http://news.soc.mil/releases/News Archive/2009/April/090402-06.html
WHITE SANDS, N.M. (USASOC News Service, April 2, 209) – Five Rangers from Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment participated in the 20th annual Bataan Memorial Death March in here March 29.
Imagine the environment; 55 mile an hour winds, temperatures in the mid 70’s; the desert and all of its creatures; 26.2 miles of desert terrain; and 5,300 participants.
“The men who were forced to march what is now known as the Bataan Death March had conditions that were much, much worse than this,” said Staff Sgt. Bill Gallant, a Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
The men saw this as an opportunity to represent the Regiment and honor veterans and fallen comrades.
“Marching in this event is an honor and a privilege to pay tribute to the veterans of the march, remember our fallen comrades and to represent our Ranger Regiment,” said Gallant.
The Ranger lineage leads straight to the men who rescued the survivors at Cabanatuan. The 6th Ranger Battalion rescued the 511 prisoners-of-war who still remained at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp January 1945 after the 1942 Bataan Death March.
“This march is also a way for us to honor the men from 6th Ranger Battalion’s heroic rescue of the survivors of the march,” said Gallant.
And the best way to do this is to lead from the front.
The team came in first place in the Military Male Heavy Team Class with an overall time of five hours and 42 minutes.
“Luckily, we were allowed to use IPODs; the music gave us the motivation to keep moving,” said Gallant. “The modified uniforms were a must in the desert environment.”
A number of veterans from the original march were in attendance.
“It was an honor to shake hands with the survivors of the actual march,” said Gallant.
“The opportunity to showcase the force to an event with such meaning as Bataan allows the 75th Rangers to maintain a connection with both past and present activities on the battlefield is our honor,” said Maj. Robert Ryan, Executive Officer, Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
The Bataan Memorial Death March is a 26.2 mile challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, N.M., conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives.
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.
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.
WHITE SANDS, N.M. (USASOC News Service, April 2, 209) – Five Rangers from Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment participated in the 20th annual Bataan Memorial Death March in here March 29.
Imagine the environment; 55 mile an hour winds, temperatures in the mid 70’s; the desert and all of its creatures; 26.2 miles of desert terrain; and 5,300 participants.
“The men who were forced to march what is now known as the Bataan Death March had conditions that were much, much worse than this,” said Staff Sgt. Bill Gallant, a Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment.
The men saw this as an opportunity to represent the Regiment and honor veterans and fallen comrades.
“Marching in this event is an honor and a privilege to pay tribute to the veterans of the march, remember our fallen comrades and to represent our Ranger Regiment,” said Gallant.
The Ranger lineage leads straight to the men who rescued the survivors at Cabanatuan. The 6th Ranger Battalion rescued the 511 prisoners-of-war who still remained at the Cabanatuan Prison Camp January 1945 after the 1942 Bataan Death March.
“This march is also a way for us to honor the men from 6th Ranger Battalion’s heroic rescue of the survivors of the march,” said Gallant.
And the best way to do this is to lead from the front.
The team came in first place in the Military Male Heavy Team Class with an overall time of five hours and 42 minutes.
“Luckily, we were allowed to use IPODs; the music gave us the motivation to keep moving,” said Gallant. “The modified uniforms were a must in the desert environment.”
A number of veterans from the original march were in attendance.
“It was an honor to shake hands with the survivors of the actual march,” said Gallant.
“The opportunity to showcase the force to an event with such meaning as Bataan allows the 75th Rangers to maintain a connection with both past and present activities on the battlefield is our honor,” said Maj. Robert Ryan, Executive Officer, Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
The Bataan Memorial Death March is a 26.2 mile challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, N.M., conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II, sacrificing their freedom, health and, in many cases, their very lives.
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.
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.
Rangers from the Regimental Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment participated in the 20th annual Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, New Mexico March 29. From left to right: SFC Aaron Todd-Lancaster, SFC Verle Smith, MSG Roy Young, SSG Bill Gallant, and SSG Ryan Pauly. (Photo by CPT John Bata)