CHICAGO – At the 65'th anniversary of Bataan Death last Monday, April 9th , nothing has ever been heard about "Mindanao Death March."
A book written on Filipino World War II veterans made sure that the atrocities that both Filipino and American Allied soldiers suffered in the hands of the Japanese on April 9, 1942 was not confined to Central Luzon.
"Filipino Veterans of WW II And Endangered Human Specie (Philippine Veterans Legion, 2005) written by Francisco G. Cedula disclosed that almost, 2,500 men were ordered to assemble at Camp Kiethly in Lanao, in July 1942 and from there, we were made to walk to Iligan, 50 kilometers distance away,quoting survivors Lt. Auxencio Penaranda and Sgt. Rufino V. Balayo.
In the 276-page book, Penaranda and
Balayo added, “Dozens of American officers and soldiers who were weakened by
the heat and hunger were shot outright by the Japanese. Many “walkers” realizing
the horror of surrendering to the enemy escaped at every opportunity."
These escapees later became organizers of
guerilla movements. They re-assembled the 10th Military District under Col.
Wendel W. Fertig. Those who chose to stay in camp gave their arms and
ammunition to the escapees.
“The daylong march was the first episode
in a series of marches until the POWs were confined in the old Bilibid Compound
in Manila.
‘It was about September 1942 when we
reached our final destination, the O’Donnell POW camp. Malnutrition and cruelty
of the Japanese took a heavy toll with the death rate increasing every day. The
Japanese captors decided to release us after three months in the POW camp,’ the
book added.
VIRGINIA TECH – The War Memorial pylons were
surrounded by candlelight early this month as Virginia Tech students gathered
to remember the Bataan Death March. In Virginia,vigils also took place in Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach. “This is the first vigil to be held at
(Tech) specifically to remember the Bataan Death March,” said Brian Gerardo,
Education and Advocacy Chair of the Asian American Student Union at Virginia
Tech. “We have held vigils in the past to honor the Filipino soldiers who
fought in World War II, including one last Veteran’s Day, but this is the first
one to focus on Bataan." “When you look in an American history textbook,
you won’t see that Filipino soldiers were alongside Americans during the
March,” said Gerardo. Several speakers addressed the gathered students during
the one-hour vigil, including Omar Maglalang, sophomore communication major and
Education and History Chair of the Filipino American Student Association (FASA)
at Virginia Tech. “75,000 soldiers from the Philippines and the United States
were led through the most treacherous situations known to man. During their
march, many died from heat stroke, malaria, hunger, and dehydration,” said Maglalang. “lthough
two-thirds made it through the march, five to ten thousand Filipinos and about
650 US POWs died."
The students in attendance were moved by
the event, and many stressed the importance of remembering the Bataan Death
March and those who lost their lives. “We can spread the word and talk to
Congressmen and women to push for equal rights for Filipino veterans,” said
FASA president Danny Lintot, a junior Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
major.
By
Joseph G. Lariosa
