Guam was occupied by the Japanese in two days, and Wake Island was occupied in two weeks after heavy fighting by the US Naval and Marine forces. However, the Japanese invasion of the Philippines stalled their timetable of conquest. After initially trying to defend the island of Luzon at the beaches, General MacArthar, the Commander of United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) decided to withdrawal all forces to the Bataan peninsula. The organized retreat (retrograde) of the Northern Luzon Forces without proper air cover, under the command of Major General Jonathon (Skinny) M. Wainwright, into Bataan; and while allowing the Southern Luzon Forces, under the command of Major General George M. Parker, Jr., to proceed his forces into Bataan, has gone down as one of the greatest feats of its kind in history.

This retreat was accomplished by a force of almost totally untrained Filipino Army units with US Army cadre; elements of the US Army Philippine Division, several US Army National Guard units [192nd Tank Battalion from Janesville, Wisconsin (Company A), Maywood, Illinois (Company B), Port Clinton, Ohio (Company C), and Herrodsburg, Kentucky (Company D); 194th Tank Battalion from Minnesota, Kentucky, and California; and the 200th Coastal Artillery from New Mexico to name a few], and the 26th US Cavalry (Philippine Scouts), with weapons, ammunition, and equipment mostly from World War I.

26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippines)

OPERATIONS OF THE PROVISIONAL TANK GROUP UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST 1941-1942

It should be noted that the 194th and 192nd Tank Battalions were the first armor units ever deployed overseas by the United States Army and that they were National Guard units and not Regular Army units. These battalions were equipped with the M3 Stuart Light Tank.

After nearly three months of combat operations on Bataan, the Filipino-American Forces on Bataan and Corregidor were nearing their end of resistance against the Japanese. President Roosevelt ordered General MacArthur to leave the Philippines for Australia. Those that remained on the island of Luzon became known as "The Battling Bastards of Bataan" due to the poem written below.

The command of all United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP), headquartered on Corregidor in Malinta Tunnel then passed to Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV.

On 3 April 1942 (Good Friday), after a lull in hostilities, the Japanese attacked Bataan, with overwhelming artillery fire which resulted in the disintigration of the Fil-American front lines, and a collapse of organized resistance by the Fil-American forces in the II Corps area on the eastern side of Bataan. With his troops starving, and sick from various tropical diseases, Major General Edward P. King was forced to surrender all Bataan Fil-American forces on 9 April 1942, (73,000 troops) in order to save lives.

Major General Edward P. King
Commanding General, Bataan Fil-American Forces

Radio Broadcast - Voice of Freedom - Malinta Tunnel - Corregidor - April 9, 1942 Bataan has fallen. The Philippine-American troops on this war-ravaged and bloodstained peninsula have laid down their arms. With heads bloody but unbowed, they have yielded to the superior force and numbers of the enemy. The world will long remember the epic struggle that Filipino and American soldiers put up in the jungle fastness and along the rugged coast of Bataan. They have stood up uncomplaining under the constant and grueling fire of the enemy for more that three months. Besieged on land and blockaded by sea, cut off from all sources of help in the Philippines and in America, the intrepid fighters have done all that human endurance could bear. For what sustained them through all these months of incessant battle was a force that was more than merely physical. It was the force of an unconquerable faith--something in the heart and soul that physical hardship and adversity could not destroy! It was the thought of native land and all that it holds most dear, the thought of freedom and dignity and pride in these most priceless of all our human prerogatives. The adversary, in the pride of his power and triumph, will credit our troops with nothing less than the courage and fortitude that his own troops have shown in battle. Our men have fought a brave and bitterly contested struggle. All the world will testify to the most superhuman endurance with which they stood up until the last in the face of overwhelming odds. But the decision had to come. Men fighting under the banner of unshakable faith are made of something more that flesh, but they are not made of impervious steel. The flesh must yield at last, endurance melts away, and the end of the battle must come. Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand--a beacon to all the liberty-loving peoples of the world--cannot fall! From the book "I Saw the Fall of the Philippines," by Colonel Carlos P. Romulo, Copyright 1942

American soldiers on the
BATAAN DEATH MARCH
(Photo - US Archives)

After the surrender of the Fil-American forces on Bataan, the Japanese began to march the starving, sick, and wounded survivors to Camp O'Donnel over 100 miles away. This event has become known as the "Bataan Death March." Bataan survivors were robbed of personal effects, denied food and water, or received very little; soldiers that could not keep up with the pace were, bayoneted, shot, or beheaded. The number of soldiers beaten and/or executed by the Japanese was in the thousands before the march was completed.

