The Battle of Bataan / The Bataan Death March
On April 9th, 1942, the US and Filipino troops surrender to the Japanese after the rigorous 3 year Battle of the Bataan. The men fought in squalor conditions with little supply, outdated weapons, and some got weak enough that they couldn't lift their weapons. This all ended when the Japanese sent in fresh troops to fight the American and Filipino men. When they surrendered, the US and Filipino men, under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, were to be marched to Camp O' Donnell, 69 miles away. This became known as the Bataan Death March.
(General Douglas MacArthur graduated from the US Military Academy in 1903. During 1919-1922, he was the superintendent at of West Point. In 1937, he served as the military adviser in the Philippines. Eventually, he was given the command of the Filipino and American soldiers.)
Here on page 7 is a document that Roosevelt sent to MacArthur.
(General Douglas MacArthur graduated from the US Military Academy in 1903. During 1919-1922, he was the superintendent at of West Point. In 1937, he served as the military adviser in the Philippines. Eventually, he was given the command of the Filipino and American soldiers.)
Here on page 7 is a document that Roosevelt sent to MacArthur.
During the march, the Japanese were ruthless. In total, 30,000-10,000 Filipinos died, and 100-650 Americans were killed. These men marched through scorching heat and humid jungles. Thousands died, and those who survived became prisoners of war. Some who surrendered were killed on spot, same with the men who could not keep up or fell over during the march. The men would go without food or water for 3 days, and their only water supply was from the buffalo wallows on the side of the roads. Civilians who tried to help the wounded and starving soldiers were also shot. The Japanese killed 7,000-10,000 men on this march in all.
When the men reached the camp, they hoped it would be better. It was, but only by marginally. This camp was meant to hold 10,000 men, however the Japanese were cramming in 60,000. Many, many diseases swept through the camp, killing as many as 400 a day. The Japanese then moved the Americans to another camp, Camp one that was a little bit better. There were doctors to heal the sick and wounded, and there was more space.
As US soldiers were slowly making their way to the Philippines, the Japanese evacuated prisoners. The Americans were shoved onto a ship to go to Japan to be slave laborers. The ship was cramped enough that the men couldn't sit or lay down. Many died by suffocation and the Japanese wouldn't remove the bodies.
In total, 2/3 of the Americans in Japanese hands died, and it has become one of Japans most heinous war crimes.
When the men reached the camp, they hoped it would be better. It was, but only by marginally. This camp was meant to hold 10,000 men, however the Japanese were cramming in 60,000. Many, many diseases swept through the camp, killing as many as 400 a day. The Japanese then moved the Americans to another camp, Camp one that was a little bit better. There were doctors to heal the sick and wounded, and there was more space.
As US soldiers were slowly making their way to the Philippines, the Japanese evacuated prisoners. The Americans were shoved onto a ship to go to Japan to be slave laborers. The ship was cramped enough that the men couldn't sit or lay down. Many died by suffocation and the Japanese wouldn't remove the bodies.
In total, 2/3 of the Americans in Japanese hands died, and it has become one of Japans most heinous war crimes.