King himself, accepting sole responsibility to disobey MacArthur's and Wainwright's orders, chose to surrender his troops on 9 April 1942 (this day is commemorated in the Philippines as the Araw ng Kagitingan, or "Day of Valor"). A combined American and Filipino force of over 75,000 surrendered; this was the largest surrender of a military force in American history. Thousands of these soldiers would die under Japanese captivity during the ensuing Bataan Death March and imprisonment. Wainwright and his men, numbering 10,000, held on to Corregidor until they too were forced to surrender on 6 May 1942. King spent three and half years as a captive of the Japanese, who often mistreated him due to his rank. Both Wainwright and King expected to be court-martialled for disobeying orders that they should not surrender. However, they were treated as heroes when they were finally freed. Decorations Postwar After the war, King returned to the United States where he retired to a home in Georgia, devoting himself to many volunteer causes, such as the Red Cross. He died in 1958, and is buried at the Cemetery of St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church – Flat Rock, NC. In literature Writer John Grisham utilizes King as a character in his fictional novel The Reckoning. Part of the story takes place at Camp O'Donnell during World War II. See also Arnold J. Funk References "The Battling Bastards of Bataan" Profile "King of Bataan". Thaddeus Holt. The Quarterly Journal of Military History 7:2 (1995) External links Edward Postell King, Jr. Records, c1940s., Profiles of Honor Digital Collection, Library of Virginia. Generals of World War II 1884 births 1958 deaths People from Atlanta University of Georgia alumni Georgia National Guard personnel Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state) United States Army personnel of World War I Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni United States Army War College alumni United States Army War College faculty Naval War College alumni Naval War College faculty United States Army generals of World War II World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Bataan Death March prisoners United States Army generals