Corregidor an inland two miles from Bataan now faced the brunt of Japanese artillery and bombing. For another month Corregidor held out. On 5 May 1942, the Japanese invaded Corregidor. Lieutenant General Wainwright then sent his last radio message to President Roosevelt on 6 May 1942 -

However, General Homma refused to accept the surrender of Corregidor and the other fortified islands unless the terms included the surrender of all US forces in the Philippines. For about a month the survivors of Corregidor were held hostage until all organized resistance in the Philippines ended in June 1942; this was when all elements in the Visayan-Mindanao Force in the Southern Philippines under the command of Major General William F. Sharp surrendered.

The loss of the Philippines to the Japanese, was the largest single defeat of American Armed Forces in history. This loss was not the result of a lack efforts by our the soldiers and sailors, but rather a lack of preparedness of the United States as a whole. The United States underestimated the Japanese, and we were not willing as a nation to keep our armed forces trained and ready to protect the interests of the United States and its people. The defense of the Philippines is not talked about or studied very much in today's society, and its lessons may go unlearned if we do not remember the sacrifices made the men and women we asked to defend them and us. These brave soldiers and sailors bought us time to prepare our defenses and take the offensive in the Pacific. Their stubborn sacrifices forced the Japanese to commit more forces than they originally planned to the conquest of the Philippines which denied them their use in making their drive of conquest south of the Philippines.

(Offical US Army Photo)

Upon his release from a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp after over three years in captivity, and at the request of General of Army Douglas MacArthur; Lieutenant General Jonathan M. Wainwright appeared at the surrender of the Japanese Empire to the Allies on the deck of the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay . On his way back to the United States, he was promoted to General. A few days after arriving in the United States, General Wainwright was asked to visit the White House by President Truman, and in a ceremony held in the rose garden, General Jonathan M. Wainwright was presented the "Medal of Honor" for his actions while commanding the Northern Luzon Forces, I Corps on Bataan, and all United States Forces in the Philippines. During his time as a Prisoner of War, General Wainwright expected to be court martialed upon his return to the United States, but instead he found a grateful nation who was proud to have him back. Unfortunately, the only thing anyone ever remembers about General Wainwright, is his role in the surrender of the Philippine Islands to the Japanese in 1942. If America had been properly prepared to fight and defend its territory, the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the loss of the Philippines might never have happened.

Today, Japan is an ally, however, we should not forget what has happened in the past. Nor should we hold the present people of Japan responsible for the actions of their grandfathers or great grandfathers. However, the Japanese Government should acknowledge the crimes committed by Japan in the 1930s and 1940s, and require their educational system to teach their children about the true history of Japan in the first half of the 20th century.

We the people of the United States should always ensure that the United States of America is never placed in a position which would allow another enemy to commit the same atrocities to our people, or place members of our armed forces in a situation, where they are not properly trained or maintained to protect themselves and the country as a whole.

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To read the best single historical source on the Bataan and Corregidor campaigns, read the official US Army history of the "Fall of the Philippines" by Louis Morton.

This source is where all researchers start when studying the World War II Military History of the fall of the Philippines. Extremely well researched and written.

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Battling Bastards of Bataan

Outstanding Site by Bataan Veterans

Other printed sources on the "Fall of the Philippines" and the aftermath.

Ancheta Celedonio A., "The Wainwright Papers," Vol 2, New Day Publishers Quezon City, Philippines, 1980. - Reports of the Harbor Defenses of Manila, Provisional Coast Artillery, and the Provisional Tank Group. Out of print.

