It happens; incompetence is rewarded more often than not.
After the bombing of the Japanese on Pearl
Harbor, operations against the Philippines, Malaya and Hong Kong began on
December 8, 1941. Japan’s Pacific Conquest had begun. Japan also made plans for
a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, from which all native Asians might
hope to benefit.
Japan’s Conquest of the Philippines was almost as rapid as their invasion of Singapore. General Douglas MacArthur led the defending forces of 110,000 Filipino troops and 30,000 American, though inevitably many were dispersed around the Philippine archipelago. Equipment and training were poor, but they did have over 200 supporting American aircraft. However, MacArthur’s incompetence allowed many of these to be surprised on the ground hours after news of Pearl Harbor arrived. From then on Japan had control in the air. With no prospect of relieving US Navy forces arriving, as pre-Pearl Harbor plans had anticipated,
(Above)General MacArthur (seated, center) with his chief of staff on Corregidor, 1942
Japan was also dominant at sea. Troops from General Homma Masaharu’s Fourteenth Army landed on the main island on Luzon on 10 December with larger forces following from the 22nd. MacArthur ordered the outmatched Allied troops wo withdraw to the Bataan Peninsula area, which they did by early January 1942. They held out there until 9 April, in part because some of the attacking Japanese troops had been withdrawn to take part in other phases of Japan’s offensive. The fortress of Corregidor did not surrender until 6 May. Again, many allied troops were sent into a cruel captivity. Meanwhile MacArthur had been ordered to leave in mid-March to take command of allied forces in Australia. On his departure MacArthur had promised: “I shall return.” His promise was kept when he returned to the Philippines on 20 October 1944 during the Battle of Leyte. Araw ng Kagitingan (Filipino for Day of Valor), also known as Bataan Day or Bataan and Corregidor Day, is a national observance in the Philippines which commemorates the fall of Bataan during World War II. We remember the heart and braveness of the Filipino and American troops on April 9. Despite the overwhelming enemy forces, they fought to the end, defending the Philippine island, our island to the last bullet. Their suffering did not end with their surrender, the Japanese forced them to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards. Thousands perished in what became known as the Bataan Death March. Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand a beacon to all the liberty-loving peoples of the world can not fall!”
After the war, an American military tribunal
tried Lieutenant General Homma Masaharu, commander of the Japanese invasion
forces in the Philippines. He was held responsible for the death march, a war
crime, and was executed by a firing squad on April 3, 1946. Justice is served in
the end, Good will always prevail over evil. The sacrifices made by men and
women in the wartime era will never be forgotten. We would never be here
without them. They will be remembered forever; they are heroes that valiantly
fought for our independence.
Photo 2: Andrew Knighton. Retrieved at General MacArthur Leads The Heroic Defense In The Siege Of Corregidor, 1941 - 42 (warhistoryonline.com)
Photo 3: Retrieved at Masaharu Homma - Wikipedia
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