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Printable information sheet to attach to A Grim Experience by the Greatest Generation - Bataan
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The Bataan Death March - these guys from the Greatest Generation were deprived of normalcy in the most horrific way for 3-1/2 years. 75% of this unit were Hispanic and 20% Native American (mostly Taos Pueblo, and a number of Mescalero Apache and Navajo)
The reason for going to national guard units is related to New Mexico's National Guard. We have long memorialized our great Veterans of the New Mexico National Guard - in 1942 the 200th Coast Artillery - because they were one of the Guard units in the horrific Bataan Death March.
New Mexico National Guard's involvement in the Bataan Death March
The infamous Bataan Death March was one of the greatest atrocities of World War II.
Approximately 1,800 men from the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery Regiment deployed to the Philippines in September 1941. When the Regiment reached the Philippines they immediately moved to Fort Stotsenberg, 75 miles north of Manila. Over the coming months, they trained under simulated war conditions. By December the situation changed drastically.
On December 8, 1941 Japanese bombers made their appearance and the war was on. It was the 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) — the original full Regiment — who is credited as being the “First to Fire” on December 8, 1941. That night, the 515th Coast Artillery (Anti-aircraft) was formed from the ranks of the 200th. The Japanese landings on Luzon began on December 10, 1941, with more Japanese forces landing on December 12, 1941.
The 200th and 515th could not do much damage as their powder train fuses only had a range of 20,000 feet and the bombers were flying at 23,000 feet. But when planes came in low, the 200th and 515th got a number of them. The main Japanese invasion forces landed December 22, 1941 and the decision was made to withdraw the forces into Bataan. The 200th covered the retreat of the Northern Luzon Force into Bataan and the 515th for the South Luzon Force. They were able to hold the Japanese air and ground attacks back, thus saving the bridges – and the North and South Luzon Forces found a clear, safe passage to the Bataan peninsula.
For months the American and Filipino troops fought bravely as the war situation worsened. By April 3, 1942 the Japanese received sufficient reinforcements and began to drive down the Bataan peninsula. Four days later, the Japanese broke through allied lines. After holding off the Japanese from December to April – four long months – the battle for Bataan ended on April 9th
Following the fall of the Bataan Peninsula, on April 9, 1942 the United States surrendered to the Japanese and instantly, more than 75,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers were forced to become Prisoners of War. The POWs were soon forced to make the 65 mile trek – with no food or water – to confinement camps throughout the Philippines. Thirsty and exhausted, those who attempted to steal a sip of water from roadside streams or collapsed along the way – were shot or bayoneted on the spot by their Japanese captors. In total, 10,000 men – 1,000 American and 9,000 Filipino – died during the Bataan Death March.
Those who survived the march spent the next 40 months in horrific conditions in confinement camps. Most were transported to the Japanese man island aboard “death ships.” Many did not survive the voyage. Given very little food, water or clothing, the men were tortured, malnourished and riddled with disease. Two-thirds died from disease, starvation, horrendous conditions, beatings or were plain murdered. More than 11,500 American soldiers died during the three plus years in confinement.
It wasn’t until late summer of 1945 that these prisoners of war saw freedom. Survivors were diseased, frail – emaciated, skin and bones, some blind, others unable to walk. Sadly one third of the former POWs died of complications within their first year of freedom. Of the 1,816 men 200th & 515th Coast Artillery men identified, 829 died in battle, while prisoners, or immediately after liberation. There were 987 survivors.