Bartsch, William H., "Doomed at the Start - American Pursuit Pilots in the Philippines, 1941-1942"; Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX, 1992 - Book very well written and researched. Detailed story of the Army Air Corps in the Philippines. Must read book for anyone interested in Bataan, Corregidor and the Southern Philippine islands from the view of the Air Corps participants. Currently in print.

Beck, John Jacob, "MacArthur and Wainwright - Sacrifice of the Philippines," University of New Mexico Press, 1974 - Story of the Bataan and Corregidor battles from the perspective of inside the USAFEE and USFIP headquarters as told in the words official written and radio correspondence between the Philippines, the United States, and Australia. Extremely well done. Hard to find, out of print.

Belote, James H. & William M. Belote., "Corregidor: The Saga of a Fortress," Harper & Row, Publ, NY, 1967. - Story of the fall of Corregidor and the retaking of Corregidor by the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment. Out of print.

Bunker, Paul D., "Bunker's War," Ed by Col. Keith Barlow, Presidio Press, Novato, CA, 1996. Diary of Colonel Paul D. Bunker, Commander of the 59th Coastal Artillery Regiment on Corregidor, and as a prisoner of war, Colonel Bunker was the officer who under orders of LTG Wainwright, lowered the American flag on Corregidor for the last time, he secretly saved a piece of the colors to be given to the Secretary of War. Colonel Bunker died in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in 1943. This book is OUT OF PRINT.

Dawes, Gavin, "Prisoners of the Japanese," William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1994. Story about the treatment of allied prisoners of was held by the Japanese. Covers all aspects of life as an allied POW. A real eye opener. Endorsed by the "Battling Bastards of Bataan" (See link on this page to their web site.)




Dyess, William E. Lt.Col., "The Dyess Story," Ed by Charles Leavelle, G.P. Putnam &Son, New York, 1944. The first published account of the"Bataan Death March." Lt. Col. Dyess escaped from a Japanese Prison Camp in the Philippines with Lt. Col. Steven Mellnik (see his book below) and they were smuggled out of the Philippines aboard a US Navy submarine to Austraila. Until this book was published the American public knew nothing of the "Bataan Death March" or the deplorable conditions our soldiers, sailors, marines, and nurses were being forced to live under. Extremely hard book to find. Facsimile copies available from Dogwood Press, Woodvill, TX. Original book out of print.

Falk, Stanley L., "Bataan: The March of Death", Norton, NY, 1962. Story of the Bataan Death March. First detailed work on the death march. Dr. Falk was an assistant to Louis Morton at the U.S Army's Office of Military History. Out of print.



Gordon, Richard M., "HORYO: Memoirs of an American POW", Paragon House, St. Paul, MN, 1999. Outstanding account of MAJ Gordon's experiences in the Philippines as an enlisted soldier, and as prisoner of war.. MAJ Gordon tells the truth of how many POW treated each other during captivity under the Japanese. He saw General MacArthur on his only visit to Bataan. Still in print.

Jones, Betty B., "The December Ship: A Story of Lt.Col. Arden R. Boellner's Capture in the Philippines, Imprisonment, and Death on a World War II Japanaese Hellship,"McFarland & Co. Publ., NC, 1992 - Story of Lt.Col. Boellner life in the Philippines in 1941 until December 1944 as pieced together by his daughter. He was assigned to the Visayan-Mindanao Force of USAFFE & USFIP under the command of Major General William F. Sharp. Still in print.

Mallonee, Richard C., "The Naked Flagpole: Battle for Bataan," Presidio Press, San Rafael, CA 1980. Story of Colonel Richard C. Mallonee, a Bataan Artillery officer, his experiences on Bataan, the death march, and as a prisoner of war. Diary edited by his son. Very good book, out of print.

Miller, E.B. Colonel, "Bataan Uncensored," The Hart Publications, Inc., Long Praire, MN, 1949. - Colonel Miller commanded the 194th Tank Battalion on Bataan, he does not mince words - tells it like it was. Very good book from the front line commander's point of view. Hard to find, maybe in a library somewhere. You maybe able to find a copy through interlibrary loan program or on the internet. Out of print - expensive if you find a copy to buy.

