Participating in the Memorial March (2006) in White Sands, NM was one of the most rewarding events of my life. I'm a first generation US-born citizen in my family. My grandfather was a little kid growing up in the Philippines during WWII and he would tell me stories about that time. It took him a long time to actually talk about what he saw and experienced. He was a very quiet and humble man. His stories motivated me to participate in the memorial march.

The night before the Memorial March they showed the movie "The Great Raid" (The movie was released 7 months prior to the race). After the movie was over, they turned on the house lights and identified the survivors in attendance in the theater. Each survivor told a little about himself. One gentlemen broke down when he related which guy in the movie was based on him...

Before crossing the Start Line, all the survivors from the Bataan Death March in attendace lined up and every participant, I mean every single one, shook their hands and expressed gratitude for their service and sacrifice. It was the longest start to a race I've ever seen, but it was definitely worth it.

I've only done the race once so I'm not sure if it's like this every time. But I would encourage anyone who is interested to give it a go.

Dagger.

Any idea if there were Aggies who were part of the Alamo Scouts or 6th Ranger Battalion???

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WAR EAGLE!
GIG 'EM!
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[This message has been edited by wareagle044 (edited 3/14/2010 12:13p).]

excerpt from Texas Aggies go to war: in service of their country......

"...Lt. J.R.C. McGowen ('39) who led the first Alamo Scout mission on Los Negros..."

Chap. 11, p.192

Couldn't find a former student in the 6th RGR Bn, but Arthur "Bull" Simons was in it. He loved Aggies.

Awesome for you to do!

wareagle- do you have an email address I can reach you at?

Thanks

gr33n3day at hotmail dot com will get me.

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WAR EAGLE!
GIG 'EM!
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Thanks, you've got mail

Ready to fly.

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WAR EAGLE!
GIG 'EM!
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http://www.auburnwareagle.com/

I have finished marching for the day. Next year I will be ready for the march at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. If anyone would be interested in starting an annual tradition where one Aggie carries this flag in a memorial march each year, please let me know. I would be glad to send it to a good Aggie who is interested in honoring these men around this time next year.
















****************************

WAR EAGLE!
GIG 'EM!
****************************
http://www.auburnwareagle.com/

Great photos!

-oughta send an invite to Tom Hanks to walk in the White Sands event

There was a A&M physical ed. department prof. in the early 70's that was a death march survivor. His last name was Palmer. A good guy.

thanks for sharing

There is a book by an Aggie, "Bataan and Beyond" I think is the title. TAMU press is the publisher. I read a bit of it and decided that I was too disgusted to finish it.

http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/lite/coleman.htm

[This message has been edited by Vestal_Flame (edited 3/26/2010 3:37p).]

quote:

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I read a bit of it and decided that I was too disgusted to finish it.

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Too disgusted? If its not prying, might you elaborate? I'm curious.

Anyone remember who the Bataan survivor was that spoke at Muster in '92?

One of the most power things I have ever heard. He was talking about hiding his Aggie ring by burying it at night and putting it in a hidden pocket in his pants during the day. He said something along the lines of "They may take my life but I will be damned if those sonsof*****es take my ring."

Last survivor of the '42 Muster and Death March has passed.

Here

Link

Here

Quote:

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Too disgusted? If its not prying, might you elaborate? I'm curious.

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It's the same sensation that I took away from watching Daniel Pearl's beheading in 2002. I just have neither the need nor the desire to meditate on the depravity that is recounted in that book.

Don't get me wrong. The depravity should be recorded. And it should be remembered. Everybody should send their kids to Dachau, like my parents did, to learn that depravity is real,

But the book made me feel hate. And so I put it down before I started recounting Admiral Halsey's more genocidal musings.

Don't read about what the Japs did at Wake island !

Daughter in Law's grandfather was in Bataan Death March - later died in prison camp.

50s met a survivor - young- you would never have known what he went through from appearances !