1942 Bataan Death March

THEY MARCHED* for miles in blistering heat THEY MARCHED with nothing to drink or eat THEY MARCHED as soldiers, Filipinos alike, THEY MARCHED over trails others had hiked BLOOD FILLED the path of those who balked STOPPING MEANT death--thus, they walked THEY MARCHED through mud caked to the thighs THEY MARCHED on stones and hills that rise SOME DROPPED from heat and thirst combined SOME FROM slashes to throats from behind THEY MARCHED together or marched alone THEY MARCHED and marched into the unknown Present-Day WSMR Bataan Death March Memorial Each windy March over mountainous paths, men and women brave Spring's gusty raths Military groups join those walking alone-- a veteran in wheelchair, pushed by his son. For exercise class, short march is their pick others, with heavy packs, march twenty-six Almost ten thousand from around the world Many with their banners proudly unfurled. Some view it a contest, some endurance test, some view it a chance to perform their best. Finally, they do it to honor those souls who marched to death in war's bitter tolls. *In April, 1942, approximately 20,000 New Mexico Guardsmen, from all branches of service, and 50,000 Filipinos, were force-marched 66 miles across Bataan Island by the Japanese military near the end of WW2. They endured extreme hardship and no food or liquid. 16,900 died during the march. Many others later died of dehydration or star- vation. They are honored each year with a march. Often, many Japanese join the march.