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Within five months of its decision to go to war with the Western powers in December 1941, Japan's empire expanded to embrace 110 million new subjects and its military captured over 132,000 prisoners of war. After a five-month campaign against the Philippines, then an American commonwealth, 20,000 American and 70,000 Filipino personnel were surrendered and taken into captivity by the Japanese in April-May 1942. Thousands of Allied civilians in the Philippines were also incarcerated. 

The nightmare of what these POWs were forced to endure for the next three and a half years is the subject of the MacArthur Memorial's new special exhibit: The Price of Unpreparedness: POWs in the Philippines during World War II. 

The Price of Unpreparedness opens to the public on September 30, 2023. Join us that morning at 10:00AM for an opening event featuring several speakers and a ribbon cutting (see PDF schedule of events below). 

The exhibit and all events are FREE, but registration is requested.

UNABLE TO ATTEND?

Are you unable to visit the MacArthur Memorial but still interested in the talks and exhibit? Email macarthureducation@norfolk.gov and ask to be added to the post event email list. This list will be used to send a one-time email with a link to the digital exhibit guide, a video of the exhibit opening program, and podcasts of the talks and special episodes about the POW experience. 

This email will arrive within one week of the event.