Besides operating alongside the American forces, the Hunters undertook independent operations against Japanese forces within its area of responsibility. One such operation was that of the 44th Infantry Hunters ROTC Division in Laguna de Bay near Talim Island on February 17, 1945. In the fighting that followed, Lt Col Frisco San Juan, another PMA cadet, distinguished himself for his boldness and coolness under fire. The citation for the Gold Cross medal awarded to him gives the following account of this particular action:

"When the guerrilla units in Eastern Rizal were hard pressed by superior enemy forces, the mission to get reinforcements and arms from Hunters Headquarters in Cupang, Muntinglupa, Rizal fell on Lt Col San Juan. Together with 10 men, he boarded a sailboat for the uncertain and dangerous assignment. Spotted by a suspicious Japanese patrol boat in the course of their early morning trip, his party poised to attack. However, with coolness and presence of mind in the face of imminent danger, he ordered his men to hold their fire in order to explout the element of surprise. His apparent inaction drew the enemy force nearer to become a perfect target of his precise and strategic move. From 15 yards, he ordered his men to fire at the designated target, resulting in the complete annihiliation of the enemy force and the singin of their heavily armed patrol boat witho9ut any damage to the guerrilla force.