Story by Sgt. 1st Class Marisol Hernandez, 416th TEC PAO
We're the battling bastards of Bataan;
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam.
No aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces,
No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces.
And nobody gives a damn.
Nobody gives a damn. *
70 years ago on April 9th, during World War II over 12,000 American and 60,000 Filipino prisoners of war were forced to march an estimated seventy miles through the jungles of the Philippines, by the Imperial Japanese Army after American’s largest military surrender in history. Thousands died in what today is known as the Bataan Death March.
On March 25, a group of soldiers from the 416th Theater Engineer Command (TEC) took part in the 23rd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March held in White Sands, N.M. The event recognizes the sacrifice by the young American and Filipino men who suffered the grueling and deadly forced march as prisoners of war through the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines.
The 416th’s team made up of Maj. William Beltran, Master Sgt. Jose King, Master Sgt. Rochelle Lindsey, Sgt. 1st Class Marisol Hernandez, and Sgt. 1st Class (P) Carlos Walker came in 4th overall in the Co-Ed Military Light category, less than a second from 3rd place in the 26.2-mile march considered one of the toughest marathon courses.
The course known for its gradual uphill, infamous “Sand Pit” and miles and miles of nothing but desert will take a toll on even the most experienced marathoners.
“The Bataan Memorial Death March tests your character, inner strength, heart and will,” said Lindsey.
“The toughest part [of the march] was the never ending hills and sand pit,” added Sgt. 1st Class Tiffany Allen, who completed the march in the individual military light category.
From the 94th Training Division's Inspector General office, Walker originally signed up to do the Bataan Memorial Death March in the individual category, but when the 416th TEC team asked him at the last minute to be part of their team, he willingly volunteered.
The march is about team work and not leaving a fallen comrade behind as all team members have to cross the finish line within 20 seconds of each other. Over twenty teams were disqualified.
Quitting was never an option, but it did taunt some of them after the course proved its rugged course.
“By the 20th mile I was worn out,” stated Beltran. “I had slightly twisted my right ankle three times due to the rough, sandy and uneven terrain. The team members would wait for me and encouraged me to continue at different points of the last two miles and that gave me strength to overcome the ordeal.”
I wanted to quit twice, but I just kept thinking about the survivors and the amputees who had the courage to do this march as well, added Allen.
“Crossing the finish line in a fast shuffle along [with] the team was both a very thrilling and emotional experience,” said Beltran.
Although most of the team, initially registered for the march to overcome the personal challenge, it became an unforgettable and emotional experience as the team had the opportunity to meet and thank Bataan survivors.
According to an article in the New Mexico Department of Veteran’s Services newsletter, there are only 61 remaining Bataan survivors.
“The most memorial moment [for me] was the opening ceremony,” said Allen, which included an emotional roll call by some of the remaining survivors.
Being in the presence of those service members who survived the Bataan
Death March was one of my most memorable moments, added Lindsey.
Marchers will continue to participate in this annual event, whether it’s for a personal challenge, the spirit of the competition or to foster esprit de corps in their units, however the story of the original march must continue to be remembered.
“Marching 26.2 miles to honor those service members who defended the Philippine Islands, sacrificing their freedom, health and lives is well worth the challenge,” concluded Lindsey.
*Editor’s Note: Poem was recited by the Prisoners of War during their captivity under the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.
For more photos on this story go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/416thengineers/sets/72157629325338758/