Everybody knows what happened in this "Bataan Death March". This is one of the big sacrifices of our hero men for the democracy that we are having right now. Remembering the horrifying Bataan Death March, Major General P. King, Jr. commanding Luzon force, Bataan, Philippine Islands, at dawn of April 9, 1942 and against the orders of Generals Douglas Mac Arthur and Jonathan Wainwright, surrendered more than 76,000 starving and disease-men.  Route of death march. Image map via Wikipedia.
They were forced to endure a 90-mile enforced march in deep dust, over-vehicle-broken macadam roads, and crammed into rail cars to captivity at Camp O' Donell. Thousands died and route from disease, starvation, dehydration, heat prostration, untreated wounds and wanton execution. Prisoners were beaten randomly and were often denied promised food and water. Those who fell behind were usually executed or left die. The sides of the roads became littered with dead bodies and those begging for help. Approximately 5,000-10,000 Filipino and 600-650 American prisoners of war died before they could reach Camp O' Donell. Many prisoners of war died in this march and for this, we should owe their memories with gratitude and great respect. The fruit of their great sacrifices is the freedom that we are having right now. |