The memorial was dedicated on 12 April 1982 by the survivors of the Bataan Death March and the prisoner-of-war camp in Cabanatuan during World War II.[1] The memorial has been maintained by the American Battle Grounds Commission since 1989.[2] Prior to this, it was maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
The memorial is located along the Cabanatuan-Palayan road in Barangay Pangatian, eight kilometers north of the city proper.[3]
After the surrender of 75,000 Americans by General Edward King Jr. to the Japanese forces during World War II, the American troops were forced to march 65 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando, with the march ending in Capas. This is now known as the Bataan Death March. Camp Pangatian was then used as a P.O.W. camp for the soldiers who survived the death march.[4] Although this event occurred in 1942, no memorial was erected until 1982.
The Camp Pangatian P.O.W. camp was liberated in 1945 in an operation known as the most successful tactical rescue mission ever executed by the American military, the raid at Cabanatuan. They were aided by Filipino guerrillas who were fighting the Japanese. This tactical operation was depicted in the 2005 film The Great Raid. Although the Bataan Death March was a significant historical event, the establishment of its memorial in Cabanatuan was not mentioned in any major U.S. news outlet.[5]
In 1982, the American Battle Monuments Commission wanted to honor those who died in the Bataan Death March. Because of good relationship with the Philippines, the Filipino government allowed construction to begin. President Ronald Reagan signed a joint resolution on 6 April 1982, which declared that April 12 be officially celebrated as, "American Salute to Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Memorial Day." The unveiling of the Cabanatuan memorial, however, was not of much significance to the Filipino people, as no major newspaper on the Philippines printed any information about the memorial or its dedication.[6]
Memorial Wall
Although more than 20,000 U.S. and Allied servicemen and civilians were held in the Japanese internment camp, only 2,656 American names are inscribed on the wall.[1] The names and ranks of the servicemen held in the camp are listed on the memorial walls with horizontal rows with regular Typeface and spacing, similar to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.[7] A marble altar rests in the center of its 90-square-foot (8.4 m2) concrete base. A large mural of Filipino and American soldiers carrying each other in battle is present on the roof deck of the memorial.[7] This elevated circular platform is the only place in Nueva Ecija where the American flag stands beside the Filipino flag.[8]
The dedication, which is located on the back of the Cabanatuan sign, describes the memorial. It reads,
SITE OF THE JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP 1942 TO 1945 THIS MEMORIAL HONORS THE AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND THE CIVILIANS WHO DIED HERE AND GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE EQUALLY HEROIC SACRIFICES MADE BY FILIPINO SERVICEMEN AND CIVILIANS IN A MUTUAL QUEST FOR HONOR, FREEDOM AND PEACE IT ALSO REMINDS MANKIND OF MAN’S INHUMANITY TO HIS FELLOWMAN
ERECTED AND DEDICATED 12 APRIL 1982 BY AMERICAN AND FILIPINO COMRADES, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.[2]
Addition
On 6 April 2003, the provincial government of Nueva Ecija inaugurated a second memorial on a piece of land adjacent to the U.S.-maintained memorial.[8] The original monument honors the heroism of the American prisoners of war in Pangatian. The second memorial, however, pays tribute to the Filipino guerrillas who helped in the liberation of Camp Pangatian.[8] The addition features a circular platform with two tablets from the National Historical Institute. One of these tablets is in Filipino while the other is in English. The tablets read,
ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 30, 1945, FILIPINO GUERRILLAS UNDER CAPTAINS JUAN PAJOTA AND EDUARDO JOSON EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS AT PANGATIAN CONCENTRATION CAMP IN CABANATUAN. THE BATTLE OF CABU BRIDGE AND THE BLOCKADE AT BANGDAD RESULTED IN THE LIBERATION OF 516 ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR. THE JOINT OPERATION OF THE GUERRILLAS, ALAMO SCOUTS, AND THE U.S. 6TH RANGER BATTALION WAS UNDER LT. COL. HENRY MUCCI. THIS EVENT IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RESCUE MISSIONS OF ITS TYPE IN THE ANNALS OF U.S. MILITARY HISTORY.[citation needed]
Gallery
Names of the deceased listed on the Cabanatuan American Memorial shrine
The second memorial
References
^ ab"Cabanatuan American Memorial | American Battle Monuments Commission". www.abmc.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
^Valmonte, Ramon. "Pangatian War Memorial". monvalmonte.com. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
^"Bataan Death March – World War II". HISTORY.com. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
^"Log in to NewsBank". infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
^"Text of H.J.Res. 435 (97th): A joint resolution providing for the designation of April 12, 1982, as "American ... (Passed Congress/Enrolled Bill version)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
^ abVisitmyphilippines.com. "Department of Tourism – The Philippines Ultimate Travel Guide for Tourist". www.visitmyphilippines.com. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
^ abcValmonte, Ramon. "Pangatian War Memorial". monvalmonte.com. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
February 27, 2023
