News>Bataan Death March Memorial marks 70th anniversary of deadly march
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WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. – A participant of the opening ceremony at the 23rd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March holds a flag March 25, during a moment of silence. The event, attended by a record number of more than 6,700 marchers, commemorates the original Bataan Death March which occurred in the Philippines during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss / Released)
WHITE SANDS MISSLE RANGE, N.M. – Leonard Robinson, 93, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, gives an interview March 25. Sixteen survivors attended the 23rd annual Bataan Memorial Death March. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss / Released)
WHITE SANDS MISSLE RANGE, N.M. – Participants of the 23rd annual Bataan Memorial Death March attend the opening ceremonies here March 25, before starting the event. The march, which has been at WSMR since 1992, offers two different courses – a 26.2 mile and 15.2 mile honorary course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss / Released)
by Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss
49th Wing Public Affairs
3/27/2012 - WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (AFNS) -- Frank Hewlett once wrote:
We're the battling bastards of Bataan;
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam.
No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces,
No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces.
And nobody gives a damn.
Nobody gives a damn.
This poem has been spoken year after year to those in attendance at the Bataan Memorial Death March, and it was no different this year as more than 6,700 men and women came from all over the United States and many other countries around the world.
The Bataan Memorial Death March is an annual event held to honor a special group of World War II veterans. On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers surrendered to Japanese forces while defending the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines.
During the battle, they fought in a malaria-infested region, with almost no medical support and only half rations, but the real hardship and torment began after they were captured. They were forced to march for days in the scorching heat of the Philippine jungle. During the march, they traveled morn than 60 miles, losing more than 1,000 people to death while those who survived became prisoners of war.
"It's truly an honor to be here and look out and see a sea of people gathered to honor an amazing group of veterans," said Brig. Gen. John Ferrari, White Sands Missile Range commander. "As we gather before such history, we should remember that we are only one part in a line of service members who have served this country since 1776."
The march, which has been at WSMR since 1992, offers two different courses - a 26.2 mile and 15.2 mile honorary course. The course covered mountains, highways and sandpits, which provided participants with a tough challenge, though the difficulty pales in comparison to what the veterans of the Bataan march went through.
"They went through true hell, and I don't know if I would have been able to go through all of that, so I believe that speaks to how amazing these gentlemen are," said Gregory James, former U.S. Army sergeant, who participated in the event.
The Bataan Memorial Death March has continued to grow year after year. The original event in 1989 only had 100 participants - a number that has since skyrocketed to more than 6,700, a new record for the 23 year-running event. This year's event also had more than 1,200 volunteers giving out water, energy drinks, fruit slices and medical care along the entire course.
Every year, the march is broken down into age groups, and participants can enter several different team or individual categories. The most challenging category - the heavy category - requires participants to carry a ruck sack weighing at least 35 pounds.
This year's memorial marked the 70th anniversary of the surrender and subsequent march, a milestone that the survivors and their families are fully aware of.
"I told my family what happen to me as a prisoner of war from the first day I got home, said Leonard Robinson, 93, a survivor of the Bataan Death March, who traveled from Casper, Wyo., to attend. "I want people to take away three things from my experience: first, you need to talk about it; second, have faith in God; and third, never hold a grudge; the things we go through in life are not worth holding on to and complaining - just live."
Comments
12/17/2012 2:15:32 PM ET httpwww.gideonrasmussen.combataanmarchThis site is meant to complement the official Bataan March site. It provides recommendations for training gear and logistics. The intention is to increase overall success rate for participants and reduce injuries. Be sure to review the content on the official site thoroughly.
Gideon Rasmussen, Charlotte NC
4/1/2012 8:30:27 PM ET RIP Bill De Rosa....you survived the Bataan Death March over stuffed railroad cars holds of unmark supply ships hauling POWs back to Japan only to die as a POW in POW Camp Tokyo. Milmay residents will never forget what you did for our freedoms. We gratefully thank you.
Robert Hensel, Milmay N.J.
3/28/2012 3:46:41 PM ET This was my first time participating in the march -and I am actually pictured in the third photo turned away- and it truly was a humbling experience. I think the best thing I took away from this was the sheer number of people intermingling from every service civilian and especially wounded warriorsvets. It was truly an honor to march with them. I can't wait til next year. Though I'm sure my feet can.
Lt Jim, Dyess
3/28/2012 2:42:54 PM ET In the early 70's I worked with an old man who was a survivor of the march. He told stories of surviving on rats that he caught. No one believed him until there was a rat at work when he went over and picked it up and broke its neck in practically one move they believed him. God bless our active duty and veterans.
W Joynes, Dayton Ohio
3/27/2012 7:21:32 PM ET I was stationed with MSGT John Dorzinski at Barksdale AFB in 1962. He was on the Bataan Death March. I was only 18 at the time and had little knowledge of the tragedy. I wish now that I had known him better. He taught me a lot. Does anyone know him. I may have misspelled his name.Thanks.
linda smith swink, hamilton ohio
3/27/2012 4:40:46 PM ET RIP Robert A. Brown, CMSgt USAF Retired. The youngest Bataan Death March survivor. May God speed and keep you in his stead for all you did in your lifetime to maintain the honor and dignity of all Bataan survivors.ATTN CMSgt Campanale
CMSgt Rich, Wisconsin
3/27/2012 1:16:46 PM ET I attended the Bataan Death March and was truely amazed at the number of people. It was a great honor to meet the survivors and hear thier stories. It was truely an amazing experience that I will keep comming back for.
