WW2 question about a Japanese victory over America?

Question

Did this happen? A friend of mine is adament that America was defeated in ww2 in a battle on some small Island in the pacific ocean. Apparently more than 60 thousand American's were taken prisoner.
I personally have NEVER heard about this, nor could I find anything about it on the net... I think he's full of Sh*t but I need to know...


Did this happen?
If so, what was the name of the island and how many people were taken prisoner?

Answer 1

I believe your friend may be talking about the Battle of the Philippines. The "small island" he was referring to may have been Corregidor. It was the last bastion we had against the Japanese takeover of the Philippines, and was a long, bloody battle that ended with over 1,200 US and Filipino dead, and over 11,000 prisoners.

Corregidor is a small island at the mouth of Manila Harbor on Luzon Island (which is not a "small island").

Overall, there were over 100,000 prisoners taken in the Battle of the Philippines, over 2,500 dead and 5,000 wounded. Most of the fighting was on the island of Luzon, which is the main island in the Philippines.

The prisoners were very badly treated, including the infamous "Bataan Death March" where only approximately 54,000 prisoners survived (out of 72,000).

While in the Navy, I went over to Corregidor and toured the island. It is a National Monument in the Philippines, and includes a museum with items and pictures from the battle.

Answer 2

Bataan, in the Philippines. Not such a small island (the Bataan peninsula is on the island of Luzon). 60,000 -- no, more like 30,000, including Filipinos in American service. The biggest surrender in American history.

Answer 3

He's probably referring to the Phillippines. It wasn't 60,000 Americans taken prisoner, but between 10,000 and 12,000 Americans and about 50,000-60,000 Filipinos were taken prisoner.

Answer 4

The Phillipines--Bataan--But MacArthur said I shall Return and he DID!!!!