FORT SILL, Okla. (April 14, 2016) -- A team of 15 Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery, joined service members and civilians from around the world to complete the 26.2 mile road march during the Bataan Memorial Death at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., March 20.
The annual event commemorates the Bataan Death March of 1942 when Imperial Japanese Army soldiers forcibly marched thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war 60 miles to Camp O'Donnell in the Philippines. Thousands died before reaching the camp.
To pay tribute to the survivors and the fallen service members of the historic march, the Soldiers of 2-18th FA strapped up with 35 pounds in their rucksacks and took on the beast of a ruck march.
"It was a privilege to march in memory of the Bataan Death March," said 1st Sgt. Wesley Thomas, B Battery, 2-18th FA. "To complete a marathon ruck march alongside military retirees, foreign military members and veteran amputees was an honor."
Capt. Christopher Walker, commander for B/2-18th FA, said he hoped his team of Soldiers learned from the event and that they remember their experience when they return home.
"It was a team-building event for the battalion leadership. Shared hardship not only promotes the team mentality, but it bonds people together," he said. "The 2-18th FA team completed this event together, as a team and will bring that cohesiveness back to home station."
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