MANILA, Philippines—In recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Bataan Death March, the White Sands Missile Range presents a new documentary movie, Forgotten Soldiers on Friday and Saturday.
Forgotten Soldiers follows a little-known group of Filipino soldiers and American officers who served together in elite units known as Philippine Scouts.
These regular U.S. Army soldiers, along with the Philippine Army and U.S. national guard units, fought the first major battle of the war after Pearl Harbor. They were then subjected to the horrors of the Bataan Death March. Half of the men died in combat and as prisoners of war.
Six years ago, producer/director Donald A. Plata recognized that the pivotal events that took place in the Philippines at the beginning of World War II have slipped into history, and few Americans today have ever heard of the Philippine Scouts, or even the Battle of Bataan.
Plata financed, filmed and developed Forgotten Soldiers to tell that story, and to give credit to the men of Bataan and Corregidor for their sacrifices and achievements.
Forgotten Soldiers will be shown at 7 p.m., on Friday and Saturday evening at the Post Theater, White Sands Missile Range.
For additional information, see the attached news release or contact Chris.Schaefer@bataandiary.com or 832-428-1977.