European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Americans worst defeat Bataan death March began 50 years ago this week by Robert h. Reid associated press writer a half Century ago thousands of filipinos and americans who fought japanese invaders were abandoned to a humiliating surrender and years of slavery As prisoners. Survivors of the siege of Bataan and Corregidor and the brutal death March that followed say they have been abandoned again by a government More interested in relations with Japan than in compensating them for their suffering. Quot we never got anything from the japanese Quot said Arthur Beale of Westminster calif., who was a Navy Ensign on Corregidor. Quot our government does t support us very  the american defenders of Bataan and Corregidor inc. Has urged president Bush to press Japan for compensation but Washington says claims against Japan were settled by the 1951 peace treaty. The treaty signed when Japan was destitute effectively bars former prisoners from suing for reparations. American veterans along with comrades from Canada and other Allied countries now Are pursuing claims through the . Commission on human rights. They seek $20,000 for each survivor the same amount the . Government paid to japanese amen cans interned during the War. Survivors believe their suffering surpassed what should have been inflicted on a Defeated army. Prisoners were forced to work or Japan s War Effort As slave labor in violation of the Geneva convention. The More than 75,000 soldiers including 12.000 americans who surrendered on Bataan were herded 60 mites to the North in the notorious death March. Nearly 10.000 died along the Way Many of them killed by their japanese captors. Quot the japanese were guilty of Gross violations of our human rights Quot said Ralph Levenberg of Reno Nev. Who was an army sergeant. Quot they re hiding behind the peace treaty but we re not going to let that  the Story of the More than 80,000 filipinos and americans who defended the Bataan Peninsula and nearby Corregidor Island is among the most shameful chapters of  military history. It was the worst defeat Ever suffered by the United states. Shame was compounded by the fact that thousands of americans and their allies were left to fend for themselves 50. An me Rosary stir lbs morale was kept alive by false promises of a Relief Convoy when president Franklin d. Roosevelt already had committed the nation s resources to defending Britain and Europe. Quot How typically american to writhe in anguish at the Fate of a Distant Cousin while a daughter is being raped in the Back room Quot Manuel Quezon president of the philippine Commonwealth said at the time earlier As War with Japan loomed Gen. Douglas Macarthur was called out of retirement and sent to organize the defense of the Philippines Congress refused to provide enough Money to defend the islands adequately Macarthur was left with about 20,000 americans and 110,000 poorly trained and poorly equipped filipinos. Hours after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on dec 7, 1941, its planes struck the Philippines and destroyed most of Macarthur s aircraft at Clark Field. On dec. 22, 1941, japanese troops landed at the lingayen Gulf 110 Miles North of Manila. Two Days later Macarthur declared Manila an Quot open City Quot and withdrew his forces to the Jungles of Bataan. A Macarthur Quezon and their staffs evacuated to Corregidor a Rocky Island about the size of Manhattan three Miles off Bataan at the Entrance to Manila Bay. Bataan and Corregidor appeared impregnable. Three major volcanic Mountain ranges Cross Bataan a Finger of land 30 Miles Long and 20 wide Between h of typically american to writhe in anguish at the late of a Distant Cousin while a daughter is being raped in the Back  Manuel Quezon former president of he philippine Commonwealth Manila Bay and the South China sea. The Only Road leading southward through the Peninsula flanked Manila Bay to the East or. The Westerly Side Are Steep mountains Ideal for artillery positions. In the confusion however the defenders failed to bring along enough food and supplies. Or. Paul Ashton of Santa Barbara Calif then a medical officer scrounged All the supplies he could from Manila s fort Mckinley now fort Bonifacio and rushed to Bataan where he set up a Field Hospital Quot our unit was very Well trained Quot Ashton said Quot but we did t have any  rations were steadily reduced to less than 1,000 calories a Day. Desperate soldiers survived by boiling banana Bushes and foraging for lizards and snakes. Quot we would have one Small can of sardines for 12 men Quot said retired Brig. Gen. Luis Villareal then a filipino major in the 21 St artillery Quot we would mix that with whatever porridge the Cooks could prepare Quot plans sailed for reinforcements to arrive within six months but the destruction at Pearl Harbor made that impossible. For morale purposes the . Military withheld both details of Pearl Harbor and Roosevelt a decision to concentrate on Europe. On Corregidor Ensign Beale Learned the truth. A submarine the  Trout brought some supplies in february 1942, and an Ensign aboard told him no Relief Convoy was coming. Quot i made up my mind then and there that we were going to get killed or captured Quot Beale said. Quot those kids on Bataan thought the Convoy was coming into Manila Bay right up until the Day they  on March 11, Macarthur Quezon and their staffs fled to Australia. On Good Friday april 3, the japanese attacked the main defensive line at mount Samat hurling defenders toward the