Since Japan did not want the U.S to intervene in their plan to take over the Pacific Rim, they struck Pearl Harbor, one of the most important naval bases of the U.S. The Japanese thought that the attack would immobilize the U.S.'s warships, thus preventing the U.S. from interfering in their war. They then proceeded to anger the Americans even more by calling them wimps within their newspapers.
About eight hours after Japan bombarded Pearl Harbor, they invaded the Philippines and on the same day, the American air fleet was destroyed. This resulted in the air force becoming the support infantry at the Philippines overnight. Then in a month the Japanese captured Philippines' capitol, Manila, causing the U.S. and Filipino soldiers to retreat into the Bataan Peninsula. Food was running low, diseases such as malaria and dysentery were endemic, and the weaponry of the soldiers had begun to wear out. To make matters even worse, General Douglas MacArthur and his crew fled to Australia (due to orders from FDR) and stated his famous words to the soldiers remaining at the Philippines, “I shall return”.
Then they were under the command of U.S. General Edward P. King. The soldiers survived multiple air and land assaults made by Japan. Then on April 7th, 1942, with his forces starved and diseased, General King withdrew to the island, Corregidor, by Manila Bay. Finally after two days on the island, the defending troops were surrounded. Unable to handle the situation anymore,the deteriorating soldiers surrendered to Japan, and on the next day the Bataan Death March had begun.
About eight hours after Japan bombarded Pearl Harbor, they invaded the Philippines and on the same day, the American air fleet was destroyed. This resulted in the air force becoming the support infantry at the Philippines overnight. Then in a month the Japanese captured Philippines' capitol, Manila, causing the U.S. and Filipino soldiers to retreat into the Bataan Peninsula. Food was running low, diseases such as malaria and dysentery were endemic, and the weaponry of the soldiers had begun to wear out. To make matters even worse, General Douglas MacArthur and his crew fled to Australia (due to orders from FDR) and stated his famous words to the soldiers remaining at the Philippines, “I shall return”.
Then they were under the command of U.S. General Edward P. King. The soldiers survived multiple air and land assaults made by Japan. Then on April 7th, 1942, with his forces starved and diseased, General King withdrew to the island, Corregidor, by Manila Bay. Finally after two days on the island, the defending troops were surrounded. Unable to handle the situation anymore,the deteriorating soldiers surrendered to Japan, and on the next day the Bataan Death March had begun.
Losing hope, men began to call themselves the "Battling Bastards of Bataan," and recited the lines "No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam...No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces, and nobody gives a damn".