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SunnyWalker
10-06-2008, 22:09
A good training hike is the Bataan Memorial Death March. There is verying lengths and different catagories. For example, one can participate in the "heavy" category where you must carry a backpack of a certain weight (35 lbs). The "march" is only 26.2 miles, vs. the actual Bataan Death March that our soldiers went through in WWII. This "memorial" hike takes place on the White Sands Missle Range in New Mexico. Survivors of the actual Bataan Death March will be there for the 3-4 day activity. However, the day of the hike for this year is: March 29, 2009. Read all about it at: bataanmarch.com

Hope to see you there!

-SunnyWalker

Lugnut
10-06-2008, 22:53
Not funny! Whoever dreamed this up is a complete *****! :mad:

RITBlake
10-06-2008, 23:13
Is this a joke? If so it's a poor one.

RITBlake
10-06-2008, 23:15
Checked out the website. It is very much real. Quite a unique event I must say. I retract my previous statement.

RedneckRye
10-07-2008, 00:22
There is a truly inspiring article about this event in the current issue of Backpacker Magazine.

That being said, the current issue has possibly the stupidest, lamest most ridiculous cover EVER.
http://backpacker.com/
There is a small image of the cover in the top right corner of the page.
Also if you search the site for the article, it does not show up.

Sorry if I just high jacked this thread with another "how much does Backpacker suck" rant.

The hike does seem to be a good idea and a tough test, but nowhere near what the soldiers were put thru in 1942.

Support of the troops requires more of a commitment than a MAGNET on the back of your vehicle. The least you can do is a sticker. To do more, check out http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/AmericaSupportsYou/index.aspx

bigcranky
10-07-2008, 07:25
It's absolutely not a joke.

Lone Wolf
10-07-2008, 07:30
they oughta have a trail of tears hike too

Homer&Marje
10-07-2008, 07:38
The Baatan death march was very real. I've done some reading on it in the past and those guys went through some serious hell. Anything they can do to memorialize their efforts is well worth it. Saw an ad in the paper the other day, selling an acre of land in NM for $849. Gotta buy 20 acres though.

warraghiyagey
10-07-2008, 07:47
they oughta have a trail of tears hike too

Damn straight. . .

NICKTHEGREEK
10-07-2008, 07:55
they oughta have a trail of tears hike too
Why?

superman
10-07-2008, 07:59
We had a wonderful family friend in Guilford, CT. He survived the Batann Death March and years as a pow but he died because he slipped due to the ice on his front sidewalk. He was very active with the local VFW and signed my form to get my state bonus when I came back from Vietnam. He referred to all us younger vets as "his boys." There is a bank branch where his house used to be.

Hooch
10-07-2008, 08:04
We had a wonderful family friend in Guilford, CT. He survived the Batann Death March and years as a pow......He was very active with the local VFW and signed my form to get my state bonus when I came back from Vietnam. He referred to all us younger vets as "his boys."......Men like that are a dying breed, cherish the ones that are left while they're still here.

SunnyWalker
10-07-2008, 20:41
So far, two friends and I are going to do the Bataan Memorial Death March this year. Lots of military folk do it. But they have non-military categories and military catagories. What is really neat is if you come to the event days pre-ceeding the march itself you can meet some of the actual Bataan Death March (WWII) survivors. One can meet them, talk to them -SAY THANK YOU- and so on and so forth. There is exhibits and films and such and so forth. We are planning on going for the entire shin dig. -SunnyWalker

Lugnut
10-07-2008, 21:43
Checked out the site and somewhat understand what it's all about. I'm still not convinced it's a good idea to name something a memorial death march and the claim that participants can get a feel for what those men went through is ridiculous. The participants will have water, be able to talk and nobody will be shot for falling behind. And you apparently get an award if you finish the 26 mile section. Maybe I'm just a contrarian, or worse, but I wouldn't do it. I'm sure SunnyWalker and his friends are sincere in their effort and that should be applauded but I think the thing is in bad taste.

take-a-knee
10-07-2008, 22:28
Checked out the site and somewhat understand what it's all about. I'm still not convinced it's a good idea to name something a memorial death march and the claim that participants can get a feel for what those men went through is ridiculous. The participants will have water, be able to talk and nobody will be shot for falling behind. And you apparently get an award if you finish the 26 mile section. Maybe I'm just a contrarian, or worse, but I wouldn't do it. I'm sure SunnyWalker and his friends are sincere in their effort and that should be applauded but I think the thing is in bad taste.


