Greetings from Bataan

[Bob Dedmon]

To Filipinos that is pronounced Bata on. Visiting CinC House's uncle on Bataan I had a chance to view the terrain looking at it with a tactical eye. I really only got to see the north ease quadrant. If they had been able to get all the supplies stocked in Manila allowing for Japanese air superiority I think they could have held out for several more months. The terrain excludes use of armor, the ravines are impossibly steep, the grass is over 6 feet high in most places and the trees would provide excellent cover. The Japanese end around if the only real thing that enabled them to defeat the FilAm forces. If the Allies had adequate supplies I think they could have stopped that move cold. Based on aircraft specs the Japanese would have won air superiority eventually regardless of failing to destroy the AAF on opening day. I also saw a mile post identifying distance covered on the Death March. I will attempt to get the photo of it tomorrow as some in the party were in a hurry...I informed them thie marker was important to me so we'll see if I can get it done.