9 March 1942. Bataan, Philippines.
The survivors of 192nd and 194th Tank Battalion had become the Provisional Tank Group, and had been either defending the coastline or other important places, trying to prevent being turned into pillboxes. The men, like all on the Bataan peninsula were sick, hungry and fearful.
On 7 March, the Japanese launched an attack supported by artillery and aircraft. A large force of Japanese troops came over Mount Samat and descended down the south face of the volcano. This attack wiped out two divisions of defenders and left a large area of the defensive line open to the Japanese. The next morning, the 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts, supported by C Company tanks, with only seven tanks, attempted to restore the line, but Japanese infiltrators prevented this from happening.
Companies B and D, 192nd, and A Company, 194th, with all the remaining tanks were preparing for a suicide attack against the Japanese in an attempt to stop the advance. At 18:00hrs 8 March, the tank battalion commanders received this order: “You will make plans, to be communicated to company commanders only, and be prepared to destroy within one hour after receipt by radio, or other means, of the word ‘CRASH’, all tanks and combat vehicles, arms, ammunition, gas, and radios: reserving sufficient trucks to close to rear echelons as soon as accomplished.”
At about 06:45 the tank battalion commanders received the order “crash.” The tank crews circled their tanks. Each tank fired an armour-piercing shell into the engine of the tank in front of it. They also opened the gasoline cocks inside the tank compartments and dropped hand grenades into the tanks. Most of the company waited in their bivouac for the Japanese to make contact, while others attempted to reach Corregidor which had not surrendered.
