Bataan Death March

cb7893

10-Year Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Messages
3,484
Just spoke to my MS I. He talked about doing the Bataan Death March?

I asked him if he was going shopping with Mom. Or if he can get time off to go to the Phillipines.

What do you all know about this? He seems pretty excited.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
Your son is referring to the 23rd annual Bataan Memorial Death March, a 26.2 mile trek through the high desert of White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. This year's event is on Sunday March 25. ROTC is one of the sponsors.

There are different categories for marchers, one of which is "heavy load" in which marchers rucksacks containing canned foods and other items which are donated to charity.
 
The 26.2 is only one of the categories. There are other distances as well including full ruck or no ruck. Some guys in my BN talked about doing it but it conflicts with other training events. I have friends who have participated and I plan on doing it in the future. It's a great event remembering the sacrifices of those that participated in the real march. If your son is looking into it, ask if he's talked to any of his buddies, because you can participate as a team.
 
For those interested in learning more about the actual Batann death march, here is a book written by one of the survivors: http://hellsguest.com/

COL Frazier 'was captured, marched north in the infamous Bataan Death march and spent the next three years struggling for his life in Japanese POW camps."
 
For those interested in learning more about the actual Batann death march, here is a book written by one of the survivors: http://hellsguest.com/

COL Frazier 'was captured, marched north in the infamous Bataan Death march and spent the next three years struggling for his life in Japanese POW camps."

Thanks. Folks sometimes need reminding that Japanese POW camps weren't exactly like Stalag 13 in Hogan's Heroes.
 
Respect

Just spoke to my MS I. He talked about doing the Bataan Death March?

I asked him if he was going shopping with Mom. Or if he can get time off to go to the Phillipines.

What do you all know about this? He seems pretty excited.

Thanks

Not sure that the actual Bataan Marchers would like to hear that a training exercise or a shopping trip with mom is being used in name for what they went through. Many of the Bataan marchers died at the hands of the Japanese Army, usually shot on the spot if they fell down. Those that survived the march were through a living hell, and we should honor those marchers by not equating what they went through to anything that we might do for fun.

Have fun on your march, but I would advise calling it something else.
 
23rd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March - March 25, 2012

Did anyone on this board participate this year? Is anyone seriously contemplating it for next year?

Conditions were hot (90 degrees) and dry. I looked at the times and there were some very impressive performances. In the 26 mile march with heavy (35 lb.) ruck, a five man team from Fort Bragg (3 sgts, a 1st lt. and a cpt.) finished in 5:25, which is about at 12:25/mile pace. The fastest ROTC team was from University of Colorado, Boulder, which came in at 5:41. You can enter individually. One of the rules for team competition is that everyone must finish together.

Someone previously suggested that there was a frivolous and disrespectful aspect to this event because it doesnt consider the sacrifice and suffering of those who were on the original march. However, that is certainly not the case. There is a great emphasis on remembering the 1942 march. As a member of the winning team from Fort Bragg said:

“I think that the old survivors really get a kick out of us being there and honoring their legacy and hardships,” DeShaw said. “Meeting some of them and just shaking their hands was the highlight of the event for us.”
 
Not sure that the actual Bataan Marchers would like to hear that a training exercise or a shopping trip with mom is being used in name for what they went through. Many of the Bataan marchers died at the hands of the Japanese Army, usually shot on the spot if they fell down. Those that survived the march were through a living hell, and we should honor those marchers by not equating what they went through to anything that we might do for fun.

Have fun on your march, but I would advise calling it something else.

The Bataan Memorial Death March has been active for 24 years and is presented by the VFW. I highly doubt they will be calling it something else anytime in the future.

Many survivors have been to this event in the past.

The march is exactly what the name implies, it is a Memorial to those who lived and died during that period of time. Those that paticipate do it out of respect.
 
Back
Top