Fort Huachuca, Arizona - The 26th annual Bataan Death March Memorial took place Sunday at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, bringing out military and civilians from all over the country.
At least 11 Soldiers from various units on Fort Huachuca made the trip to New Mexico to participate in the 26.2-mile march. "The Bataan Memorial Death March honors a special group of World War II heroes. These brave Soldiers were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines," according to the Bataan website, www.bataanmarch.com/r09/history.htm.
"On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. Others were wounded or killed when unmarked enemy ships transporting prisoners of war to Japan were sunk by U.S. air and naval forces," said the website.
Roughly 6,500 participants joined in honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March. Many of the participants carried 40-pound rucksacks mostly filled with food to be donated at the end of the march.
Nagaue tells his story
One of Fort Huachuca's participants, Sgt. 1st Class Nolan Nagaue, Non-commissioned Officers Academy, NCOA, chose to take part in the march for the physical challenge as well as to memorialize the survivors. "I wanted to participate to remember history, remember those who came before us, amongst ourselves we just wanted to do something that challenges ourselves and participate in something like this too," Nagaue said.
"The hardest part will be finishing the whole thing; it's pretty long. It will be a good challenge," he said before leaving for the march. Nagaue had been training alongside two comrades since November for the event.
Staff Sgt. Liza Shino, NCOA, created a detailed workout regimen to help the three Soldiers prepare. Their training schedule consisted of short and long road marches, and high-intensity gym workouts. Two days before the group left, they had clocked 209 miles together.
Their average week's worth of workouts were as follows: ruck sack weight with water and provisions 40 -- 45 pounds; Mondays -- 4 to 6 mile march; Tuesdays -- full body weight training; Wednesdays -- 6 to 8 mile ruck; Thursdays -- 30 minutes of cardio followed by weights; and Fridays -- 8 to 15 miles. Almost every day included a 30 to 45-minute workout during their lunch break.
"We have all endured the pain and blisters that come with so many miles, but have all persevered. Our lives didn't stop and training all had to be done on personal time. So every workout we did was followed by eight to 10 hours of work, and all three of us are enrolled in college (each taking two classes and maintaining a 3.0 or higher grade point average), so after a full work day, usually college class or homework ensued. All of this while still maintaining a family," Shino said of the trio's training.
"In my case, I am also very thankful to my husband, Sergeant First Class Tomoji Shino, and daughter, Myka, for their support. My husband ensured I had a home-cooked meal every night, and my daughter helped with the home chores, to include making sure my uniform was always ready and prepped. We three NCOs are ready and motivated for the task at hand. Barring any major injury, we will bring honor to ourselves, our family, our unit and the men who suffered this experience so many years ago," Shino said before leaving for the march.
Johnson describes his experience
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Johnson, NCOA, has wanted to participate in the march since he joined the Army, six years ago. "It continues the history, continues the tradition. Shows people that things like this still matter to Soldiers and for future Soldiers to look at it and want to go do it," he said. Johnson guessed that the last 5 miles would be the hardest for him, "but luckily I have two of my friends to help me out."
After completing the march this weekend Johnson said the march was not what he was expecting at all. "The physical portion I felt I trained enough for, but in the mental and emotional aspects I felt a little lacking. The amount of encouragement and support that all of the volunteers and participants had for each other was overwhelming, and I know that I would not have been able to finish if not for that support," he said.
He also found that the hardest part for himself was, "losing one member of my team, she worked as hard as anyone and has my respect, that and the last mile. The best part was crossing the finish line. The feeling of accomplishment and success cannot be described," he said.
Johnson plans to participate in the event again next year but this time alongside his family.
"It was a humbling experience [meeting the survivors], you read about the story and learn about the history, but to have that in the flesh before you and know that the pain you felt doing your 26 miles is nowhere near what these gentlemen felt walking triple that distance under the anguish of their persecutors. I know that this will not be the last time I do this, as I want to make sure that we as a country continue to honor these men," Johnson added.
"The march was as every bit as challenging as I thought it was going to be. Even though we only did about 30 percent of what the original Bataan survivors endured, it was still challenging. But the amount of participants competing was also staggering and it was an amazing event," said Nagaue after returning from the march.
Nagaue said he plans to participate again in the future as either a competitor, volunteer or supporter. "The hardest part was to keep going despite the blister I got on my foot at mile 19, and the fatigue in my body that I felt on the last 6 miles. But the best part was the comradeship from the other participants and volunteers on the course that kept encouraging you throughout the march. And finishing the course on my own two feet," he said.
Injury eliminates one marcher
Shino, who also plans to revamp her strategies and participate again next year with her husband and daughter, was unable to finish the race this year. She completed 16 miles before rolling her ankle in soft sand on the downhill portion.
"At that point I had already been on the course seven hours. My other two NCOs did complete the course in 11 hours 30 minutes. I am very proud of their accomplishment. And although I was unable to finish, I feel accomplished and very humbled at being apart of such an event and the reason behind the event," she said.
"Meeting the survivors brought a sense of pride and honor. These men endured … a 62-mile trek and then prisoner of war encampment for months. The fact that they survived is a testament to our nation. They were humble and proud of all the participants who showed up in their honor," Shino said of the event.
The Soldier cited the best part of the event was the camaraderie amongst all the participants. "When people were passing or when we were passing, everyone checked on everyone and motivated every step through. The support staff and volunteers were amazing, passing out water and fruit. The medical teams were the best I have ever encountered," she said.
One of those volunteers came from Fort Huachuca and helped at two water stations along the march. Brenda Briscoe, Murr Community Center facility manager, volunteered at the march for her first time. This was also the first year the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate took participants from the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) to the march.
Briscoe drove the group of eight BOSS Soldiers to New Mexico and then took her post as a volunteer. "When I was there it was a rewarding experience to see how the march actually goes, how FMWR participates in other activities in different locations and different FMWRs actually," she said.
"The overall event itself was really rewarding because you got to see what happened to the people that were in the Bataan Death March. You got to talk to survivors from the Bataan Death March years ago and just that it's an awesome event to see people that go 26 miles and make it across the finish line and they do have a lot of struggle throughout," Briscoe added.
The BOSS participants included: Capt. Vannesa Cardenas, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison; Sgt. Koray Baker, HHC, 111th Military Intelligence Brigade; Sgt. 1st Class Johanna Clark, HHC, USAG; Spc. Jacob Beyer, MI Corps Band; Spc. Amanda Golden, HHC, USAG; Staff Sgt. Joshua Dahl, MI Corps Band; Sgt. Jeffrey Buehring, MI Corps Band; Staff Sgt. Robert Shamel, Bravo Company, 309th MI Battalion.
This was the first time participating in the Bataan Death March for all 11 Soldiers.
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