The Bataan Death March... and Other Events

On December 8th, 1942, the Japanese bombed American bases in the Philippines, where American soldiers including New Mexicans were present. These soldiers had to face very difficult situations thereafter, including the Bataan Death March. They also had to go through ordeals such as extreme heat and malnutrition. This is the reason why Bataan is an important piece of history to the whole of New Mexico, and especially Las Cruces, where the Bataan Death March Memorial stands.

U.S. military personnel had to live through awful living conditions. Before the surrender to the Japanese, these conditions included disease, too little food, and ineffective defenses. After the surrender during the march, the soldiers had to experience extreme heat, too little food, and unprovoked beatings and killings. When the soldiers arrived at the camps, they also had to experience overcrowding, unappetizing and unsatisfying foods, and more disease. Many people died in these camps.

The Bataan survivors today are in their 80's and 90's. I have never met a Bataan survivor as far as I know, and I have not had a personal experience related to remembering the survivors.