Families of prisoners maintained hope and
encouraged one another both through prayer
and action. The Bataan Relief Organization
was founded in Albuquerque and their motto
soon became, “We will not let them down.”
Mothers and daughters joined together in a
group called the Gold Star Mothers to raise
relief funds and prepare Red Cross packages
for their loved ones.
DEC 14, 1944 — To prevent rescue
of prisoners of war by the advancing allies, the
Japanese herded the 150 POWs at Puerto Princesa,
Palawan Island, into three covered trenches which
were then set on fire. As prisoners tried to escape
the flames they were shot down. Some escaped by
going over a cliff that ran along one side of the
trenches, but were later hunted down and killed.
Five New Mexicans — 200th Coast Artillery men — died in the
slaughter. Eleven
men escaped by going over the cliffs and hiding out
until rescued by Filipinos. One of those was the
200th's Alberto Pacheco.
