Prisoner+of+War+During+Bataan+Death+March

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Tyler Mullins, Shane Reece, Kirk Olesick and Micaela Somerville


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The Bataan Death March** took place in 1942 in the Philippines. After the 3 month Battle of Bataan, the Japanese marched 60 miles through the Philippines and forcilbe took 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war. They all were taken to prison camps and endured very cruel and unconstitutional punishments. Beheadings, cutting of throats and casual shootings were the more common actions than to stabbing, rape, disembowelment, rifle butt beating and a deliberate refusal to allow the prisoners food or water while keeping them continually marching for nearly a week in tropical heat. The Japanese didnt care for the Americans or Filipinos,while during the march if you fell or refused to move you would be killing on the spot with no questions asked. If you were to help somebody who was weak you would get punished and most likely death.If you fell and weren't shot be prepared to be ran over by a Japanese truck. The truck drivers were ordered to drive over anyone that fell even if dead. Many people died or collapsed under starvation, dehydration, or heat stroke. No proper burial was given to fallen prisoners of war, because the Japanese didnt care for thew Americans or Filipinos. After all the trouble only about 20,000 of the 74,000 prisoners or war died. 



As a survivor of the Bataan death march I am able to tell you how horrible and cruel it was. It all started 3 months after the Battle of Bataan, when the Japanese took nearly 70,000 American and Filipinos prison. I thought the intense heat was enough but I was wrong big time. The Japanese were cruel and didn't care even an ounce for the health and safety of the prisoners which is understandable, because we were prisoners. Most punishments for not cooperating were beheading, cutting of throats and shooting you on the spot. Those were more common than stabbing, rape, disembowelment and rifle butt beating. As the long marched continued the Japanese refused to give food, water, and shelter, which made staying alive 10 times harder. One of my good friends was walking next to me when he collapsed and before I could even try and help him and Japanese soldier came up and shot him in the head 5 times. A couple seconds later a Japanese truck driver drove over his dead body. I was shocked that the Japanese did some much just to make sure he was dead. I also was shot at but missed so I ran and continued to march. If you were one of the lucky ones to fall and not be killed, then you would be put in a bag and we would have to care you. We also we forced to care supplies. After the long march I was on the verge of death but I was able to survive and now I'm telling my story. I was one of the 50,000 to survive and I am thankful for that.