Bataan Death March Survivors | Memorial March

The Bataan Memorial March honors the Soldiers who defended the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor-defense forts of the Philippines at the onset of World War II. They fought in a malaria-infested region, surviving on half- or quarter-rations, with little or no medical care, outdated equipment and virtually no air support. April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino Soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived this forced march faced death or years of hardship in prisoner-of-war camps.

The grueling 26.2 mile march winds through the desert grounds of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexcio.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the WWII tragedy.

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Bataan Death March/Corregidor Island survivor- WWII POW of the Japanese Imperial Army. Megan Bearder Photography
Bataan Death March survivor Harold Bergbower
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Bataan Death March/Corregidor Island survivor- WWII POW of the Japanese Imperial Army. Megan Bearder Photography
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Bataan Death March survivor James Bollich.

Filipino Bataan Death March survivor Jesse Baltazar
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Bataan Death March survivor Valdemar DeHerrera
Soldiers opting to carry 35+lbs for the march stretch and await the ceremony honoring the Bataan survivors and the start of the 26.2 mile march.
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Soldiers and civilians can enter a heavy or light pack category. Heavy starts at 35lbs
Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM
The memorial march participants started gathering at 4:30 am for the 6:30am ceremony honoring the Bataan Death March Survivors
Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM

Five survivors of the Bataan Death March of WWII are honored at the opening ceremony
Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM
Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM

Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM
Bataan survivor Ben Skardon, 99, marched 8.5 miles of the course. While a prisoner of war, his buddy pawned Skardon's Clemson ring to a Japanese guard in exchange for food. The food help nourish the ailing Skardon back to health.

Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM
Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM

Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM
Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM

Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM
Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM

Honoring the survivors of the Bataan Death March, WWII at the Bataan Memorial March, White Sands Missile Range, NM
"Chops" has a ring on either side of his ruck with 52 of his comrades represented that he has lost. He turns a page once an hour to honor each comrade.