Mobility Airmen march to remember Bataan

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Harry Brexel
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  This year, approximately 6,600 people participated in the 27th annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Marchers ranged in age from 10 to 98 years old and gathered from across the globe for the challenging event. Among the marchers were two teams of five Air Mobility Airmen from the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. 

The 19th LRS aerial porters trained for several months in preparation of the 26.2-mile desert journey. One team carried light gear and camelbacks while the other team participated in the male heavy ruck category, which requires each member to carry a rucksack weighing at least 35 lbs.

The march began with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees but then rose exponentially. However, the light category team still managed to finish eighth out of 21 teams and the heavy ruck team finished the grueling event in just under 9 hours. 

The heaviest rucksack carried by the "port dawg's" team weighed 51 lbs.

The Bataan Death March was a forced transfer of Filipino and U.S. prisoners of war. They marched more than 60 miles without food or water. Those who fell behind were shot, beaten or bayonetted. 

The event serves as a reminder to today's generation of the harsh conditions the World War II veterans were forced to endure during their horrifying journey to a prisoner of war camp in the Philippines.