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 The
Bataan Memorial Death March honors a special group of World War II
heroes.
These brave soldiers were
responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the
harbor defense forts of the Philippines.
The conditions they
encountered and the aftermath of the battle were unique. They fought in
a malaria-infested region, surviving on half or quarter rations with
little or no medical help. They fought with outdated equipment and
virtually no air power.
On April 9, 1942, tens of
thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese
forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among
those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New
Mexico National Guard.
They were marched for days in the
scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who
survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. Others were
wounded or killed when unmarked enemy ships transporting prisoners of
war to Japan were sunk by U.S. air and naval forces.
Memorial March began
in 1989
The Army ROTC Department at New Mexico
State University began sponsoring the memorial march in 198 9
to mark a page in history that included so many native sons and affected
many families in the state. 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.
In 2003, for the only time in its
history, the memorial march was canceled. Operation Iraqi Free required
extensive deployment among the units that usually support the march and
event could not be safely and efficiently conducted.
Since its inception, the memorial march
has grown from about 100 to some 4,000 marchers from across the United
States and several foreign countries. While still primarily a military
event, many civilians choose to take the challenge.
Marchers come to this memorial event
for many reasons — personal challenge, the spirit of competition or to
foster esprit de corps in their unit. Some march in honor of a family
member or a particular veteran who was in the Bataan Death March or was
taken a prisoner of war by the Japanese in the Philippines.
Two Routes
Offered
Participants entering the Bataan Memorial Death March
may choose between two routes. The different routes are clearly
marked with colors/signs directing marchers.
The GREEN route is the full 26.2 mile
Bataan Memorial Death March. Awards will be given to the top two
finishers in each route category. Those marching the 26.2 miles will
be able to experience, in part, what the Soldiers endured during
their long trek through the Philippines. Participants of this full
march will follow signs clearly identifying the GREEN route.
The 26.2 mile memorial march route
starts on the White Sands main post, crosses dusty and hilly desert
terrain, circles a small mountain and returns to the main post through
sandy desert trails and washes. The elevation ranges from about 4,100 to
5,300 feet. Be sure to look at the
course description page.
The
BLUE route is approximately 15 miles in
length. This shorter march is designed for participates who would
like to memorialize Bataan but do not wish to march the full 26.2
mile route. There are NO awards given for this march. Participants
of this shorter march will follow signs clearly identifying the BLUE
route.
We encourage you to
learn more
We encourage you to learn
more about this history before you undertake the memorial march. Armed
with this information, the event will likely be more meaningful for
you. There are many good books detailing events in the Philippines
during World War II. Additionally, an internet search on the Bataan
Death March will turn up rich sources of information. We also encourage
you to attend the history seminar to be conducted at the White Sands Post Theater the
day before the march.
To make the most of your
march experience, thoroughly read all the rules
as well as the
safety information. Teams
will consist of five people. All five team members must cross the
finish line together or be disqualified. Additionally, team captains or
a team representative must attend one of the
team captain briefings conducted on in-processing day.
Keep the
spirit alive
In the true Death March,
the surrendered had no options. They helped each other through the
ordeal just to stay alive. In the memorial event, marchers are
encouraged to remember this spirit. People working together from start
to finish will gain much more personal reward.
In fact, you might want to read some of the
comments from
past participants, to better appreciate the experience.
Train! Train!
Train!
Train hard (this
is not an event for the out-of-shape) and we will see you at White Sands
Missile Range!
Refunds will NOT be given
once you register. Registration is non-transferable.
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