Burning Bridges, Barriers Built, 16,000 Lives Lost Marching

James nervously awaits his orders, knowing that whatever it is, it's going to involve greater risk then previously known.

America was ill-prepared to tackle a world war at both ends of the European continent. American senior military had to make decisions, decisions that they knew would not have the best outcome for several thousand troops.  One major decision determined which troops would get aid and attention or which troops would be 'left behind', 'abandoned', and 'defenseless' was ultimately determined by several meetings between Winston Churchill, FDR, China and The Soviet Union.

Only a few days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, some say it could have even been that same day, Japan enters the Philippines. With little resistance and much ease, they make their way towards Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Actions heard and witnessed by James in the following days after Japanese forces set foot on the Philippine island helped James determine that the 100,000 or so men under the orders of General MacArthur were seriously disorganized, under prepared, under trained, lacking sufficient communication, and left with little or no air or naval support. James in disillusionment, watches the scenes of the Japanese progression unfold -much like a skunk let loose in a mall. Cities fell with ease, creating shock waves of disbelief along with low moral to the military troops fighting to keep Manila out of the Japanese hands.  Back at home, Senior American military leaders grew increasingly alarmed and concerned by the ease of the Japanese take over on the Philippine islands.

Dec 23, 1941, only weeks after Pearl Harbor, James receives orders from General MacArthur that all troops are to begin retreating from Manila towards Bataan.  As James and his battalion retreated, they would collapse any steel bridges, burn wooden bridges, leave tank road blocks, and double barb wire fences in hopes of halting the Japanese progression.

Pic of American Soldiers placing
straw on a wooden bridge to burn
it down to prevent Japanese soldiers
from crossing it.

Army soldiers in fox holes during their
retreat towards Bataan

Road blocks created to halt the progression
of Japanese military to Bataan

By Jan 2 1942, only days later, Manila is under Japanese control, despite Manila being declared an 'Open City.' by the Philippine government. At this point almost one half of the Philippine island is under Japanese control.  The Japanese needed to take control of the entire island - onward they trudge conquering towns and villages on their way towards Bataan.

As the America men retreated towards Bataan, their promise of food, supplies, and aid was no where to be found.  The decision on which war front to fight first had been determined by America and her allies - all supplies were directed towards taking out Germany First, therefore leaving the troops in the Philippines on their own.   The armed troops, hungry, tired, malnourished, and exhausted found themselves alone, abandoned, and suddenly with a new General, General Edward King.

For the next couple of months James and his fellow soldiers were left with the orders to fight til death to keep some type of a strong hold in the Philippines.  All Army personnel, including American and Philippine men, nurses, and others, were left with this impossible feat of an order.

General Edward King signing over Bataan and almost 70,000 troops to the
Japanese

On April 9, 1942, with reluctance and hesitation, Bataan was signed over to the Japanese by General Edward King. The soldiers were, emaciated from lack of food, injured from fighting, and sick from a lack of medical aid for the past few months.  General King couldn't fight with an army of men literally wasting away.

Out of fear and humility, he signed over the city of Bataan in the hopes that thousands of men would quit dying.

In exhaustion, fear, defeat, and deprivation James and about 70,000 other men were rounded up and forced to walk from Bataan to Camp O'Donnell, a military training camp set up to house 10,000 men maximum.   James in seriously declining health due to malnourishment worried about the tough 70 or so miles they had to march, which would become known as the 'Bataan Death March'.  While marching along this route, he witnessed grave horrendous war acts from the Japanese troops towards the American military, and Philippine civilians.

While marching, the men were only fed a bowl of rice once a day and allowed only one drink of water during that meal (usually floating with maggots).   If a POW staggered, slowed, or looked at one of the Japanese men they'd immediately be killed, by either gunfire or beheaded.  If they tried to get a drink along the death march, they'd be brutally killed right there in front of their peers. For those that were wounded and couldn't keep up they were tied down and ran over by Japanese vehicles. If any locals tried to help the POW's along the march, they'd be brutally beaten to death in front of their village.  It is estimated that 16,000 men died along this 70 mile stretch to Camp O'Donnell.

Troops carrying injured soldiers along the march

Japanese soldiers looting the American soldiers along
the march

Soldier beheaded by Japanese on a whim

Soldier ready for beheading along
the march

Those lucky ones, which James was, that made it to Camp O'Donnell found life even worse then the couple of weeks along the Bataan Death March.

The Japanese military were not prepared to take care of this many POW's, and when they reached Camp O'Donnell they found that this military training camp, now turned prison camp, was not set up to handle the remaining 54,000 POW's.

When the American troops made it to their prison camp, they found one spigot to service the entire camp.  With a lack of sufficient toiletry, food, medical aid, and basic needs; malaria, dysentery, beriberi, and other diseases set in and ran rampant. Men who were sick prior to making it to the prison camp were the first to contract these deadly, yet treatable, diseases.  James witnessed, between 400-500 men a day die.  With so many deaths taking place daily, those that were healthy enough helped dig and bury their comrades in mass graves just outside the prison walls.   The stintch and smell that permeated the camp became seared into James' memories forever.    As James' time as a POW continued, he too found himself fighting against all odds.