Bataan Death March

Some Facts

WW II The first five months of fighting the war

against the Japanese were tough. The Japanese seemed unstoppable. Americans and Filipinos fighting Japanese

together on Bataan Peninsula.

Surrender at Bataan

General MacArthur ordered to abandon American and Filipino troops to go to Australia.

At 12:30 pm., April 9, 1942 Brigadier General Edward King surrendered to Japanese.

Japanese force more than 70,000 American and Filipino soldiers to march almost 80 miles in the blazing heat.

Facts on Death March

Begins April 10, 1942 March lasted for about a week. Americans and Filipinos were already weary,

hungry and thirsty. Some affected by malaria.

Arrival at Starting Point of March

More Facts

The American and Filipino prisoners were stripped of their weapons.

If found to have any article that could have belonged to a Japanese soldier they were immediately killed.

If fell on march soldier could be shot on site or beheaded-atrocities not uncommon for Japanese to commit.

Rarely allowed to rest, eat or drink.

Stops Along the Way

Mariveles to San Fernando Move north from southern tip of Bataan

Peninsula. Once survivors arrived at San Fernando they

were forced into hot, smelly, and crowded boxcars, where many more died.

Arrived at Capas, and marched to Camp O’Donnell.

Map of Death March

Death Toll

It is said that 10,000-14,000 American and Filipinos died on the Bataan Death March.

Survivors of Death March

Forced to work for years as slaves in Japanese labor camps.

Forced to stay in prison camps with miserable conditions.

Many died.

In Memoriam

Day of Valor, many Filipinos march along the route taken by American and Filipino soldiers over sixty years ago.

In The End

Bataan remains the largest surrender of American fighting forces in the nation’s history.

After the war, General Masaharu Homma was tried as a war criminal, convicted and executed.

Bibliography

Beidler, Peter. “Bloody Mud, Rifle Butts, and Barbed Wire: Transforming the Bataan Death March in Silko’s Ceremony.” American Indian Culture and Research Journal 28 (2004): 23-33.

Cervone, John P. “Remembering the Bataan Death March.” Military History 5 (1999): 30- 37.

Haskew, Michael E. “Bataan Death March survivors seek Japanese corporate compensation.” World War II 6 (2001): 6-8.