tip of the Peninsula. Bataan surrendered six Days later and Corregidor on May 6. Survivors of Corregidor were ferried by ship to prisons in Manila. Prisoners taken on Bataan were marched to san Fernando 60 Miles to the North in the hottest month of the year. Those who broke ranks were beaten and slain. Quot it was nothing to see Guys Bay netted or shot for no reason Quot Levenberg said. Quot there Are no words to describe what those Guys did to us and to the  s a a Quot by a i a a vhf it it a v. % i Mililli american and filipino soldiers trudge along on what was to be called the a death March in april 1942. An estimated 10,000 prisoners including perhaps 2,< 00 americans died during the 60-mlle forced March. Bataan death March Ralph Levenberg a former army sergeant la campaigning to Fores Japan to pay compensation to Quot death March Quot survivors. D. I u ii japanese Tope land l at lingayen  j by la ii Pymn a Zih  general Douglas Macarthur withdraws forces from Manila to the Jungles of Bataan. My Sulu sea \ p1=c r Philipi 100 modes 100 pm More than 75,000 soldiers including 12,000 americans were marched about 50 Miles North irom Mariveles. Nearly 10,000 died along the Way. A Ai i t 1 a a i i Symbol represents one Day s March prisoners arrive at san Fernando and Are herded into Railroad freight cars. They Are taken to Capas and marched the to towing Day to Camp o Donnell Stibick Lay % Bataan Peninsula t it. Santo a. Rose. Y a v april 3. 1942 a two. A japanese troops attack go Jwj main defensive line at it. Samat. Bageac general Wain Hughi a i it it american and filipino a i tend forces. New act v a Lanai it y Orion \ Manila Bay april a i s#4j death March begins alter americans surrender. South China sea c j la Jtj a to Adas of world War ii. American defenders of Bataan a Correl. Corregidor Island Svea a Carifo Page 14 a the stars and stripes monday april 6, 1992 a death Marcher who wont forget or forgive by Jim Sielicki United press International five decades have passed since or Calvin Jackson trudged with 75,000 americans and filipinos on the infamous Bataan death March. No surprisingly the retired Ohio doctor has neither forgotten the episode nor forgiven his japanese captors. Jackson was captured april 8, 1942, in Southern Bataan while returning to his Hospital the next Day. Friday april 9, 1942, the March of prisoners began. Along the Way Many prisoners were kicked beaten or Bay netted As they fell along the 60-mile path from Marilees to san Fernando where they boarded a train to Capas. From there they walked the final eight Miles to Camp o Donnell Jackson who was called up to Active duty As a medical corpsman before the War became a Camp doctor during his 31/? years of Captivity. He secretly kept a diary that recorded his own Battle with his captors cruelty As Well As the daily struggle with hunger insects and the deaths of fellow prisoners with liberation completed on sept. 5, 1945, Jackson returned Home to Kenton Ohio where he worked in dermatology until his retirement in 1986. Earlier this year Jackson s Alma mater Ohio Northorn University published the diary and the first 570 copies sold Oul in 10 Days. A second printing of 600 copies of the 273-Page softcover Book was ordered. Jackson 88, says he astonished at the attention his diary has brought. Quot it had been laying around in a drawer in the Library id get it out once in a while. I d look at it then put it away Quot Jackson said in Telephone interview from his Home in Kenton 70 Miles South of Toledo. The decision to print the diary was made in 1989. Jackson said his wife Goerdis complained that she could not read the tiny cramped writing. Jackson himself could barely read whal he wrote. Wearing glasses and holding a magnifying Glass he began Reading the diary to his wife who wrote it Down longhand until she became tired the task took two to three months of daily Effort. Reliving the memories took nearly As Long As transcribing the Book. Quot id Start then gab for an hour or so about something Quot Jackson said. In his entry for thursday april 9, 1942, Jackson mentioned his capture after he spent the night in a Jungle his car had ran out of Gas on the Way Back to the Hospital Quot got some sleep in the car. No one had come along. It was very quiet. Eustacio and i started walking toward Mariveles. We had water in canteens but nothing to eat about noon or thereafter we met two Jap soldiers. Their bayonets were fixed they pointed their rifles at us put our hands up. They came up and searched us. Found nothing then bayonets fixed marched us to Mariveles. On Edge of Village was a fenced in area. There were lots of soldiers in there lying around. They put us in hat area. We guessed the War was Over. In the evening we were Given water and a Ball of Rice big As a fist. Spent the night there. The latrine was along the Fence and a mess and flies  Jackson said he bought a Small five year diary on whim in Macon a where he was sent for an army physical. It begins feb. 20, 1941, shortly after he was called up to service. The final entry is dated oct. 3, 1945, after his group of prisoners was liberated in Japan and sent Back to san Francisco Jackson said he always lived in fear the diary would be discovered. Quot i waa afraid. I have some caustic things in there Quot he said Quot i kept it hid All of the  the War has been Over for nearly 47 years but Jackson said the events Are Clear in his mind. He also said his attitude toward his captors has not changed. Quot i won t buy anything made in Japan Quot he added the stars and stripes a Page 15