Left Behind: When America Surrendered WW2

In the early days of World War II, Vicente and Marcos Mocorro -- father and son – together defended Corregidor Island from Japanese attacks, while enduring the enemy’s debilitating bombing runs on an island under siege. But, when the inevitable happened and they were captured by enemy forces, they were separated. One became a guerilla fighter, continuing the fighting against his country’s invaders...

Chet and Grace Britt were still newlyweds when the US Army evacuated her from The Philippines Islands in spring 1941. While she joined the home front war efforts, she had no idea the horrendous things Chet experienced once Bataan fell.   For Chet, however, Grace's love and his faith pulled him through some of the darkest moments the American POWs faced while prisoners of the Japanese.   You’ll fin...

I’ve been working toward creating the Left Behind podcast for nearly 20 years. Seems strange, but it’s true. And it’s part of my answer to the question ALL the time: “How did you get into researching POWs in The Philippines?” Well, it literally started when I was 24 and bored one night… Every hero needs an origin story – and here’s the one for Left Behind   You’ll find images and maps about Left B...

2 young American prisoners of war – Norm Thenell and Dick Watt – lived through the Bataan Death March, only to enter a literal hell on earth – Camp O’Donnell. Daily life at O’Donnell was marked by disease, malnutrition, and uncertainty and became yet another of Japan’s WW2 atrocities. Watt and Thenell were lucky, though – they formed an unbreakable group, which was, perhaps, the only reason they e...

On April 12, 1942, Japanese forces dishonored themselves – by massacring more than 350 unarmed, bound Filipino officers and non-coms, who had surrendered the day before. It became known as the Pantingan River Massacre. Relying on survivor testimony and later interviews with Japanese soldiers who participated in the “dishonorable deed,” this episode uncovers the details of this largely unknown war...

Check out this mini episode about a little-known family secret.   "Left Behind the Scenes" is an bonus feature of the "Left Behind" podcast -- with answers to frequent questions, research secrets, and riffs on topics related to the podcast.    Learn more about the "Left Behind" podcast at www.leftbehindpodcast.com  

In late 1945, a just-liberated POW named Jack Aldrich discovered something: his brother Bobby – who Jack thought was dead – had also survived imprisonment. 5 years earlier, Jack and Bobby joined the US army – together; Bobby lying about his age to get in. They trained together at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and fought together on Bataan. They then – together – marched the Bataan Death March and experienced...

22-year-old Raymond Hunt was captured by Japanese forces on southern Bataan in April 1942. The next day, he began the grueling forced march that would become infamously known as the Battan Death March. But Hunt wasn’t going to let his enemies determine his fate. At great risk to himself, he escaped the march and joined the largest Guerilla organization in The Philippines and continued fighting. By...

On April 9, 1942, three American prisoners of war, their hands bound behind their backs, were photographed by a Japanese soldier. That photo has become the most iconic of Bataan Death March photographs. In this episode, discover the lives and fates – and the story behind the photograph – of these three American men.   View the photograph: - Instagram: @leftbehindpodcast   -- www.instagram.com/left...

In the final hours before Bataan surrendered to an unthinkable fate, two men undertook harrowing escape attempts from Bataan. One with permission. One without. But escape from Bataan is just the beginning of the story – which starts in a quite Philippine village – and ends in the same, war-ravaged town as a young Filipino man tries to save not only himself, but his entire family from utter destruc...

Just hours before Bataan fell to the enemy, Clara Bickford and her fellow Army nurses were ordered off Bataan and to the relative safety of Corregidor Island. But their evacuation was marred by clogged roads, earth-rending explosions, and an enemy airplane dogging their every move. When they finally made it to the dock – their boat had already left. Hungry and defenseless, Clara and her friends we...

On April 9, 1942, faced with sick, starving, battle-fatigued men and the onslaught of Japanese advances, Gen. Edward King made a momentous decision: He surrendered Bataan Peninsula to Japanese forces. It was his attempt to save the 78,000 servicemen under his command. But he couldn’t have foreseen the consequences of that action – both for himself and for the men he surrendered. You can find pictu...

Stories behind the Stars is a volunteer organization seeking to find and tell the stories of all 421,000 servicemen and women killed during WW2. That's right -- a story for each of the 421,000 WW2 fallen. Join me as I chat with the project's founder, Don Milne. We talk about how the project started, what volunteers do, and how anyone can involved. This 4th of July, discover the project about men a...

