Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
In a spirit of remembrance and competition, Lackland Soldiers and an Airman recently traveled to White Sands Missile Range, N.M., to participate in the Bataan Memorial Death March.
Each year Soldiers from Lackland's 314th Military Intelligence Battalion confront the desert at White Sands. Most march as a team while carrying light and heavy loads. Others enter the march as individual participants.
This year the 314th MIB team, consisting of Army Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Myers; Army Sgts. Rachell Rozas, Heriberto Ruiz-Sierra and Colleen Anderson, who is assigned to Fort Sam Houston; and Army Spc. Ronaldo Acquisto, placed eighth with a time of 10 hours and 41 minutes.
The march honors a group of World War II heroes who were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon and Corregidor, and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines.
On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The POWs, from all services, were marched for days through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who didn't were forced to face life in prisoner of war camps.
In 1989, the Army ROTC department at New Mexico State University began sponsoring a memorial march to honor these Soldiers.
In 1992, White Sands Missile Range and the New Mexico National Guard joined in the sponsorship and the event was moved to the missile range.
Participants have two course options.
The green route stretches for 26.2 miles and reaches an elevation of 5,300 feet. They must walk along desert trails, wash-outs and a dreaded sandpit before the course is completed.
The other route, the blue route, is approximately 15 miles. This route is designed for those who wish to pay tribute to those who endured the initial Bataan Death March, but do not want to walk the complete 26.2 miles.
According to Sergeant Rosa: "Sergeant Ruiz was the biggest motivator. Since he'd done it before, he was able to help us out. The absolute hardest thing was the sandpit. You're already dead tired and have to force yourself through the sand. We had to deal with sore feet and muscle fatigue. If the real Bataan marchers and amputees could do it, then so could I. It became an issue of pride."
Those going to New Mexico trained for months to prepare their bodies. They went out early each morning with a rucksack and marched all over Lackland. In the afternoons, they held burger burns to raise the funds needed for their trip.
"The biggest obstacle was training. We have a 24-hour mission so it was hard training and getting people to work on time. Fundraising was an issue as well, but we did a good job and raised about $2,000," Sergeant Fritze said.
Other members who honored their comrades during the march were Army Capts. Jason Hogan and Kyle Fox; Army Sgts. Joseph Fritze, David Degroot and Larry Radler; Army Spcs. Joseph Weil, Allison Wilson and Benny Mercado; and Airman Elizabeth Elliot.
Bataan Death March survivors were on hand to help inspire the Soldiers and civilians along the trek. They sat at the beginning of the journey to shake hands with those competing and offer their well wishes.