On the south side of the sculpture.

Plaque

A rectangular metal plaque mounted on a stone pedestal and includes engraved text written in English along with an etched illustration of the surrender scene at the top commemorating the surrender site where Filipino and American troops formally surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army on April 9, 1942.

Source of photos: www.tripadvisor.com, googlemap

THIS MONUMENT MARKS THE EXACT SPOT WHERE FILIPINO AND AMERICAN TROOPS IN BATAAN WERE FINALLY SURRENDERED TO THE 14TH IMPERIAL ARMY OF JAPAN ON 9 APRIL 1942 BY THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER, AFTER THREE MONTHS OF RELENTLESS SIEGE BY INVADERS.

MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD P. KING, JR., SENIOR COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES (USFIP) IN BATAAN TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO ORDER ALL UNITS AND SOLDIERS TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS TO AVOID FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE.

"NO ONE SURRENDERED BUT ME. IF THERE’S ANY BLAME, IT’S MINE. I ORDERED YOU TO SURRENDER. YOU DID NOT DO ANYTHING BUT TAKE ORDERS."

—Maj. Gen. Edward P. King, JR.

TOGETHER WITH HIS STAFF, COL. EVERETT C. WILLIAMS, MAJ. WADE R. COTHRAN AND MAJ. ACHILLE C. TISDELLE, HE STOICALLY FACED COL. MOTOO NAKAYAMA, SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER OF GEN. MASAHARU HOMMA.

MORE THAN 75,000 WERE CAPTURED AND HAD TO SUFFER THE HORRORS OF THE “DEATH MARCH” ON THE WAY TO CAPAS, TARLAC.

DURING THE YEARS OF CRUEL OCCUPATION, OVER 180,000 CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS FORMED AND JOINED GUERRILLA FORCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT.

ON 21 FEBRUARY 1945, AMERICAN LIBERATION FORCES, ASSISTED BY RESISTANCE FIGHTERS, DEFEATED THE JAPANESE FORCES AND REGAINED THE LIBERTY OF BATAAN.

LET THIS MEMORIAL BE NOT A REMINDER OF DEFEAT BUT A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM’S TRIUMPH OVER FOREIGN AGGRESSION. LET US HEED THE MESSAGE:

IN ALL WARS, THERE CAN NEVER BE WINNERS.

WORLD WAR II IN EUROPE AND ASIA CLAIMED 62,500,000 HUMAN LIVES INCLUDING 147,000 FILIPINOS, 418,000 AMERICANS AND 2,600,000 JAPANESE.