BATAAN DEATH MARCH
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of 60.000 – 80.000 Filipino and American Prisoners of War from Saisaih Point, Bagac, Bataan and Mariveles to the Camps O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac via San Fernando, Pampanga, where the POW were loaded onto trains.
The Transfer began on April 9, 1942, after the 3 month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II.
The total distance marched from Mariveles to San Fernando and from the Capas Train Station to POW Camp O’Donnell is variously reported by different sources as between 96.6 and 112 km (60 and 69.9 mls.).
Different sources also report widely POW casualties prior to reaching Camp O’Donnell; from 5.000 to 18.000 Filipino, and 500 till 650 American deaths during the march.
The march was characterized by severe physical abuse and wanton killings, and was later judged by an Allied Military Commission to be a war crime.
