Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Bataan Death March Bridge

Valor Overcame on Corregidor 9 April, 1942

— Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park —

Bataan Death March Bridge Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

1. Bataan Death March Bridge Marker

Inscription.

"We’re the Battling Bastards of Bataan"

The Bataan Battle ended with the capitulation of 80,000 sick injured and starving men. The largest surrender in U.S, military history. They were forced marched by Japan’s Imperial Army 63 miles, only 54,000 arrived at POW Camp O’Donnell.

Following the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942 to the Japanese Imperial Army, prisoners were massed in Mariveles and Bagac Town, and ordered to march to Balanga City, the capital of Bataan. Some were beaten, bayoneted, and otherwise mistreated. The first atrocity occurred when approximately 350 to 400 Filipino officers and NCOs were summarily executed near the Pantingan river after they had surrendered. A recent historian has dismissed the Pantingan massacre, (in acceptance of General Homma’s defense counsel's argument that no bodies were ever found); however, the bodies were disinterred in mid-1946, after the conclusion of Homma's trial. This massacre has been attributed to Japanese army officer, Masanobu Tsuji, who acted against General Homma's wish that the prisoners be transferred peacefully.Trujillo intended to kill many of the prisoners, and he gave orders to this end.

POWs received little food or water, and many died along the march. Some POWs drank water from buffalo wallows

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and the side of the road. Other POWs, however, were allowed water and several hundred rode to Camp O'Donnell in trucks. Once the surviving prisoners arrived in Balanga, the overcrowded conditions and poor hygiene caused dysentery and other diseases to spread rapidly. The Japanese did not provide the prisoners with medical care, so U.S. medical personnel tended to the sick and wounded (with few or no supplies). Of the estimated 80,000 POWs at the march, only 54,000 made it to Camp O'Donnell.

Erected by Hillsborough County.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1942.

Location. 27° 58.598′ N, 82° 21.786′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. The marker stands within Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3602 N US Highway 301, Tampa FL 33619, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. US Army Howitzer 75mm (here, next to this marker); Navy Seabees (a few steps from this marker); US Army Stuart M3A1 Light Tank (a few steps from this marker); First Lieutenant Baldomero Lopez (a few steps from this marker); Medal of Honor (a few steps from this marker); Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

2. Bataan Death March Bridge Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Battle of Remagen Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Hillsborough County World War I Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Also see . . . Bataan Death March. (Submitted on March 20, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 218 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 20, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.