Unsung Heroes

Catastrophe at Bataan

Finished gallant stand

First encounter made

Those they fought Valiant

With high forced tempo

The infamous death March

Kicking, beatings, stabbings

Merciless guards

Without food or water

Not allowed to rest

Constant molestations

The heat intense

Executions

Bewildered men

With loss of thousands

Assembled in camps

Emaciated corpses

Depressed environment

Deteriorating carcasses

Malnutrition ailments

Nightmare of captivity

This condition is Hell

General debilitation

Repulsive smells

Herded into holds

Destination Japan

Space inadequate

Lack of oxygen

Crazed by dehydration

Shivering from cold

Dying of pneumonia

Or US torpedoes

Humiliation

Exhaustion

No medication

Inanition

Deprivation

Starvation

Day of liberation

Some fortunate survived

Lived to tell their tales

Traumatized for life

No medal or promotion

We must never forget

All those unsung heroes

Forever we're in debt