The Tragedy of Bataan

Series produced by Jan Thompson

Series image

The Tragedy of Bataan (buh-tan)... - narrated by Alec Baldwin and Produced and written by film maker Jan Thompson. The Philippine Islands were attacked shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

December 7, 2011 marks the 70th Anniversary of the beginning of World War II. Those living back then have been referred to as the greatest generation. Many men were in combat, but some were not so fortunate. In 1942, over seventy-five thousand American and Filipino soldiers and nurses were forced to surrender to the Empire of Japan. Those who survived the three and half years of brutal injustice, humiliation, disease, and starvation are part of that greatest generation. Theirs is a story of the human will to survive — one that is hardly known to most Americans.

These "heroes" are in their later 80's and 90's. Their story is still unknown to the majority of Americans.


5 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: American Troops Surrendering
The final segment describes the fall of Bataan and those who were able to escape to Corregidor Island. Interviews are with: Art Campbell, Ralph Lev...

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  • Added: Oct 15, 2011
  • Length: 06:38
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Caption: General Douglas MacArthur (left), Credit: MacArthur Memorial
The segment goes into detail about the departure of General Douglas MacArthur to Australia. The American-Filipino troops had to start a retreating ...

Bought by KUER


  • Added: Oct 15, 2011
  • Length: 06:54
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Caption: Wounded Eating at Jungle Hospital on Bataan, Credit: National Archives
Segment Three Background Info: This segment goes into detail about how the food situation became so bad in the Philippines that the troops had to b...

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  • Added: Oct 15, 2011
  • Length: 05:27
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: U.S.S. Canopus
This segment is about the Naval Ground Battalion that was created using sailors from the U.S.S. Canopus. The Imperial Japanese had started to land ...

Bought by KUER


  • Added: Oct 15, 2011
  • Length: 07:05
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Philippines bombed by the Imperial Japanese
This segment begins with the attack on the Philippine Islands shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the beginning of the outbreak of the war...

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Oct 15, 2011
  • Length: 06:43
  • Purchases: 1