April 9 is also an important date during the Civil War. The day after the surrender of the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese, the 75,000 Filipino and American troops captured on the Bataan Peninsula begin a forced march to a prison camp near Cabanatuan. The Battle of Bataan was fought January 7-April 9, 1942, as the Japanese attacked and ultimately overwhelmed Allied forces on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. Coming almost exactly six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, it resulted in a surprising – yet decisive – victory for the United States and would change the course of the war in the Pacific. The experienced troops who had brought them success were replaced by inexperienced ones. ... Why was the Battle of the Coral Sea important? Who was General MacArthur and why did he leave the Philippines? Why did so many prisoners die on the Bataan Death March? When all resistance had crumbled into massive chaos and confusion, it turned out that, contrary to the line in Hewlett’s verse, someone did give a damn about “the battling bastards of Bataan.” King took inventory of the men he was supposed to lead in the ordered counterattack. Early on, over-confidence and poor planning led to mistakes on the Japanese part. Get an answer for 'What's the importance of the Bataan Death March in terms of WWII?' What Was The Bataan Death March? He did this hoping to save the city of Manila from destruction. In Bataan Death March: Lead-up to the march. Obviously, since ships were frequently sent out from Corregidor and Bataan in the spring of 1942, MacArthur himself leaving with a flotilla of PT boats on March 11, ships could have equally well have been sent in. On April 9, 1942, U.S. Gen. Edward P. King signed the surrender document, ending the Battle of Bataan. The Battle of Bataan: America's Incredible World War II New Year's Defeat. It was done to free the veterans to fight elsewhere. The Battle of Bataan began on January 1, 1942, and almost immediately the defenders were on half rations. An estimated thirty thousand Americans were killed or wounded during the battle for the Bataan peninsula… The march took place in April of 1942 during World War II.Bataan is a province in the Philippines on the island of Luzon. Sick with malaria, dengue fever, and other diseases, living on monkey meat and a few grains of rice, and without air … Perf. The march took place in April of 1942 during World War II. Bataan is a province in the Philippines on the island of Luzon. FOOTNOTES 1. Only a few were able to escape on the last few transports in 1942. 2011. When the Battle of Bataan ended on April 9, 1942, about 12,000 Americans and 63,000 Filipinos became prisoners of war. Online Video. What followed became known as the Bataan Death March — one of the worst atrocities in modern history. and find homework help for other World War II questions at eNotes What followed became known as the Bataan Death March — one of the worst atrocities in modern history. As the Japanese troops approached the Philippines, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur moved the U.S. forces from the city of Manila to the Bataan Peninsula.