WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. -- Sacrifice
Whether it was on the sweaty faces of the more than 6,000 marchers, in the aching hands of the hundreds of volunteers, or living in the somber memories of the World War II veterans in attendance, the word was alive for the 22nd annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., March 27.
Dozens of Fort Bliss teams, and many more individual entrants and volunteers from the Team Bliss family joined servicemembers, Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets, and civilians from all walks of life for the annual event which has gained an international reputation as a respected endurance challenge. It also honors the approximately 78,000 World War II allied troops (12,000 Americans and 66,000 Filipinos) who'd surrendered to the Japanese at the Battle of Bataan and were forcibly marched across Philippine jungles in an axis prisoner of war transfer almost 69 years ago - chronicled in history as the Bataan Death March.
The men, already weakened by hunger and disease, suffered unspeakable atrocities during the 60-mile march and according to first-hand accounts, were tortured by Japanese guards every step of the way. Approximately 11,000 prisoners did not survive the arduous trek to Camp O'Donnell, which was under Japanese occupation. After World War II, the Japanese government had to answer to war crime charges for their treatment of the prisoners of war during the march.
This year's number of entrants set a record for the event which started in 1989 as a will of New Mexico State University Army ROTC personnel who wanted to pay homage to the veterans of the march, including those of New Mexico's own 200th Coast Artillery unit, a state National Guard outfit. Three years after its inception, WSMR and the New Mexico National Guard joined NMSU ROTC in sponsorship of the event, and it was moved to the range area.
Col. Chris Wicker, WSMR's garrison commander, took a year off from the march as he recovers from surgery, but made a point to be at different spots along the route to cheer on marchers as they endured either the 15.4 or 26.2-mile route. Wicker used a personal story to express the spirit behind why he thinks a large, and growing amount of people come out for the memorial march.
"My family does a lot with [Washington, D.C. based] Paralyzed Veterans of America," he said, "and one year we saw a guy, a single-leg amputee, and asked him why he was here. He said 'because some of my buddies can't do it.' Later on someone asked him the same question and he said 'because I can. There's nothing I can't do.'"
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Clancy, a 23-year veteran of the Army who retired in 1984, spent his tenth Bataan Memorial Death March at Water Station 7 and watched the countless troops and civilians file through. More than 25 years after he'd hung up his own uniform, he said seeing the strength of America's military still inspires him.
"It's great to come out and see the Soldiers putting out [the effort] like this," he said. "The young Soldiers of today are as good as any we've had. They're doing a fabulous job in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of these kids have 'been there and back.'"
Two all-Soldier teams, and one which included an Army spouse, all from 532nd Signal Company, 501st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, were one of the many Bliss units who braved the elements. Spc. Gabrielle Zamora, a 532nd Signal Co. Soldier said having her fellow troops alongside her made all the difference on a course which climbed more than 500 feet of elevation into New Mexico's Organ Mountains.
"I enjoy being challenged," she said after her first Bataan memorial march.A,A "My motivation came partially from myself, but mostly from my team."
Pvt. Charles Sneed, also of the 532nd Signal Co., said although he remembered reading about the actual World War II event, sweating and bleeding in acknowledgment of the sacrifices in the Philippines made it a lot more real.
"I knew a good bit of information prior to the march from a U.S. history class that I had in high school," he said. "Rucking this march really gave me a greater understanding and appreciation for what those guys went through."
While the course may have been the centerpiece of the day, the distinguished guests weren't any of the many senior officers from militaries around the globe, or politicians who came out to support the homage. Most visitors seemed to agree they were awestruck by some of the remaining original Bataan Death March survivors who were formally honored in ceremonies before and after the event, and informally through the sacrifices made along the grueling route. All now in their eighties and even nineties, many still made it to WSMR to spend time with today's servicemembers, maintaining a bond of military service which extends more than six decades.
White Sands Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command personnel shouldered a lot of the hosting load by facilitating registration and organizing competition categories, official run times, post-competition meals and more.
Sacrifice
The universal sacrifice of the American servicemember, whether it came at the end of a Japanese bayonet more than 60 years ago, through sore ankles Sunday, or on every mission in between, are never forgotten by brothers and sisters in arms. For one Soldier, the 22nd annual Bataan Memorial Death March defined that truth and camaraderie.
"I don't believe that doing this can even scratch the surface of the pain and suffering [World War II] prisoners endured during the actual march," said Staff Sgt. John McBride, a Soldier from the 532nd Signal Co.A,A "To be forced to march 60-plus miles with no food and water is amazing to think about it.A,A I think doing this [event] gives people a sense of the pain they endured, but nothing can compare to what those brave soldiers went through."
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