I think it's an excellent idea, we oughta invite the Japs also. A lot of GI's died at D-Day also, I guess that shouldn't have been memorialized?

Lugnut
10-07-2008, 23:28
Memoralizing an event such as D-Day with a somber ceremony is one thing. Memorializing an actual death march with a 'hike' that includes prizes is another.

RITBlake
10-07-2008, 23:45
Memoralizing an event such as D-Day with a somber ceremony is one thing. Memorializing an actual death march with a 'hike' that includes prizes is another.

Lugnut wins the prize for capturing the 'head scratching' element of this idea.

mts4602
10-08-2008, 16:49
A good friend of mine who is in the National Guard as well as ROTC is doing the march.

leeki pole
10-08-2008, 17:39
they oughta have a trail of tears hike too
I agree. My great-grandmother was a Native American and other than allowing them to have casinos on reservation property, at least here, we've done very little to honor their heritage and history. I'd do that hike in her memory. Thanks, LW.

superman
10-08-2008, 19:01
A good training hike is the Bataan Memorial Death March. There is verying lengths and different catagories. For example, one can participate in the "heavy" category where you must carry a backpack of a certain weight (35 lbs). The "march" is only 26.2 miles, vs. the actual Bataan Death March that our soldiers went through in WWII. This "memorial" hike takes place on the White Sands Missle Range in New Mexico. Survivors of the actual Bataan Death March will be there for the 3-4 day activity. However, the day of the hike for this year is: March 29, 2009. Read all about it at: bataanmarch.com

Hope to see you there!

-SunnyWalker

Run this thread next Feb. and I'll hike it.

weasel and bunny
10-08-2008, 21:33
The survivors of the Battle of the Phillipines, who also survived the death march, who also survived captivity are amazing men. I had the good fortune to interview one and the stories he told were astonishing. A good read about the march and captivity is Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides.
These men are a testament of strength and fortitude.

SunnyWalker
10-13-2008, 18:10
Weasel: hey thanks for the recommend. I am in the library right now! (smile).

falschirmjaeger
10-22-2008, 10:20
Memoralizing an event such as D-Day with a somber ceremony is one thing. Memorializing an actual death march with a 'hike' that includes prizes is another.

I have done this march several times. The Bataan survivors strongly disagree with your statement, and their opinion on it is the only one that matters.

For those interesting in going, if you arrive late on Friday or early on Saturday; that is plenty early to take in all the historical activities and meet the survivors.

SunnyWalker
10-22-2008, 15:07
Thanks Falsch. Sounds like it will be a lot of fun and very informative.

Homer&Marje
10-22-2008, 15:31
I have done this march several times. The Bataan survivors strongly disagree with your statement, and their opinion on it is the only one that matters.

For those interesting in going, if you arrive late on Friday or early on Saturday; that is plenty early to take in all the historical activities and meet the survivors.

Just watched a national geographic program about the Baatan Death March yesterday. I had seen a clip of it before but the in depth documentary was really good. They started off as 12000 men, surrendered by their commander, and forced to march to the prison camp. They were dying at a rate of 60-70 people a day due to malnutrition and disease. For the 513 that survived I think that the memorial hike is a wonderful memorial to their services.

budforester
10-22-2008, 15:58
they oughta have a trail of tears hike too

Here's indian one in a similar vein:
http://www.longestwalk.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=106