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Edward P. KingMajor General of the United States Army
Date of Birth: 01.01.1884
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Edward King: American General and Bataan Survivor
- Interwar Years and Assignment to the Philippines
- Battle of Bataan and Imprisonment
- The Bataan Death March and Prisoner of War
- Post-War Life and Legacy
Edward King: American General and Bataan Survivor
Early Life and Military CareerEdward King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1884. The military legacy of his Confederate ancestors influenced his childhood. Despite his parents' wishes for a legal career, he enlisted in the US Army in 1908. King served in World War I, earning the Distinguished Service Medal.
Interwar Years and Assignment to the Philippines
During the interwar period, King held various military positions. In 1940, he was sent to the Philippines, where he rose to the rank of Brigadier General. He became the second-highest-ranking American general under MacArthur, after Wainwright.
Battle of Bataan and Imprisonment
When MacArthur left the Philippines in 1942, Wainwright assumed command of the US Army in the Philippines, while King became Commanding General of American and Filipino forces on Bataan. As artillery commander, King led his troops in a valiant defense against the Japanese. However, after months of fighting without reinforcements, American and Filipino forces ran out of ammunition and medical supplies. On April 8, 1942, King surrendered to Japanese General Homma.
The Bataan Death March and Prisoner of War
The surrender led to the infamous "Bataan Death March," during which 75,000 prisoners of war were forced to endure a brutal march to prisoner-of-war camps. King spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war.
Post-War Life and Legacy
After the war, King returned to the United States and retired from the military. He is remembered as a courageous and resilient commander who played a pivotal role in the defense of the Philippines during World War II.
