WAR IN THE PACIFIC
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. And on December 8th, the Japanese bombed Clark Air Force Base. When the Japanese arrived, they saw that the fighter planes were sitting on the carrier.
"They were like sitting ducks." -- One of the Japanese pilots recalled.
The support that was needed to help these soldiers were unreachable because all the reinforcement and supplies were destroyed at Pearl Harbor.
General Douglas MacArthur ordered his troops to evacuate to the Bataan Peninsula, where a war of attrition began. The fighting lasted for 3 years. The men were in terrible conditions, fighting in the scorching heat of the jungle on very minimal supplies. The Japanese were blocking all trade ways so the soldiers could get no help. Diseases--such as malaria and dysentery--swept through the troops, and no doctors were available. Soon the men were weak enough that they could barely lift their own weapons. Finally, General Homma laid a new attack with fresh soldiers, and they surrendered.
By March 1942, the Japanese controlled all of the Western Pacific, except for the Philippines.
"They were like sitting ducks." -- One of the Japanese pilots recalled.
The support that was needed to help these soldiers were unreachable because all the reinforcement and supplies were destroyed at Pearl Harbor.
General Douglas MacArthur ordered his troops to evacuate to the Bataan Peninsula, where a war of attrition began. The fighting lasted for 3 years. The men were in terrible conditions, fighting in the scorching heat of the jungle on very minimal supplies. The Japanese were blocking all trade ways so the soldiers could get no help. Diseases--such as malaria and dysentery--swept through the troops, and no doctors were available. Soon the men were weak enough that they could barely lift their own weapons. Finally, General Homma laid a new attack with fresh soldiers, and they surrendered.
By March 1942, the Japanese controlled all of the Western Pacific, except for the Philippines.