U.S. General Edward King, commander of all American armed forces on Bataan Peninsula in 1942, told his men, “We have no further means of organized resistance, we are low on ammunition, have virtually no medical supplies, and our food is all but gone. The situation has become hopeless.  You did not surrender; I ordered you to surrender.”  78,000 U.S. and Filipino soldiers were put at the mercy of their Japanese Imperial captors, including former Notre Dame fullback, Mario “Motts” Tonelli.  5-years prior, Tonelli’s 70-yard rush in the USC game had helped preserve a win for the Fighting Irish and Tonelli’s spot in the history books.  Now, he was part of the grueling 60+ mile Bataan Death March, and trying to navigate the hellish conditions his captors were subjecting him to.  Holding on to the thoughts and memories of his family and his home, Tonelli would rely on every ounce of his experience and training as a collegiate athlete, to not win a football game, but to survive.  Part II, Run to Daylight, next on the Missing Chapter….

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