Bataan Day – April 9, 2027

Expected Bataan Day Deals

Bataan Day is a solemn observance focused on remembrance and honor, rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the American Battle Monuments Commission and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) often host commemorative events and educational programs. Support for veterans and their families is channeled through donations to reputable charities such as the Wounded Warrior Project or local veteran assistance funds. Businesses can choose to honor veterans through special recognition or by supporting these organizations. We will update this page with confirmed live commemorative events as April 9 approaches.

History of Bataan Day

Not long after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Military turned their attention to the Philippines — specifically, Manila Bay. As one of the best ports in the Pacific, the Philippines was strategically crucial for the Japanese. The port was the ideal resupply point to further their naval ambitions south of the Pacific.

The Imperial Japanese army set its sights on the main island of Luzon. After an initial phase of aerial attacks, 43,000 Japanese troops descended on the island, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who was leading the Allied forces, told Washington DC that he could counter the invasion with 130,000 of his men. It would turn out to be a gross miscalculation and error on his part.

When the Battle of Bataan began, Allied forces were ill-equipped to counter the Japanese onslaught. MacArthur was forced to withdraw his troops to the Bataan peninsula. However, the planning for it was hurried and shoddy. In the panic of the retreat, the Allied forces left behind a ton of rations, stores, and ammunition.

Things fell apart in Bataan. The rations were dismally low. Troops fell sick with dengue, malaria, and other illnesses. What’s more, the soldiers had a weak defense with no naval backup or air cover.

Despite all odds, the Filipinos and Americans held out for 99 days before eventually surrendering. The last stand at Bataan cost the Japanese time and delayed immediate victory in the Pacific region. 76,000 Allied forces surrendered after three months- the largest in Filipino and American military histories. The Japanese were not prepared for the sheer number of surrendered men. Soon afterward, Filipino and American prisoners of war were forced into the infamous Bataan Death March.

Despite all their tribulations and trials of defeat, the captured soldiers remained strong and emerged heroes from the event. Bataan’s surrender hastened the fall of Corregidor. Without this stand, however, the Japanese might have quickly taken over all of the U.S. bases in the Pacific. Bataan slowed them down, giving the Allies ample time to prepare for future battles such as the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Coral Sea, which followed closely thereafter.