Post by rynette on Apr 2, 2009 13:40:14 GMT 8
Many interesting stories have been told about the heroes and martyrs in the Philippines but nothing would equal the bravery and sacrifices of those soldiers who gallantly fought and defended the Philippines against the invading forces of the Imperial Army of Japan in the battle of Bataan.
Over seventy thousand (70,000) American and Filipino soldiers under the command of General Douglas MacArthur defended Bataan peninsula against the invading Imperial Army of Japan during World War II. They held up fighting for more than three months believing that reenforcement, supplies, medicines and ammunitions were underway as promised by General MacArthur. Little did they know that such promised had long been forsaken. As the fighting men of Bataan were surrendered by General Edward King Jr. to the Japanese forces he said, "Let it be known that you, the fighting men of Bataan did not surrender to the Japanese I alone surrendered you to the enemies !"
After the surrender of the Bataan Forces, the prisoners of war were stripped of their personal belongings, those found with any object that formerly belong to a Japanese soldier were summarily executed. They were divided into groups of 100 men and were forced to march on a road described as " the trail of death."
History have recorded that the " trail of death " became littered with bodies of the USAFFE soldiers who were massacred and murdered as they were forced to injure the most cruel and inhumane treatment ever inflicted by the conquering forces to it's prisoners of war.
The trail of the death was later known as the infamous "Bataan Death March."
To all the American and Filipino soldiers whose blood were shed to fight the invading forces of the Japanese Imperial Army in the Philippines during World War II, this book is solemnly dedicated."
Over seventy thousand (70,000) American and Filipino soldiers under the command of General Douglas MacArthur defended Bataan peninsula against the invading Imperial Army of Japan during World War II. They held up fighting for more than three months believing that reenforcement, supplies, medicines and ammunitions were underway as promised by General MacArthur. Little did they know that such promised had long been forsaken. As the fighting men of Bataan were surrendered by General Edward King Jr. to the Japanese forces he said, "Let it be known that you, the fighting men of Bataan did not surrender to the Japanese I alone surrendered you to the enemies !"
After the surrender of the Bataan Forces, the prisoners of war were stripped of their personal belongings, those found with any object that formerly belong to a Japanese soldier were summarily executed. They were divided into groups of 100 men and were forced to march on a road described as " the trail of death."
History have recorded that the " trail of death " became littered with bodies of the USAFFE soldiers who were massacred and murdered as they were forced to injure the most cruel and inhumane treatment ever inflicted by the conquering forces to it's prisoners of war.
The trail of the death was later known as the infamous "Bataan Death March."
To all the American and Filipino soldiers whose blood were shed to fight the invading forces of the Japanese Imperial Army in the Philippines during World War II, this book is solemnly dedicated."
