"The Battling Bastards of Bataan"

Photo taken by James Litton

Camp O'Donnell Monument

"Sad to say 84 percent of the American deaths (at Camp O'Donnell) were under 30 years of age and most of that group, were 21 to 23 years of age..."

Maj. Richard Gordon and Phil Coon unveiling the Cross

"We have the utmost respect and admiration for our Filipino comrades who did most of the fighting and dying on Bataan, but for our enemies who caused their deaths, along with 1600 Americans in this camp, we have none."

Filipino Veterans in white shirts with Humprey O'Leary US 31st INF

"Upon arriving here (Camp O'Donnell), men died of the most hideous conditions imaginable...   What was supposed to be a hospital was in reality nothing more than a place to die...  Men plotted to stay out of this hospital knowing that if they didn't, they would not come out alive.

Men died under the building they were sleeping in.  Their bodies were found days later."

Left to right, Maj. Gordon, US Amb. Tom Hubbard, (standing) Col. Rafael Estrada,

and Phil. Sec. of Defense Orlando Mercado

"Burials were a nightmare.  But my memory of those burials as well as the conditions of the hospital has remained etched in my mind.  I will carry the images to my grave."

Quotes are from excerpts of a speech made by Maj. Richard M. Gordon, on April 7, 2000, at the Camp O'Donnell Memorial Dedication, in Barangay Aran-Guren, Capas, Tarlac, Philippines.

"Read the Story of the Monument"