1 of 5

Write now Article Tools

INTRODUCTION

December 7, 1941. Shortly before 8 am on Sunday morning, the quiet naval base of Pearl Harbor was invaded by the Japanese. The Japanese who were on a quest for power and control, attacked unprovoked and undetected, taking Pearl by surprise. With the desired control of the Pacific Theater, the Japanese had to first eliminate the link between the Philippines and the U.S. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, they severed the link, leaving the Philippines defenseless, and no way to obtain reinforcements. Two regiments from New Mexico, who were stationed in the Philippine Islands, were called the 200th and the 515th Coastal Artillery Units. Hours after the assault on Pearl Harbor, the Philippine Islands also came under attack.

This began the Battle of Bataan. For months the stationed Americans and Filipinos fought long and hard. They were exhausted, starving, and thirsty. They fought on small rations of food, and they hardly got to sleep. The Japanese were persistent; they fought with hordes of new troops everyday. Finally after 4 long months of fighting, the fatigued troops at Bataan collapsed and surrendered on April 9, 1942.

Immediately after winning the Battle, the Japanese wanted to clear out the defeated troops. This was called the Bataan Death March. The POWs were to march for 66 miles and ride a train for 25 miles. During the March, about 50% of those that started the march: died. The soldiers were denied food, water, and proper toiletries. If any one fell out of line, stopped to take a rest or a drink, they were bayoneted, beheaded, or shot by the Japanese officials.

When the POWs reached Camp O'Donnell, the few soldiers that were in the best condition were taken out of the concentration camp. They were taken to back to the Bataan Peninsula. There they helped the cleanup and salvage crews that were already there. About half of these "volunteers" were never seen again.

In May 6, 1948, Corregidor fell. Most of the captured troops spent 39 months in the POW prison camps. They were tortured systematically. Some were beaten; others were forced to work on the land surrounding the site. The soldiers were dying like flies, at a rate of 500 daily.

Jap hell ships were more or less worse than the Death March and the POW camps put together. Approximately 750 men were squashed in a hold only big enough for 400. There was only one toilet bucket and most of the men had Dysentery, so that was pretty rough. Day after day one of the Jap officials would tell the

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about World War II: The Bataan Death March?
We want to hear your view. Write now!