How did it all turn out?

The Bataan Death March effected the lives of numerous people all over the world. The numbers vary but it is estimated that somewhere between 5, 000 and 11, 000 troops did not make it to Camp O'donnel. The people endured extreme heat and torture throughout this march. General Homma was tried and executed for the atrocities that occurred during the Death March. Many men were moved all over Asia that were original members of the Death March. Today there are many events to remember the Bataan Death March in the United States. There is a memorial today in New Mexico to remember the souls that were lost in this incident.

General Homma went on to go to the war crime trials after the Pacific War to face the consequences for the actions of his subordinates. He was found guilty and was sentenced to death for his involvment in the March. The Bataan Death March was terrible because of the lack of common ground between both of the sides involved. This event was so terrible precisely because of the lack of common ground between the two sides, and it is only by trying to understand the circumstances within which such horrors arise, and by making the effort to overcome the distance between cultures, that such events might perhaps be prevented. It is necessary to view this event from a historical point of view in order to understand the reasoning that went into the desicions that both sides made during this event.

This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002.

The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.

This exhibit was researched and designed by Vance Gonzales.