Philippine-american War: Facts and History

The war came to the Philippines in a surprise air attack. In the case of the Philippines, however, this initial strike was followed by a full-scale invasion of the main island of Luzon three days later. Then the US and Philippines were forced to retreat on the island's western Bataan Peninsula. The American and Filipino forces fought until surrendering to the Japanese on April 9.

The Japanese immediately began to march 76,000 prisoners, with 12,000 of them being Americans, the remainder were Filipinos, traveling toward captivity along a route of death. Soon later the world learned of how bad the 76,000 men suffered along the 60-mile journey that became known as the Bataan Death March. Japanese murder, disease, exposure to the hot sun, died deficiency, and not enough water took the lives of around 5,200 Americans along the way. Many prisoners were stabbed, shot, beheaded or just left to die on the side of the road. One survivor reported, "A Japanese soldier took my canteen, gave the water to a horse, and threw the canteen away.” also one stated "The stronger were not permitted to help the weaker. We then would hear shots behind us." The would force the prisoners to sit for hours in the hot sun without water. It was also stated that "Many of us went crazy and several died.

The march lasted five days to twelve days depending on who the person is. The Japanese were not prepared for the large number of prisoners, the brutality came from the Japanese attitude that a soldier should die before they surrender. In Japan when a warrior surrenders they give up of all rights to treatment as a human being. Eventually when the prisoners reached a clearing and were introduced to something called Oriental Sun Treatment. This was where the Japanese forced the capturees to sit in the sun for hours on end.

This would weaken the people spiritually and mentally. Once they reached the San Fernando POW Camp they were shown to even more Oriental Sun Treatment. The prison yard was filled with sick, dying, and dead American and Philippine soldiers. They were spread around in the filth and insects that covered the ground. Practically all had dysentery or other deadly diseases. There were also other tropical diseases that I had never even heard of.