BATAAN DEATH MARCH MEMORIAL

TO TRAVEL THE WORLD COMMEMORATING THOSE WHO SCARIFICED THIER FREEDOM, HEALTH AN IN MANY CASES THEIR LIVES ON THE BATAAN PENINSULA OF THE PHILLIPPINE ISLANDS IN APRIL OF 1942. THESE BRAVE WARRIORS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFENSE OF THE ISLANDS OF LUZON, CORREGIDOR, AND THE HARBOR DEFENSE FORTS OF THE PHILLIPPINE ISLANDS. THIS TRACKABLE IS ALSO INFORMATIONAL ON THE WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE ANNUAL BATAAN MEMORIAL DEATH MARCH WHICH IS A 26.2 MILE TREK CONDUCTED ON THE ABOVE ARMY BASE NEAR LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO. IN 2011 THIS COMMEMORTIVE MARCH WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 27TH. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MARCH GO TO bataan@conus.army.mil.

A PARTICIPANT TAG FROM THE 2010 MARCH. FEEL FREE TO ADD ANY MILITARY MEMORBILIA TO THIS TAG AS IT PASSES THROUGH YOUR HANDS. THIS MARCH IS CHALLENGING AS IT ROUTES YOU THROUGH THE HIGH DESERT TERRAIN OF WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE. AS YOU LOOK AT THIS TAG REMEMBER THE CONDITIONS THESE WARRIORS ENDURED. 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IN A MALARIA INFESTED REGION SURVIVING ON HALF OR QUARTER RATIONS WITH LITTLE OR NO MEDICAL HELP.THEY FOUGHT WITH OUTDATED EQUIPMENT AND VIRTUALLY NO AIR SUPPORT. ON APRIL 9TH, 1942 TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN AND FILIPINO SOLDIERS WERE SURRENDERED TO THE JAPANESE FORCES. 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 PHILLIPINE JUNGLES AND THOUSANDS DIED.THOSE WHO SURVIVED FACED THE HARDSHIPS OF A POW CAMP. OTHERS WERE WOUNDED OR KILLED WHEN UNMARKED ENEMY SHIPS TRANSPORTING POWs TO JAPAN WERE SUNK BY US AIR AND NAVAL FORCES.