March remembers fallen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Carter
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --   Two Airmen from Travis Air Force Base, California, participated March 22 in the Bataan Memorial Death March, at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Johnson, 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron A-Team section chief, and Senior Airman Samuel Montgomery, 60th Maintenance Group crew chief, trained and participated together.

"I've done a couple smaller events in the past, but this one was a memorial for the Bataan Death March in the Philippines, so it was definitely a worthy cause," Montgomery said.

On April 9, 1942, many 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, which is the reason that the race is held in that location, according to bataanmarch.com.

"It was held at the missile range, so it's very desert-like and it's a stark landscape," Montgomery said. "There's not a lot there other than cactuses and mountains."

Individuals participated for a variety of reasons, including to physically challenge themselves during the 26.2 miles of unforgiving terrain and to honor the fallen along with the prisoners of war who were involved in the Bataan Death March.

"I carried a Medal of Honor ribbon for Master Sgt. George Vonderhide," Johnson said. "He was a POW and died Sept. 20, 1942. I also carried a bio card for fallen Air Force Master Sgt. Patrick Magnani, which I've carried in or on my ruck during every ruck event since it was given to me in 2013."

During the actual Bataan Death March, the surrendered were marched for days in the heat of the Philippine jungles and thousands died along the way. The survivors faced the hardships of prisoner of war camps.

"One of the really neat things we experienced was getting to meet six of the survivors of the actual unit who were there (during the Bataan Death March)," Montgomery said.

The race has different categories such as military, nonmilitary and heavy and light rucks. The Airmen participated in the military heavy category and carried 35 pounds of weight plus their own water for a total of 40 pounds on their backs. 

"One of my favorite parts of the race, besides taking my boots off at the end, was thinking about the people who went through the actual death march and realizing that things could always be worse," Montgomery said.

More than 5,600 marchers came from all around the world and all walks of life to honor the veterans of the Bataan Death March. Both Airmen offered the same advice for their fellow Airmen interested in similar events.

"Ruck a lot," Johnson said.

"Practice, practice, practice," Montgomery said. "No one ever showed up to an event and said, 'I wish I had practiced less.' "

For more information about future Bataan Death March events, visit www.bataanmarch.com.