Ep 13. Pt. 2 of 4: Interview with Bataan Death March Survivor, Col Glenn Frazier

Welcome back "Local Heroes" as Doug continues an interview with Colonel Glenn Frazier, a survivor of the Bataan Death March. The segment focuses on the harrowing final days before the American surrender to the Japanese and the subsequent brutal march and captivity. Colonel Frazier recounts the desperate situation before the surrender: no supplies, ammunition, food, or even basic medical necessities like iodine for water and malaria prevention. Chaos reigned as soldiers were unable to receive medical help and often lay dying without aid. After receiving word that General King had surrendered, the American forces destroyed their supplies to prevent them from falling into Japanese hands. Frazier describes the horrific conditions during the six-day, seven-night forced march with no food, water, or rest. Many men died trying to drink from artesian wells, only to be shot or bayoneted by Japanese soldiers. The march was marked by extreme brutality, with soldiers being killed for attempting to help each other or trying to escape. Frazier himself barely survived, with his tongue swollen and unable to lift his feet by the time they reached Camp O'Donnell, where conditions were even worse. At Camp O'Donnell, 15,000 Americans and over 40,000 Filipinos were held under terrible sanitary conditions. Frazier volunteered for a work detail just to escape the camp's horrific conditions. This led him to a grueling three-and-a-half-month road-building detail in the jungle, where he faced brutal treatment and saw many fellow prisoners die. Frazier's transfer to Japan marked another chapter of hardship, where he and other prisoners were forced into hard labor in various industries under severe conditions. They received minimal food, primarily rice, and often had to steal to survive. Frazier describes the prisoners' efforts to sabotage Japanese operations whenever possible, despite the severe punishments they faced. Despite the dire circumstances, Frazier highlights instances of resistance and survival, such as organized efforts to disrupt work and steal food. The segment ends with a promise to continue Colonel Frazier's incredible story of resilience and survival in the next episode.