"Acts of heroism were as common as the multitude of flies, mosquitoes, and the dying.” - Ted R. Williams, WWII veteran and Bataan Death March survivor
"Acts of heroism were as common as the multitude of flies, mosquitoes, and the dying.” - Ted R. Williams, WWII veteran and Bataan Death March survivor From Corregidor and Bataan to Inchon and Seoul . . . a life of service and sacrifice. On April 9, 1942, after fighting for months against overwhelming Japanese forces at Bataan and Corregidor in the Philippines, 75,000 American soldiers, sailors, Marines, and their Filipino allies - out of ammo, food, and water and with no hope of rescue - surrendered. Among the captured Americans was Corporal John F. Hamrick. Born on January 21, 1920, the Oklahoma native, who had enlisted in the Marines at 16 after lying to his recruiter about his age, was about to begin one of the worst nightmares of the Pacific Campaign: the Bataan Death March. Already weak and disease-ridden from two wounds and months without adequate food, water, or medicine, the 22-year-old 4th Marine Regiment corporal and his buddies were told to march, not fall behind,...