragile among them were then loaded onto caraboa (ox) carts provided by the local Filipinos.
Meanwhile, less than a mile from Cabanatuan, 200 Philippine guerrillas under the leadership of Captain Juan Pajota held off nearly a thousand Japanese soldiers.
Pajota’s men managed to partially blow a bridge over the Cabu River, which ran between Cabanatuan and the Japanese forces, which prevented tanks and other heavy vehicles from crossing.
The guerrillas then mowed down Japanese troops with machine-gun fire as they repeatedly tried to make Bonzai charges over what remained of the bridge.
WWII Picture of the Day – Captain Pajota’s guerrillas at Cabanatuan, 1945. pic.twitter.com/gzDdDSKf3h — World War II History (@thewaryears) April 13, 2019
The liberated POWs, guarded by the Rangers and guerrillas, marched through the night toward the American lines, only encountering some light Japanese resistance along the way.
Things had come full circle from the spring of 1942. Now instead of being forced to endure a Death March, they willingly marched to life and freedom.
The next morning a powerful moment for Hibbs was the sight of an American flag, flying on top of a U.S. Army tank.
He realized it was the first time he’d seen the Stars and Stripes since being taken captive nearly three years before.
“We wept openly,” fellow POW Abie Abraham recalled, “and we wept without shame.”
Hibbs told me during an interview in 1997 that MacArthur came to visit the liberated POWs days after their rescue, and the general cried when he saw them.
Hibbs felt the tears were a genuine expression of the emotion the general felt at being reunited with his men and regret of the toll the captivity had taken on them.
Zobel said that MacArthur did not stay for minutes, but hours listening to the POWs’ stories of deprivation and abuse, and repeatedly apologized, saying, “I’m too late. I’m too late.”
No precise number exists of the Americans who died while being held as Japanese POWs, but it is likely about 40 percent or just shy 11,000. Of these, 2,656 perished at Cabanatuan.
Two Rangers died during the liberation of the camp and four others were wounded, while the Philippine guerrillas suffered no dead, but over a dozen casualties. One POW died of a heart attack during the raid.
A total of 512 POWs were rescued.
“It was a brilliant operation done with the minimum of casualties and the maximum of result. It was a model for other operations,” Crane said.
Rangers’ Raid on Cabanatuan a Classic Joint Special Operation https://t.co/jINl4gd9Qu pic.twitter.com/cZ939bXiLL — Special Operations (@officialspecops) May 16, 2017
The military historian added that by taking on the mission, America proved its commitment not to forget her soldiers held as POWs.
Both Mucci and Prince were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their leadership during the raid on Cabanatuan. Several other Rangers received Silver or Bronze stars for their heroism.
Prince and some of his fellow Rangers returned to the United States in March of 1945 to a heroes’ welcome, which included a visit with President Roosevelt in the Oval Office.
San Francisco rolled out the red carpet that same month for the returning POWs.
Thousands crowded on the Golden Gate Bridge waving American flags as the POWs’ ship passed through. Huge banners could be seen reading, “Welcome Home Heroes of Bataan and Corregidor” and “God Bless You Heroes.”
“People everywhere try to thank us. I think the thanks should go the other way around,” Prince told reporters at the time of his stateside return.
“I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life that I had a chance to do something in this war that was not destructive,” he explained. “Nothing for me can ever compare with the satisfaction I got from helping free our prisoners.”
Portions of the article first appeared in “We Hold These Truths” by Randall DeSoto.
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