Tom Udall: “last week we marked the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, an event that led to the U.S. into the Second…”

“last week we marked the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, an event that led to the U.S. into the Second World War. But that wasn't the only important 70th anniversary commemorated last week. Seventy years ago, on December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, halfway across the world the long battle for control of the strategically important country of the Philippines began. This is a battle that began in the air and on the sea, but would ultimately see the surrendered American and Filipino troops forced on a brutal death march, languishing in substandard POW camps, and in many cases, succumbing to malnourishment, mistreatment, and disease. It is on behalf of all of these soldiers that I introduce legislation to honor the Defenders of Bataan, a peninsula on the island of Luzon where the battle ended, but the hellish journey began, with a Congressional Gold Medal. They are most deserving and this honor is, I believe, long overdue. Soon after the air and naval battle for the Philippines began, the Japanese would land a sizable force to take control of Luzon. Ten days later the Japanese began their main offensive into the island. On Christmas Eve, 1941, General MacArthur put War Plan Orange 3 into effect. This plan called for some troops to delay the Japanese advance as the greater force withdrew into Bataan. According to historical documents, the purpose of the plan was to keep Manila Bay from Japanese control until the U.S.…”