Fall of Bataan and the Death March

After a four-month siege on the Bataan Peninsula, the largest US military force ever to surrender — approximately 76,000 Filipino and American soldiers — capitulated to Japan on April 9, 1942. Japanese forces then forced the emaciated prisoners to march 65–70 miles to POW camps in brutal heat with no food or water, beating, bayoneting, and beheading those who fell behind. Between 5,000–11,000 Filipino and 600–650 American soldiers died on the march. Another 26,000+ died in the appalling conditions of Camp O'Donnell. General Homma was later tried and executed for command responsibility.