Okla-homey
4/10/2006, 06:11 AM
April 10, 1942: The Bataan Death March begins
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7105/aaaaaaaaaaabastardsbataan7rc.gif (http://imageshack.us)
On this day 64 years ago, one the most dramatic and horrible chapters of American military history begins. The day after the surrender of the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese, the 75,000 Filipino and American troops captured on the Bataan Peninsula begin a forced march to a prison camp near Cabanatuan.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4033/aaaaaanewspaper3bv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
During this infamous trek, which became known for all time as the "Bataan Death March," already starved prisoners were forced to march 85 miles in six days amid tropical heat, with only one meal of rice during the entire journey.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/2968/aaaaaaaabataanmap5no.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Filipino civilians along the route of march tried to sneak food and water to the marchers. Many were killed for their attempted kindness.
By the end of the march, which was punctuated with atrocities committed by the Japanese guards, hundreds of Americans and many more Filipinos had died.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3549/aaaaaaaaphotos313ej.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Men who couldn't go on were bayoneted, shot and in some cases ritually beheaded by Japanese officers
The day after Japan bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines began. Within a month, the Japanese had captured Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and the U.S. and Filipino defenders of Luzon were forced to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7608/aaaaaaa21301oc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Only brief rest stops were allowed. The Japanese guards were changed every three hours. The sick and hungry Filipino and American GI's were only afforded 5 minute breaks at approximately 2 hour intervals.
For the next three months, the combined U.S.-Filipino army, under the command of U.S. General Jonathan Wainwright, held out impressively despite a lack of naval and air support. Finally, on April 7, with his army crippled by starvation and disease, Wainwright began withdrawing as many troops as possible to the island fortress of Corregidor in Manila Bay.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9829/aaaaaaaaaphotos72kd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The prisoners had to carry their own wounded as long as they could. They knew if they didn't carry their comrades their death would come instantly
However, two days later, 75,000 Allied troops were trapped by the Japanese and forced to surrender. The next day, the Bataan Death March began. Of those who survived to reach the Japanese prison camp near Cabanatuan, few lived to celebrate U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's liberation of Luzon in 1945.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7153/aaaaaaaaaaaphotos359gh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The prisoners were repeatedly searched for absolutely anything of value and were denied anything that could be a source of comfort including family photos, letters and even bibles.
In the Philippines, homage is paid to the victims of the Bataan Death March every April on Bataan Day, a national holiday that sees large groups of Filipinos solemnly rewalking parts of the death route.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/189/aaaaaaaaaaantijapan21xe.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Word of the Japanese cruelty and atrocities at Bataan spread quickly and fueled American resolve to destroy the Japanese Empire.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6562/aaaaaaaaaaaatrmnltr63ib.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Letter received by a "Death March" and POW survivor after his liberation at war's end.
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2687/insane7zo9db.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7105/aaaaaaaaaaabastardsbataan7rc.gif (http://imageshack.us)
On this day 64 years ago, one the most dramatic and horrible chapters of American military history begins. The day after the surrender of the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese, the 75,000 Filipino and American troops captured on the Bataan Peninsula begin a forced march to a prison camp near Cabanatuan.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4033/aaaaaanewspaper3bv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
During this infamous trek, which became known for all time as the "Bataan Death March," already starved prisoners were forced to march 85 miles in six days amid tropical heat, with only one meal of rice during the entire journey.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/2968/aaaaaaaabataanmap5no.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Filipino civilians along the route of march tried to sneak food and water to the marchers. Many were killed for their attempted kindness.
By the end of the march, which was punctuated with atrocities committed by the Japanese guards, hundreds of Americans and many more Filipinos had died.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3549/aaaaaaaaphotos313ej.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Men who couldn't go on were bayoneted, shot and in some cases ritually beheaded by Japanese officers
The day after Japan bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines began. Within a month, the Japanese had captured Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and the U.S. and Filipino defenders of Luzon were forced to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/7608/aaaaaaa21301oc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Only brief rest stops were allowed. The Japanese guards were changed every three hours. The sick and hungry Filipino and American GI's were only afforded 5 minute breaks at approximately 2 hour intervals.
For the next three months, the combined U.S.-Filipino army, under the command of U.S. General Jonathan Wainwright, held out impressively despite a lack of naval and air support. Finally, on April 7, with his army crippled by starvation and disease, Wainwright began withdrawing as many troops as possible to the island fortress of Corregidor in Manila Bay.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9829/aaaaaaaaaphotos72kd.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The prisoners had to carry their own wounded as long as they could. They knew if they didn't carry their comrades their death would come instantly
However, two days later, 75,000 Allied troops were trapped by the Japanese and forced to surrender. The next day, the Bataan Death March began. Of those who survived to reach the Japanese prison camp near Cabanatuan, few lived to celebrate U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's liberation of Luzon in 1945.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7153/aaaaaaaaaaaphotos359gh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The prisoners were repeatedly searched for absolutely anything of value and were denied anything that could be a source of comfort including family photos, letters and even bibles.
In the Philippines, homage is paid to the victims of the Bataan Death March every April on Bataan Day, a national holiday that sees large groups of Filipinos solemnly rewalking parts of the death route.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/189/aaaaaaaaaaantijapan21xe.gif (http://imageshack.us)
Word of the Japanese cruelty and atrocities at Bataan spread quickly and fueled American resolve to destroy the Japanese Empire.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6562/aaaaaaaaaaaatrmnltr63ib.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Letter received by a "Death March" and POW survivor after his liberation at war's end.
http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2687/insane7zo9db.jpg (http://imageshack.us)