Mellnik, Stephen M., "Philippine War Diary 1939 - 1945," Rev Ed, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., NY, 1981. - Story about Stephen Mellniks experiences as an artillery officer on the USAFFE staff, prisoner of war, his escape with William Dyess - the air corps officer - they both told the world about the "Bataan Death March. Stephen Mellniks retired as general officer. Very good book, good maps and pictures not found elsewhere. Out of print.

Morris, Eric, "Corregidor - The End of the Line," Military Heritage Press, NY, 1982. - Story from before the start of the war through the Bataan and Corregidor battles. Story based upon interviews of the men and line officers in the Army and Navy stationed in Luzon. Stories you will not see anywhere else. Another very good book. Out of print.

Morton, Louis, "The Fall of the Philippines, The War in the Pacific - U.S.Army in World War II; Office of the Chief of Military History, U.S. Army, Government Printing Office, Reprint 1973, originally published in 1953. - Single best source on the war in the Philippines in 1941-42. Hard to find in book form. Try a federal records depository or good local library. Out of print.

Nix, Asbury., "Corregidor Oasis of Hope," Palmer Publications, Inc., Amherst, WI., private printing by author. Story of SGT Nix on Corregidor in 1941-42, as a prisoner of war. Listings of Corregidor, POW Camp 9, List of Hell ships 5/42 - 12/44, Manifest of hell ship NOTO MARU 27 Aug 1944. Out of print, hard to find.

Ramsey, Edwin Price, "Lieutenant Ramsey's War,"Brassey's Five Star Paperback, Washington, 1996 - Story of Lieutenant Ramsey as a Bataan 26th Cavalry Officer and then as a Guerrilla commander on Luzon. Very good book. Still in print.

Redmond, Juanita, "I Served on Bataan," J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, 1943. - Story of the Army nurses on Bataan and Corregidor. Juanita Redmond was one of the nurses who escaped during the last few days before Corregidor surrendered by Navy PBY. Out of print, extremely hard to find.

Romulo, Carlos P. Colonel, "I Saw the Fall of the Philippines," Doubleday, Doren & Company, Inc., Garden City, NY, 1943. - Colonel Romulo was a special staff officer for General MacArther and General Wainwright. Ran the "Voice of Freedom." He escaped on the last plane out of Bataan by order of General Wainwright. Easy book to read, story told from the point of view of a Filippino in the Philippine Army in the service of the United States. Some passages deleted due to wartime requirements. Well worth finding. Out of print.

Schultz, Duane P., "Hero of Bataan: the Story of General Jonathan M. Wainwright," St. Martin's Press, Inc., 1981 - Biography of General Wainwright, well documented - good number of pictures, more detail on Wainwright than any other single volume. Book covers his life through his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Out of print, hard to find.

Stevens, Frederic H., "Santo Tomas Internment Camp," Stratford House, NY Limited Private Edition, 1946. Written record of the Santo Tomas internment camp in Manila during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Out of print. Extremely hard to find.

Toland, John., "But Not in Shame," Random House, NY, 1961. Story of the first six months after Pearl Harbor in the Pacific. Out of print.

Wainwright, Jonathan M. Wainwright, "General Wainwright's Story," Ed by Robert Considine, Doubleday & Company, Garden City , NY, 1946 - Very hard to find, very good to read. Ever wonder what happened during the surrender of Corregidor and after - the story is here. Out of print.

White, W. L., "They Were Expendable," Harcourt, Brace, & Company, New York, 1942. Story about "Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3" commanded by LT. John Bulkeley. He received the "Medal of Honor" for spiriting General Douglas MacArthur and his staff away from Corregidor to the Southern Philippines. Book is fairly easy to find. Movie director John Ford made a movie (1945) about the book called "They Were Expendable" with John Wayne and Donna Reed.

Whitman, John W. LTC, "Bataan - Our Last Ditch," Hippocrene Books, NY, 1990. Book starts with the withdrawal into Bataan and goes through the surrender of Bataan. Only detailed battle analysis available. Extremely detailed, lots of facts, names, dates, and maps. Not a quick read - good for the amateur military historian or career military personnel. Still in print.

Background picture:  An elements of the 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts) pass elements
of the 192nd GHQ Tank Battalion in Luzon in early 1942.