Testimonies and subsequent events now show that the defense of the Philippines and the Battle of Bataan and Corregidor is unnecessary and strategically fruitless. The entire south east asia is undefensible because of the Allies(US and Britain) preocupation with the defense of Britain and the war in the soviet union. The big question is that why did not the allies engaged in a strategic withdrawal to Australia. The British did this in Dunkirk. They avoided a worthles engagement when the French lost the Phony War. There were no major civilian casualties in the other southeast asian nations. The pride and hubris of the colonial powers that a tiny asian power such as Japan could defeat them blinded them to engage into an aggressive defense with a very limited resources. War is based on logistics and at that point, the allies sorely lacked it. If the US agreed to President Quezon’s recommendation to declare independence and neutrality for the Philippines, the Bataan Death March and other civilian casualties would not have happened. I am not denigrating the bravery of the american and filipino soldiers but i am condemning the american leadership for decieving these defenders to fight an unwinnable battle. Many heroes sacrificed for nothing!

These soldiers who gave so much are dying off at an increased
rate as they age. Oral histories like these preserve the fact
that our “Allies” were once our enemies and we should never
forget their actions even if we forgive them.