While enemy forces bombed a hospital on Easter Morning, Father William Cummings stood resolute, defying the destruction around him with prayer and faith. Thus, the tale of Bataan’s Easter morning miracle. And…he also coined the phrase “There are no atheists in foxholes.” This is the story of a small, ailing Catholic priest determined to join the soldiers on Bataan – and defied the odds to become a...

Do you know of a serviceman or woman who served in The Philippines during WW2? If so, I want to hear from you. Check out the episode to find out what stories I'm looking for right now, then visit https://leftbehindpodcast.com/submit-a-story to submit your story today.

Already shot 4 times in the hand and chest, Lt. Willibald Bianchi commandeered an American tank, manned its anti-aircraft gun, and fired on an enemy machinegun nest. But a 5th bullet threw him to the ground. And this time, he didn’t get up. This is the story of Bataan’s final Medal of Honor winner Willibald Bianchi.   Find pics, maps, and more on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Left-Behi...

In early January 1942, a battlefield mess sergeant realized a vital artillery gun had been silenced. Risking his life, he ran more than half a mile across an active battlefield, manned the large gun, and spent the next 2 hours firing it, alone, on the enemy. His actions that day would earn him the Medal of Honor. But his legacy far outreaches his heroism of that day. This is the story of Jose Calu...

In January 1942, two young American officers – Alexander Nininger and Ira Cheaney – died in battle on the Bataan Peninsula. In life, they’d been in The Philippines just 9 weeks. But, in death, they’ve been left behind there for more than 80 years. Because … of a rush to judgement, a potential Army coverup, and an inconvenient secret. This Memorial Day, discover the search for the WW2 servicemen st...

Catch my full interview with John Eakin of BataanMissing.com as we discuss the details of the Alexander Nininger and Ira Cheaney identification drama. I highly recommend listening to episode 17: "The True Story of WW2’s FIRST Medal of Honor: Alexander Nininger" before listening to this interview. You'll understand our discussion so much more! Find pics and other online at: https://leftbehindpodcas...

In mid-January 1942, two heroes proved themselves on Bataan’s battlefields. One was a young man, fighting for duty and honor. The other was middle aged, fighting for his homeland and family. Both would face awful circumstances. Both would make self-sacrificing choices. And both would become national heroes … during those early, dark days of the war. This is the story of Narciso Ortilano and Alexan...

Army nurse Lt. Eunice Hatchitt started WW2 caring for wounded men in a primitive battlefield hospital on Bataan. Escaping The Philippines at the last moment, she returned home a national hero. But WW2 wasn’t over for her. In 1944, she found herself following Gen. Patton’s army onto European battlefields. Oh, and she also made a small detour to Hollywood in between assignments. And….she’s the heroi...

From hiding a Navy ship in plain sight to forming a make-shift navy from scavenged boats and machine guns – Lt. Commander Henry Goodall’s war tactics took military creativity to new heights. His methods were scrappy, but he bought time and saved American and Filipino lives in Bataan Peninsula during the early days of WW2. You can find pictures and maps here: https://leftbehindpodcast.com/henry-goo...

You’ve never heard a WW2 story like this. In early 1942, a rag-tag group of Navy sailors and aviators, combined with some Marines, formed themselves into the Naval Battalion – an on-land fighting force in the jungles of Bataan. The battalion was the brainchild of Navy Commander Frank Bridget – who predicted enemy landings on Bataan well behind the American front lines and within miles of Gen. MacA...

Sailors Alton Hall, Adolphus Hutchison, and Father Francis McManus each survived a vicious ship bombing and 2.5 years in a Japanese POW camp. But their enemies suddenly had new plans for them – transfers to different POW camps in The Philippines and in Japan. Wounded, weak, and starving, these men bravely faced their new fate. But...would they be able to survive their last transfers? Find pictures...

The last US Army Cavalry charge happened during WW2 – on January 16, 1942, to be exact. The 26th Cavalry was on patrol in the northern Bataan Peninsula, when they encountered the advance guard of a large Japanese landing force. With moments to spare, a young Lieutenant raised his hand, ordering his troops into position, and yelled CHARGE! Some two dozen horses leapt forward, galloping full speed a...