DEATH MARCH SAGA

For those who doesn't know what happened during the infamous "Death March" after the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942.

(You can see this inside the cross atop Mt. Samat)

DEATH MARCH SAGA

the 9th of april was the gloomiest day for the usaffe forces in bataan. it marked the surrender to the japanese imperial army by gen. edward p. king of all filipino and american fighting men and women who valiantly defended the bataan peninsula for four harrowing months. it also marked the beginning of a more than 100 kilometers trek from the southernmost part of the peninsula to san fernando pampanga leaving a trail of the most inhuman treatment accorded patriotic soldiers who offered their lives in defense of country and freedom. this tragic event later on to earn its epithet in hisory as the infamous "Death March".

following the surrender, most of the military units converged at mariveles and from there, because they were promised that they will be set free upon reaching san fernando, pampanga, started to move on their own northward passing thru balanga. it was here that the japanese gathered the prisoners into larger groups and began the non-stop march to san fernando. two japanese guards were at the head of the column, two at the middle and two others at the end to make sure that no one can escape. while april was the hottest month of the year there was no provision for drinking water and to compound the sufferings the marchers were not allowed to break rank to quench their thirst from the murky waters of the canals nearby. those who broke ranks were whipped or beaten with riffle butts, while those who could not keep with the pace of the forced marched were left behind to die or given merciful death with a shotgun. throughout the four day continous march, food which consisted of a ball of rice was provided twice, one at orani, bataan and the next at lubao, pampanga.

upon reaching san fernando, the prisoners thinking that they will be sent home to their love ones were frustrated that their travails have not ended. they were loaded on freight wagons (bagon) packed like sardines to destination unknown. after three hours ride they realized they were being unloaded at the rail station of capas, tarlac. again, the death march was to continue. they were forced to walk an additional 13 kilometers to a concentration camp. here the battered and tattered prisoners were to face another battle against unseen enemies which were more deadly than that of bataan: malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition, and loneliness. inside this new battlefield the weakened prisoners who walked from mariveles were to find their rest at last. the place will be remembered in living memory as the hellhole of Camp O'Donnell.

four months before the attack at pearl harbor by the japanese imperial navy, camp o'donnell was chosen by the staff gen. douglas mcarthur as the training ground of the usaffe 71st division for recruits from the island of negros. the accommodation was only good for 10,000 personnel which was the strength of an army division. but these constructions were partially finished because was came sooner that expected. into this camp the incoming prisoners of war numbering no less than 45,000 were concentrated. living quarters were inadequate thus most of the men slept on bare ground, sanitary facilities were non-existing and there was total absence of water for drinking. water needed to cook rice was fetched from a nearby creek. as result of this inhuman living condition the death rate rose from 20 a day to a staggering 350 to 400 daily after two months. the dead were buried in big holes which served as common graves. total absence of medical facilities and medicine rendered the filipino medical doctora completely helpless to cure the sick nor the dying. it was only through the intervention of the philippine occupation government that the surviving prisoners were gradually released leaving behind 25,000 of their helpless comrades in arms to die in the hallowed grounds of Camp O'Donnell.