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Arizona National Guard Public Affairs
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 03:48 PM

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Phoenix Guardsmen Honor Bataan Heroes

Story and photos by Army Sgt. Monette Wesolek, Arizona National Guard Public Affairs

             PHOENIX - As the sun rose over the New Mexico landscape, more than 5,700 U.S. servicemembers, veterans, civilians, and their families converged on White Sands Missile Range, Mar.21, for the 21st Annual Bataan Memorial Death March.
            Among this year’s competitors were three teams from the Arizona National Guard as well as several individual competitors from Arizona.  These teams competed in the “heavy team” category, a grueling 26.2 mile march through the New Mexico desert with each member bearing a load of at least 35 pounds, honoring the sacrifice made by the servicemembers who defended the Philippines during World War II.
            In April 1942, following their capture by the Japanese armed forces, 75,000 American and Filipino servicemembers were forced to march 60 miles through the Philippine jungle, suffering great hardships as prisoners of war. Among those were members of the New Mexico National Guard 200th Coast Artillery.
            In 1989, members of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at New Mexico State University began the Bataan Memorial Death March with approximately 100 participants. A few years later, the event was moved to WSMR. Participants traveled from as far away as Brazil and Germany to walk, run or march in this year’s event.             
            The AZNG was represented by two teams from the 856th Military Police Company, one co-ed and one all-male team, and an all-male team from Company D,  1/158^th Infantry Battalion.
            The morning started off as the surge of competitors pushed forward out of the starting gate, civilian competitors in the front and military teams following. Arizona’s all-male heavy teams quickly set their pace and moved forward confidently and with a sense of urgency.
            “I’m a history buff and the Bataan Memorial Death March is something I’ve always wanted to participate in,” said Army Staff Sgt. Fred Heimstra, organizer of Team Sparta, one of the 856^th MP contingents. “I feel honored that I had a chance to come here and show my respect to the heroes who we honor with this event.”
            Team Sparta was made up of  Heimstra, Army Capt. William Karlage, Army Sgt. Robert
 Propst, and Pfcs. Vincent Vasquez and Ammon Hansen.                                                      

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                          photo courtesy of 856th MP co.

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