I made it to the White Sands Missle Range just after 2pm, host of the annual Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon. This is one event I've been wanting to complete for three years.
Survivors of the Bataan Death March (and there were 18 present) spoke to captivated audiences from 3-5pm. Five were in wheel chairs, one carried an oxygen tank and the rest were quite ambulatory. Some were in better health than others, but everyone's story was worthy of one's utmost attention. Some stood, some sat, some even forgot their train of thought, and even a few held back their tears. Still, meeting the shrinking group of survivors was for everyone present an honorable event. We clapped after every speech, we stood up to render respect, and we thanked each one for their sacrifices.
Some of the survivors were former enlistees, some were commissioned officers. And everyone had a fascinating story to tell.
"We were prepared to die" said one survivor.
"The best equipment was sent to the Phillippines." said another, referring to the poor artillery they had elsewhere.
"After the Japanese surrender there was no one among us wanting revenge (for Japanese atrocities against American prisoners.) because we were just glad to be alive" said Carlos Ortega, one of the survivors who wrote a book on his emprisonment. His son was in the audience.
"Dad, tell them the story about the flag" and Carlos proceeded to tell us how he, "Mr Betsy Ross" sewed an American flag that was later hoisted over the prison camp after the Japanese surrendered.
"We were crying as that flag went up" said Carlos, tears clearly swelling in his own eyes. The rest of us had tears swelling in our own eyes, too. One marathon review of the Bataan Memorial Death March marathon was right on: no one leaves the marathon dry-eyed.
And at least two survivors had unpleasant things to say about General MacArthur, who had ordered US troops to "fight to the last man," or of some of their former commanders.
This is one event I will make sure I do again next year, but next year Kevin will be with me because he loves the World War II survivors as much as I do.
The actual event is tomorrow morning at 7am, with a 6:30am opening ceremony for the survivors. The 26.2-mile event in loose sand uphill tomorrow will not even compare to the 65-mile march starving prisoners had to endure back in 1942. Some of the survivors weighed less than 100 pounds after that ordeal.
Survivors of the Bataan Death March (and there were 18 present) spoke to captivated audiences from 3-5pm. Five were in wheel chairs, one carried an oxygen tank and the rest were quite ambulatory. Some were in better health than others, but everyone's story was worthy of one's utmost attention. Some stood, some sat, some even forgot their train of thought, and even a few held back their tears. Still, meeting the shrinking group of survivors was for everyone present an honorable event. We clapped after every speech, we stood up to render respect, and we thanked each one for their sacrifices.
Some of the survivors were former enlistees, some were commissioned officers. And everyone had a fascinating story to tell.
"We were prepared to die" said one survivor.
"The best equipment was sent to the Phillippines." said another, referring to the poor artillery they had elsewhere.
"After the Japanese surrender there was no one among us wanting revenge (for Japanese atrocities against American prisoners.) because we were just glad to be alive" said Carlos Ortega, one of the survivors who wrote a book on his emprisonment. His son was in the audience.
"Dad, tell them the story about the flag" and Carlos proceeded to tell us how he, "Mr Betsy Ross" sewed an American flag that was later hoisted over the prison camp after the Japanese surrendered.
"We were crying as that flag went up" said Carlos, tears clearly swelling in his own eyes. The rest of us had tears swelling in our own eyes, too. One marathon review of the Bataan Memorial Death March marathon was right on: no one leaves the marathon dry-eyed.
And at least two survivors had unpleasant things to say about General MacArthur, who had ordered US troops to "fight to the last man," or of some of their former commanders.
This is one event I will make sure I do again next year, but next year Kevin will be with me because he loves the World War II survivors as much as I do.
The actual event is tomorrow morning at 7am, with a 6:30am opening ceremony for the survivors. The 26.2-mile event in loose sand uphill tomorrow will not even compare to the 65-mile march starving prisoners had to endure back in 1942. Some of the survivors weighed less than 100 pounds after that ordeal.
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