Foreword

I would like to acknowledge a number of individuals who assisted me in this effort. First, Alf and Jane Larson who spend hours in interview, editing, re-editing, and proofreading. Second, Claire Ross who reviewed and proofread the final drafts.

Third, my son Benjamin who listened to taped interviews, asked questions helpful in clarifying specific events, participated in several interviews, and assisted in composing the title. Fourth, my spouse Ruth, who let my household chores slide during the hundreds of hours this project required. Fifth, to my dog, Buddy, who, without complaint, let me verbally vent many frustrations to him. Very special thanks to Jake Carlson for assisting me on establishing the present web site at http://www.bataansurvivor.com. To Harriet Lonergan, Katherine Archer, Kelly Luikart, and Ivan Clements who assisted me in various ways. And, my personal thanks to anyone else that helped but is not mentioned here.

The wartime photos used in this work come from Mr. Larson's private collection. The caricatures depicting actual events are used with permission by the artist author, Mr. Ben Steele, a Death March survivor and former prisoner of war. Some statements under the caricatures have been paraphrased from the originals. Other photos come from a variety of sources on the Internet including the Battling Bastards Of Bataan. Each is acknowledged individually. I took the present-day photos.

Finally, we come to the soldiers of Bataan and Corregidor. Future generations must remember these men and women who served so bravely. They helped rid the world of a great menace to freedom, the unbridled military forces of the Empire of Japan. Each one has earned our eternal thanks and gratitude.