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POWs to shake the man next to them. If they didn't move then they were probably dead. With that, the officials would haul the dead to the deck and throw them overboard, making more room for the men still alive. Most of the time the hell ships were fired at by American submarines. The vessels were unmarked so the Americans thought they were just enemy ships. Out of the 40 ships in the original convoy, about half made it to the destination.

My Experience

I, Daniel Walker, was one of the first US soldiers to fight in the Battle of Bataan. I have gone through hell and lived to tell my story. Let me tell you one thing, this experience of mine is not one you would like to encounter. It was torture, worse than you can possibly imagine.

I was assigned to the 200th Coastal Artillery Unit and stationed in the Philippine Islands. I was there enjoying the culture for a few months, with my buddies of course. Then came the day that would shape my future. December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. For those of us assigned to the Philippines, it was December 8, 1941. The Equator is what made the time difference. When my company and I heard the news, we got ourselves ready for when the Japanese were going to strike.

It didn't take long for the Japanese to overwhelm our base. The entire island was invaded that very same day. We were cut off from the US, we didn't have any food, ammunition, or reinforcements coming in because the Japanese had us surrounded. Even with this knowledge, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave orders to our general to have us "fight to the Last man."

When we finally got to go eat lunch, we were placed on rations. We got less than one pound of rice to eat. Afterward, we were told to pack up our things because we were going to the jungle. I guess the Japanese had already landed on the island so we had to move. We arrived at a location and were told to form a front line in case the Japanese caught up to us. We stayed there all day and all night, sleeping out in the open.

A few days later we were told to leave our positions and go to find new positions. When we got someplace new we made fresh camps. We stayed there for about a week maybe two. However long it was, all I know is that the Japanese found our campsite. That day was the first day we exchanged fire with the Japanese and it would not be the last.

Eventually, we started moving again. Over the course of the next 3 months we walked, fired, walked, threw grenades, ran, and sometimes ate.

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