Battling Bastards of Bataan
The picture above is of the Camp O'Donnell Memorial Monument. The memorial was built by the organization known as "The Battling Bastards of Bataan" to honor those American men who died at Camp O'Donnell, while prisoners of the Japanese. The Cement Cross is a replica of the original cement cross built by the POWs.
The monument is located in the Capas National Shrine, in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines,adjacent to the memorial for the Philippine Army dead. Camp O'Donnell was the first prison camp for the men who survived the "Death March". The picture was taken by James Litton.
The "Cross" was built as a memorial to the thousands who died in that camp. It is as much a part of Bataan as the participants in that battle. The inscription on the base of the "Cross" reads "Omnia Pro Patria": All For Country. On the wall behind the "Cross" are inscribed the names of the men who died at Camp O'Donnell.
The original "Cement Cross" is now on display in the National Prisoner of War Museum, at the Andersonville National Historic Site, Andersonville, GA. It was brought to this country by Bataan survivors.
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This page is dedicated to the brave warriors who served in the battle fields of Bataan, Philippines, during World War II. We wish to provide all who enter this page with an accurate account of the American and Filipino heroisms in Bataan, the conditions endured during the "Death March" and their subsequent imprisonment in various prison camps. "Our purpose as an organization is quite simple. We wish to perpetuate the story of Bataan and to leave to our descendants the truth as we knew it. We wish to correct the myths and outright lies concerning the events of Bataan in 1941-1942. We want to provide information on the Battle for Bataan and it's subsequent fall on April 9, 1942. This organization serves as a reminder that the precepts of courage, devotion to duty and sacrifice displayed by the men and women of Bataan, both Filipino and American, have not and will not become outmoded. Our motto simply states: 'Keep the faith in our country: as exhibited by those men and women who fought in defense of Bataan, Philippine in 1942. Freedom is not free.'
NEW: THE ROLE OF CIVILIANS IN THE BATTLE OF BATAAN AND THE DEATH MARCH: BY PROF. RICO JOSE.
NEW: THE BATTLE OF MANILA: BY JAMES LITTON.
NEW: ROBERT HUDSON'S BILIBID DEPARTURE ROSTER.
Take a Historical Tour of the Philippines.
A Trip to the Philippines and then to Mukden.
READ OUR March 2007 Newsletter.
IN SUPPORT OF OUR FILIPINO COMRADE IN ARMS.
Read the reviews of "HORYO", Maj. Richard Gordon's book about life as a Japanese POW..
A New Chapter From JD Merritt's Book..
A DVD: UNSURRENDERED: 100 VOICES..
"PLEASE SUPPORT THE FILIPINA COMFORT GIRLS".
"LOOK INTO THE FACES OF THE JAPANESE PRISON GUARDS".
"A New Book About the Mukden POWs".
"MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS FOR BATAAN VETERANS, NEXT OF KINS, AND HONORARY STATUS".
If you are unfamiliar with Bataan and it's aftermath, please refer to our OUTLINE OF EVENTS PAGE.
