Introducing: Ben Steele, American - Episode 3: The Fall of the Philippines

Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

iHeartPodcasts

Tv & Film, Music, Music Interviews, Arts, Performing Arts, Film Interviews

4.4 • 8.4K Ratings

🗓️ 7 July 2022

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ben Steele, American is a documentary podcast limited series inspired by the book "Tears in the Darkness - The story of the Bataan Death March" by Elizabeth and Michael Norman and is hosted by Alec Baldwin.

In episode 3, we learn the fate of Ben Steele and the Filipino and American defenders when they are attacked by imperial Japan. Listen to Ben Steele, American on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-ben-steele-american-98570427/

Produced by Jan Thompson, Zach McNees, and Alec Baldwin.

Jan Thompson is our writer and editor.

Zach McNees is our mixer, and post production supervisor.

Ben Steele American is inspired by the book Tears in the Darkness by Elizabeth and Michael Norman.

The cover art for each episode features original art by Ben Steele himself with graphic design by Ben Dunmore.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast may contain language and content that is not appropriate for all audiences.
0:06.8	Some of the words used by the interviewees may be considered offensive.
0:12.4	Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.
0:25.9	The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces
0:34.2	of the Empire of Japan.
0:37.9	The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor stunned the world and pushed America into World War
0:44.2	2.
0:46.9	Military strategists had predicted that the Philippine islands would be the first target of Japanese
0:52.6	aggression against the United States.
0:55.7	The general Douglas MacArthur was in command of the American and Filipino forces.
1:02.4	Upon news about Pearl Harbor, the Philippines went on alert.
1:07.4	The Far East Air Force took to the air to avoid being caught on the ground.
1:12.6	Their commander, Major General Lewis Briratin, quickly requested permission from MacArthur
1:18.0	to counter attack.
1:19.8	The closest Japanese air base was on Formosa, just 500 miles north of the islands.
1:26.8	But MacArthur made no decision.
1:29.6	Finally, the planes had to return to refuel, and that was when the Japanese attacked the
1:35.0	Philippines, almost 9 hours after Pearl Harbor.
1:40.2	Ben's steel was stationed at a Clark airfield where half of the B-17s were based.
1:46.2	Ben had just finished lunch.
1:51.6	And we came out of the barracks and started to walk towards the hangar line, which was
1:54.9	only about 150 yards or so.
	...

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