National History Day 2007-08
Junior Division Group Website
By: Josh Isenhower & Nicolas Wilkerson
April, 1942:
The Bataan Death March is an infamous part of history. The 60-mile march began when American and Filipino soldiers surrendered after a 3-month battle for Bataan against the Japanese. About 78,000 American and Filipino soldiers were forced to march to Camp O'Donnell where they were imprisoned until the end of WWII. The Japanese beat and taunted their prisoners to the point of death. One reason was because according to the Bushido code of honor the Americans lost their own honor when they surrendered. With a death rate of over 60%, it was one of the cruelest moments in WWII.
"We're the battling bastards of Bataan,
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam,
No aunts, no uncles, no nephews, no nieces,
No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces,
... and nobody gives a damn."
This chant captured the soldier's sense of abandonment.
