Marching to Honor

Photo By Saska Ball | Capt. John Harris, a former Civil Affairs officer with the 414th and 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, now a Civil Affairs Instructor assigned to Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) sits down after completing the 26.2 mile course at the 2013 Bataan Memorial Death March. The 24th Annual event and 71st Commemorative event is held here at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Sunday, March 17, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Saska Ball, USACAPOC(A) PAO)  

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, UNITED STATES

03.17.2013

Story by Capt. Saska Ball 

U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)

FORT SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. -Early in the desert morning over 5,800 people gathered to march in the 24th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March and 71st Commemorative March.

“There are a lot of veterans that are forgotten these days, especially from the Korean War, WWII and Vietnam War,” said 1st Lt. Benjamin Duchek, logistics officer for the 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, based in Mattydale, N.Y. “I wanted to do this event out of respect for them. “

Duchek, who has completed two New York Marathons and one Boston Marathon, said training for the Bataan Memorial Death March is nothing like training for a normal marathon. The terrain of the course is one-third sand and at one point the course has a five percent incline for two miles. For those interested in competing, he adds, it’s best to train to the military standard of ruck marching.

“This is a great way to honor the survivors of the Bataan Death March,” said Duchek. “If this is a fraction as painful as what they went through, I hope they can appreciate how we feel about them and their service by our participation.”

Soldiers previously assigned to the United States Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) now assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Group (Airborne) as Civil Affairs Instructors, Capt. John Harris and Master Sgt. Bobby Matthews also participated in the march and spoke about the grueling course.

“Capt. Harris and I started the march together,” said Matthews. “But somewhere around mile mark 19 I zoned out, came to around mile 22 and realized Harris was no longer walking beside me.”

Matthews added that it wasn’t just the distance that was a challenge but the environmental factors of the windy conditions, change in terrain from flat to hilly, and the mix of sand pits. He attributes his success in completing the march to frequent sock changes and proper hydration the day before.

Before the first footsteps hit the trail, participants had an opportunity the day before to not only learn about the history of the Bataan Death March but also hear first- hand accounts from survivors.

Col. Ben Skardon spoke of the deplorable living conditions, failing health, his memory of food drops, the feeling of disbelief and relief when liberation finally came for him and his comrades, as well as his first home-cooked meal, which he couldn’t finish due to his shrunken stomach.

Those stories and more were carried in the minds of the marchers during either the 14.1 honorary course or the full 26.2 mile course.

Competitors in the Bataan Memorial Death March didn’t have such an arduous task ahead of them as the survivors did years ago, being forced to march 80 miles, carrying all their personal gear and often undergoing abuse by their captors.

However, they do have a choice in how they want to compete to honor the survivors and those fallen.

The event is broken down into categories of either individual or groups of five, as well as military or civilian, and one can choose if they wish to go light—carrying no weight—or if they want to go heavy—carry a rucksack of 35 lbs.

“The toughest part was the uphill portion and the sand,” said Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Lopez, civil affairs team sergeant with the 410th Civil Affairs Battalion, based in El Paso, Texas. “To prepare differently I would ruck the full 26 miles next time during training and I would prepare for a longer time.”

Lopez was told about the event by his operations sergeant, Master Sgt. John Craemer, and only prepared for four weeks prior to competing, deciding to participate in the civilian heavy division.

“I’m proud of myself, I finished and it feels good,” said Lopez.

All competitors said they would compete again and would try to recruit more people in the coming years to join them.

Duchek, Harris and Matthews all competed in the individual military heavy division, carrying 35 pounds of food that was donated to the Roadrunner Food Bank, a statewide food program that supports the people of New Mexico.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2013
• Date Posted: 04.11.2013 11:47
• Story ID: 105026
• Location: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, US
• Hometown: EL PASO, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT LIBERTY, NC, US
• Hometown: MATTYDALE, NY, US
• Hometown: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, US