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Post by Bob Hudson on Aug 13, 2012 7:26:34 GMT 8
Perhaps one of you can answer a question so I may put a check mark next to some data I have.
I show 1,487 Marines captured on Corregidor and 78 on Bataan. 474 died in captivity.
Don't remember where I got the data or how I arrived at that number. I am sure that within the collective information belonging to members of this website, an accurate figure exists.
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Post by wwalker on Aug 13, 2012 8:29:55 GMT 8
Hello Bob,
The information that I have on the total number of marines on Corregidor come from a very well researched book by John Gordon titled "Fighting for MacArthur: The Navy and Marine Corps' Desperate Defense of the Philippines". Mr. Gordon studied all of the marine rosters and also the official 4th Marine diary, to name a few of his sources. The marine records stopped on May 02, 1942, I believe.
According to Gordon on page 238, as of May 01, 1942 there were 1334 marines on Corregidor. This number includes those in the hospital and also 39 marines that were attached to the 60th Coast Artillery. He goes on to state that there were 86 marines on Fort Hughes and 14 on Fort Drum. Another interesting sidenote is he lists 77 marines were taken prisoner on Bataan. I would say that these figures are very accurate, as Mr. Gordon's book is as factual as it gets, in my opinion.
The actual amount captured would have been considerably less than the 1334 recorded in the records as of May 01. Many were killed in combat after the Japanese landed on the tail the night of May 05. The total number of marines killed during the battle is unknown to me. I've heard estimates of 100-300, however I'm not sure how accurate that is. I'm in the process of compiling this information, with the help of John and Chad.
Mr. Gordons book is a very good read, and full of good information. I highly recommend it. Hope this helps.
WW
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Post by Bob Hudson on Aug 13, 2012 8:45:58 GMT 8
WW,
Thanks for the lead. I scrolled further down on my stats sheet and noticed I had typed 90 KIA's on Corregidor which may also mean fortresses in the Bay other than Corregidor. I believe the stats I presented earlier are meant to represent Marines not on Bataan
Of the 77 or 78 Marines surrendered on Bataan, I would like to know how many of those perished if that is possible.
Bob
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Post by chadhill on Aug 13, 2012 9:02:58 GMT 8
Hello Bob,
Daniel Howell in his book The Battle for Corregidor December 1941-6 May 1942, The 4th Marine Regiment Hung Out to Dry (Dizon, Manila, 2002) lists a name for every number in his statistics. They are:
KIA/DOW combat: 97 Died in POW camps: 305 Died aboard Hellships: 215
Total Deaths: 617
Note: These totals do not include USN and other personnel attached to the USMC provisional reserve battalion 4/4.
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Post by okla on Aug 15, 2012 23:27:59 GMT 8
Hey Chad....These two tidbits aren't about Corregidor Marines, but depict Gyrenes of that era. Both men were uncles of people I knew many years ago. Both were taken prisoner in the first days and weeks of the war. One was an Embassy Guard at Shanghai. He survived the war, and evidently, being a Marine to the core, stayed in the Reserves, only to be called up in the Summer of 1950 and was KIA, several weeks later, in the taking of Wolmi-do Island, located in the Harbor at Inchon. The other fellow was taken prisoner at Wake Island, survived behind the wire in a Manchurian prison pen, returned to the States vowing never to be hungry or thirsty again. He fulfilled his declaration, dying twenty some years later as a 270 pound diabetic, alcoholic. Both men, I guess you could say, were members of the "old breed".Tough, old dudes, holding the line in those early days against the Japanese enemy. Cheers.
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