Battle Of Bataan Research Paper

Sitting in the Pacific, the Bataan Peninsula was a key target for the Japanese to launch a full-on attack. Knowing this, General Douglas MacArthur aimed to protect and defend the Filipino people against a potentially devastating Japanese invasion (Janda 190). This major defensive plot against the Japanese became what is known today as the Battle of Bataan—the “greatest surrender in American military history” (Conroy 58). Numerous factors contributed to the inevitable defeat, including the absence of the Allied General MacArthur, the pitiful condition of the soldiers, and the brutality of the Japanese soldiers. Though MacArthur counted on defending these people with his Allied forces, President Roosevelt put MacArthur in charge of all Allied forces in the Pacific, requiring the general to venture to Australia for a time (Black 31). In order to boost morale, MacArthur assured the citizens and his troops that he would return, stating, “Keep the flag flying… I am coming back!” (31). The longer their original leader did not return, the more doubtful it became that the Allied forces would prevail. During the absence of MacArthur, Roosevelt placed the command of the U.S.-Filipino forces into the hands of Major General Jonathan Wainwright (Janda 191). Troops were promised more American reinforcements, but none ever arrived (Janda 190). …show more content…
Known for its brutality and cruelty, over 10,000 soldiers died between the dates of April 11 and April 20 of 1942 due to the intense cruelty, physical abuse, diseases, and vast starvation (Black 37). It is estimated that over 500,000 Americans lost their lives between that Battle of Bataan and the Bataan Death March (Castellino). Despite being remembered as the “greatest surrender in American military history,” it should also be noted that the soldiers who participated fought valiantly for the sake of the Filipino cause (Conroy