cabanatuan, american, memorial, world, memorial, located, cabanatuan, nueva, ecija, philippines, located, site, what, once, camp, pangatian, military, training, camp, which, operated, twenty, years, until, converted, into, internment, camp, allied, prisoners, . The Cabanatuan American Memorial is a World War II memorial located in Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija in the Philippines It is located on the site of what was once Camp Pangatian a military training camp which operated for twenty years until it was converted into an internment camp for Allied prisoners of war during the Japanese occupation Cabanatuan American MemorialAmerican Battle Monuments CommissionAerial view of the Cabanatuan American Memorial ca 2007For the commemoration of the dead of the Bataan Death March and the Cabanatuan Japanese POW campUnveiledApril 12 1982 1982 04 12 Location15 30 40 N 121 02 38 E 15 5110 N 121 0440 E 15 5110 121 0440 Coordinates 15 30 40 N 121 02 38 E 15 5110 N 121 0440 E 15 5110 121 0440 Cabanatuan Nueva Ecija PhilippinesCommemorated2 656The memorial was dedicated on 12 April 1982 by the survivors of the Bataan Death March and the prisoner of war camp in Cabanatuan during World War II 1 The memorial has been maintained by the American Battle Grounds Commission since 1989 2 Prior to this it was maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission The memorial is located along the Cabanatuan Palayan road in Barangay Pangatian eight kilometers north of the city proper 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Memorial Wall 1 2 Addition 2 Gallery 3 ReferencesHistory Edit Route of the Bataan Death March After the surrender of 75 000 Americans by General Edward King Jr to the Japanese forces during World War II the American troops were forced to march 65 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando with the march ending in Capas This is now known as the Bataan Death March Camp Pangatian was then used as a P O W camp for the soldiers who survived the death march 4 Although this event occurred in 1942 no memorial was erected until 1982 The Camp Pangatian P O W camp was liberated in 1945 in an operation known as the most successful tactical rescue mission ever executed by the American military the raid at Cabanatuan They were aided by Filipino guerrillas who were fighting the Japanese This tactical operation was depicted in the 2005 film The Great Raid Although the Bataan Death March was a significant historical event the establishment of its memorial in Cabanatuan was not mentioned in any major U S news outlet 5 In 1982 the American Battle Monuments Commission wanted to honor those who died in the Bataan Death March Because of good relationship with the Philippines the Filipino government allowed construction to begin President Ronald Reagan signed a joint resolution on 6 April 1982 which declared that April 12 be officially celebrated as American Salute to Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Memorial Day The unveiling of the Cabanatuan memorial however was not of much significance to the Filipino people as no major newspaper on the Philippines printed any information about the memorial or its dedication 6 Memorial Wall Edit Although more than 20 000 U S and Allied servicemen and civilians were held in the Japanese internment camp only 2 656 American names are inscribed on the wall 1 The names and ranks of the servicemen held in the camp are listed on the memorial walls with horizontal rows with regular Typeface and spacing similar to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 7 A marble altar rests in the center of its 90 square foot 8 4 m2 concrete base A large mural of Filipino and American soldiers carrying each other in battle is present on the roof deck of the memorial 7 This elevated circular platform is the only place in Nueva Ecija where the American flag stands beside the Filipino flag 8 The dedication which is located on the back of the Cabanatuan sign describes the memorial It reads SITE OF THE JAPANESE PRISONER OF WAR CAMP 1942 TO 1945THIS MEMORIAL HONORSTHE AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND THE CIVILIANSWHO DIED HERE AND GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGESTHE EQUALLY HEROIC SACRIFICESMADE BY FILIPINO SERVICEMEN AND CIVILIANSIN A MUTUAL QUEST FOR HONOR FREEDOM AND PEACEIT ALSO REMINDS MANKIND OF MAN S INHUMANITYTO HIS FELLOWMANERECTED AND DEDICATED 12 APRIL 1982 BYAMERICAN AND FILIPINO COMRADES FAMILIES AND FRIENDS 2 Addition Edit On 6 April 2003 the provincial government of Nueva Ecija inaugurated a second memorial on a piece of land adjacent to the U S maintained memorial 8 The original monument honors the heroism of the American prisoners of war in Pangatian The second memorial however pays tribute to the Filipino guerrillas who helped in the liberation of Camp Pangatian 8 The addition features a circular platform with two tablets from the National Historical Institute One of these tablets is in Filipino while the other is in English The tablets read ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 30 1945 FILIPINO GUERRILLAS UNDER CAPTAINS JUAN PAJOTA AND EDUARDO JOSON EFFECTIVELY PREVENTED JAPANESE REINFORCEMENTS AT PANGATIAN CONCENTRATION CAMP IN CABANATUAN THE BATTLE OF CABU BRIDGE AND THE BLOCKADE AT BANGDAD RESULTED IN THE LIBERATION OF 516 ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR THE JOINT OPERATION OF THE GUERRILLAS ALAMO SCOUTS AND THE U S 6TH RANGER BATTALION WAS UNDER LT COL HENRY MUCCI THIS EVENT IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL RESCUE MISSIONS OF ITS TYPE IN THE ANNALS OF U S MILITARY HISTORY citation needed Gallery Edit Names of the deceased listed on the Cabanatuan American Memorial shrine The second memorialReferences Edit a b Cabanatuan American Memorial American Battle Monuments Commission www abmc gov Retrieved 2016 12 10 a b Memorial POW camp Cabanatuan Cabanatuan City en tracesofwar com Retrieved 2016 12 14 Valmonte Ramon Pangatian War Memorial monvalmonte com Retrieved 2016 12 14 Bataan Death March World War II HISTORY com Retrieved 2016 12 14 Log in to NewsBank infoweb newsbank com Retrieved 2016 12 17 Text of H J Res 435 97th A joint resolution providing for the designation of April 12 1982 as American Passed Congress Enrolled Bill version GovTrack us Retrieved 2016 12 16 a b Visitmyphilippines com Department of Tourism The Philippines Ultimate Travel Guide for Tourist www visitmyphilippines com Retrieved 2016 12 18 a b c Valmonte Ramon Pangatian War Memorial monvalmonte com Retrieved 2016 12 16 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cabanatuan American Memorial amp oldid 1136642368, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
