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TARLAC, Luzon, Philippines - Blood. Sweat. Tears. Agony. Pain.
The Bataan Death March is defined by these words. An 80-mile march
destroyed thousands of lives and ruined families. To honor those who
are no longer here is never to forget.
U.S. Marines with the
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit visited the Bataan Death March
Memorial at Capas National Shrine, Capas, the Philippines, to learn
lessons about Philippine and U.S.-shared history and to pay homage
to the fallen during Amphibious Landing Exercise 15, Oct. 8, 2014.
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Philippine Marines and U.S. Marines stand
together after paying their respects to those who died during the
Bataan Death March during Amphibious Landing Exercise 15 Oct. 8,
2014. More then 100 Marines visited the memorial over two days to
learn more about the events of World War II that occurred in the
Philippines. PHIBLEX is an annual, bilateral training exercise
conducted by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
alongside U.S. Marine and Navy Forces focused on strengthening the
partnership and relationships between the two nations across a range
of military operations including disaster relief and complex
expeditionary operations. The U.S. Marines are from Combat Logistics
Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Robert D. Williams Jr.)
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The Battle of Bataan
The Battle of Bataan began
when the Japanese launched a surprise air attack on the
Philippine Islands only five months after the bombing of
Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The attack was preceded by a
ground invasion that turned into a brutal three-month long
battle beginning on April 9, 1942. At its conclusion, over
60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American forces became prisoners
of war. The prisoners were forced to march north to prisoner
camps, were beaten, exposed to the elements, starved and
humiliated during the entire trek. This ordeal became known
as the Bataan Death March.
Honoring the fallen
U.S. Navy Lt. Yontan Warren
orchestrated the visit, led the tour of the memorial, and
shared the history of the march with the Marines.
“It's a wonderful experience," said Warren, chaplain of
Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU. “[We are] able to
connect the souls of those who are living today to the souls
of those aren't with us anymore.”
Never forget
In 2003, the Capas National Shrine became open to the
public. Now, people from all over the world can honor the
memory of those who were part of the march.
“It felt
good to be able to learn about this part of our country's
history, how we interacted with other cultures and why we
keep coming back,” said Lance Cpl. Joseph Hawkins, a Towed
Artillery Systems Technician with CLB-31, 31st MEU. “I
always heard things on the History Channel about the Bataan
Death March, but I didn't know much about it until now.”
Engraved names and memories of the fallen adorn the
walls of the memorial. There are thousands of names of those
endured the march. There are still names being etched into
the stone.
“We have a lot of forgotten history in the
Philippines that is an important part of our heritage,” said
Chief Warrant Officer Luis Carrillo, a Marine Gunner with
Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st MEU.
Trees are also a part of the memorial to help understand
the magnitude of the fallen, according to Warren.
“There are 21,000 trees right now and they're trying to get
up to 31,000. Each tree represents a person. It's a visual,
living reminder of someone who is no longer alive,” said
Warren. “The mahogany trees represent the Americans who died
and the “Narra” tree, the Philippine national tree,
represents the Filipinos. They're planting a mini forest in
formation as an actual living testimony to those who died.”
In total, more than one hundred Marines visited the site
in two days.
PHIBLEX is an annual, bilateral training
exercise conducted by members of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines alongside U.S. Marine and Navy Forces focused on
strengthening the partnership and relationships between the
two nations across a range of military operations including
disaster relief and complex expeditionary operations.
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Robert D. Williams Jr.
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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