Texas State ROTC Cadets Conquer The Bataan Memorial Death March

In order from left to right: Cadet Jayquan Sinclair, Cadet Jonathan Evans (kneeling), Cadet Tobias Shull, Cadet Kelsey Shannon, Cadet John Walker, and Cadet Christopher Maggio.

On March 17, six members of the Texas State University Army ROTC participated in the 30th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March through the desert surrounding the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The annual event commemorates the 1942 Bataan Death March during World War II when 60,000-80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war were forced by their Imperial Japanese Army captors to march more than 60 miles through the Philippine jungles, facing extreme hardships. Thousands died from rough conditions, mistreatment or execution, while many perished in prisoner camps. Still, others were killed while being transported on unmarked ships that were attacked by U.S. forces.

The memorial march was founded in 1989 by ROTC cadets at New Mexico State University. Since then, participants from the United States and around the world have marched to commemorate the event for many reasons, including honoring a fallen soldier or paying tribute to a family member. Texas State University ROTC Cadets Jayquan Sinclair, Jonathan Evans, Tobias Shull, Kelsey Shannon, John Walker, and Christopher Maggio hiked the 26.2-mile trek carrying 35-pound rucksacks. A record 8,631 people attended this year’s event.

"They did an outstanding job motivating each other as they navigated the course throughout the day,” says Maj. Michael Ashton, professor of Military Science at Texas State University. "I am very proud of their accomplishment, and I am looking forward to Bataan Memorial Death March 2020.”

April 9, 2019  marks the official 77th anniversary of the Bataan Death March.