Apr+1942+Allies+Surrender+in+Philippines;+Bataan+Death+March


 * __ [[image:luzon_surrender.jpg width="256" height="280" align="left"]]The Bataan Death March begins. __**

Japan had targeted many places, but another target for them was the American-held Philippines[1]. On April 9, 1942 the American and Filipino soldiers had decided they would not last much longer in the fight with the Japanese on the Bataan Peninsula on West Luzon island in the Philippines[4]. They were low on food, ammunition, and men were dying from a lack of nourishment[4]. On April 10, 1942 78,000 prisoners began marching up to the East Coast of Bataan, and the destination camp was the O’Donnell, which was north of Peninsula[3]. This march was 70 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando[4]. And because there was so many men, they had to walk those 70 miles[4].


 * __ During the long journey. __**

The men were already so weak from the battle and they had to march in tropical heat, with lack of food/water, and brutal violence from their captors had killed 6000 American and up to 10,000 Filipino prisoners in the marching [1]. The men were feed only a few cups of rice, little water and food and when they had stopped in front of clean wells they could not drink it[3]. Some of the soldier were even killed if they had asked for water.[3]. The Japanese also committed beatings at random and also random killings[4]. 65 miles over a course of 6 days when they reached San Fernando, and when they got there, 115 men were loaded into box cars, which had caused more deaths because of heat exhaustion and suffocating in the tiny cars.

When those box cars had made it to Capas, the prisoners were unloaded and forced to walk seven more miles [3]. When they got to the camp, the were told to lay out any possessions that they had and if anyone had any Japanese made items, or money was killed on the spot of the entrance of camp O’Donnell.
 * __ From Capas to Camp O’Donnell. __**

__Works Cited:__


 * 1) Ramirez, Susan, Peter Stearns, and Sam Wineburg.//World History; Human Legacy//. Holt, RIneheart, and Winston, 2008. 450. Print.
 * 2) Ayers, Edward, Robert Schulzinger, Jesus Teja, and Deborah White. //American Anthem//. Holt, Rineheart and Winston, 2007. 435. Print.
 * 3) http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3667
 * 4) http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1737.html