UPDATE! To date, over $300 was raised to support this amazing project. But it's not too late to show your support. Click here to donate now.

On March 29, 2009, David McEntire and retired LTC. Don Koonce will run in the 20th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March.

"Since I was a child, I've been fascinated by sitting and listening to older Americans, especially Veterans, tell their stories. I've read hundreds of books ~ my favorites were about American history, biographies, and autobiographies. My life has been enriched by listening to these older Americans, pondering, trying to imagine what it must have been like. 

The World War I storytellers are all gone now. The World War II era heroes are disappearing fast. Many of these stories I've heard are from soldiers impacted by Alzheimer's disease. Telling stories is a rich part of our heritage. 

Since I've started passing on these wonderful stories to school children, I am glad to know the Alzheimer's Association is fighting to maintain the dignity and quality of life for those who've done so much for all of us. By running this race to the best of my middle-aged ability and by listening to the few remaining Bataan Death March survivors, we can honor those that remain and raise some dollars to help the veteran's currently impacted by this disease. Thanks, Alzheimer's Association. You're doing something that will help us all to "secure the blessings of liberty to us and our posterity."

David McEntire: 

"Both of my grandfathers fought in WWII and are heroes of mine. My paternal grandfather suffered from Alzheimer's for about 5 years before his death in 1999. My wife's grandmother also lived in our home for about a year during the beginning stages of Alzheimer's, so I have firsthand knowledge of how this disease affects those who have it and also family members and friends. There are hundreds, if not thousands of WWII veterans who have been affected by Alzheimer's. 

By participating in this memorial I hope to honor all of our veterans and hopefully raise some money for Alzheimer's support and research while doing so."

History of Bataan Death March

The Bataan Memorial Death March honors a special group of World War II heroes. These brave soldiers were responsible for the defense of the islands of Luzon, Corregidor and the harbor defense forts of the Philippines.

The conditions they encountered and the aftermath of the battle were unique. They fought in a malaria-infested region, surviving on half or quarter rations with little or no medical help. They fought with outdated equipment and virtually no air power.    

On April 9, 1942, tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to Japanese forces. The Americans were Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines. Among those seized were members of the 200th Coast Artillery, New Mexico National Guard.

They were marched for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Thousands died. Those who survived faced the hardships of a prisoner of war camp. Others were wounded or killed when unmarked enemy ships transporting prisoners of war to Japan were sunk by U.S. air and naval forces.

Memorial March began in 1989

The Army ROTC Department at New Mexico State University began sponsoring the memorial march in 1989 to mark a page in history that included so many native sons and affected many families in the state.  In 1992, White Sands Missile Range and the New Mexico National Guard joined in the sponsorship and the event was moved to the missile range.

In 2003, for the only time in its history, the memorial march was canceled.  Operation Iraqi Free required extensive deployment among the units that usually support the march and event could not be safely and efficiently conducted.

Since its inception, the memorial march has grown from about 100 to some 4,000 marchers from across the United States and several foreign countries. While still primarily a military event, many civilians choose to take the challenge.

Marchers come to this memorial event for many reasons — personal challenge, the spirit of competition or to foster esprit de corps in their unit. Some march in honor of a family member or a particular veteran who was in the Bataan Death March or was taken a prisoner of war by the Japanese in the Philippines.

This brief history of the march is taken from the website www.bataanmarch.com.