Posted: 3/22/2010 9:06:53 PM EDT
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Just wanted to extend an apology to the New Mexico threads that I recently, being stupid, 'spammed' with a post-haste request for information/video/reports on the Bataan Memorial Death March. At the time I was under a 'deadline' given that my son would be participating within hours and it was recommended to me that I post on the New Mexico sites asking for help if any could capture local news/video ... as such I posted on the sites that had the most recent activity. All I was hoping for was a glimpse of my son during the march.
It was not my intention to hijack your threads and as such I'm truly sorry. Had I taken the time to remember how AR15 works, I would have remembered that all I had to do was "start new topic" ... in my haste I forgot. As such ... I sincerely apologize. For any who might be curious, his team placed 10th overall, completing the 26.2 mile march in just over 8-hours, taking 1st place among the other Spec Ops Command teams ... and 10th overall among the 5,704 participants. As a side note ... the sniper "ghille suit" he used in Afghan will soon be on permanent display at the NRA National Museum given his record kill ... and the story of that shot is presently being put together for an upcoming issue by a national magazine. Regardless of that ... again, my sincerest apologies ... RetMAC |
RetMac, dont worry bout it. Sometimes we just get our panties in a wad for nothing.  I meant to post this yesterday but forgot somewhere between work and play. http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_14728532 WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE — A record number of people turned out Sunday at White Sands Missile Range to honor the brutal forced march of American and Filipino prisoners of war in the early days of World War II. The 21st annual Bataan Memorial Death March drew 5,704 participants, approximately 600 more than last year, according to WSMR officials. And like previous years, it included a wide array of participants from all 50 states and at least five countries. While mostly a military event, more and more civilians are coming, from competitive athletes to family members or friends of Bataan veterans. And for the fifth year, more than two dozen Wounded Warriors, amputees from the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam, took part, once again demonstrating to the other march participants what is physically possible. A 'unique' event A frigid early morning, amplified by the snow-topped Organ Mountains, gave way to a mild, sunny day. Having presented the memorial march since 1993, WSMR staff ran it like a well-oiled machine, getting the 5,704 marchers and hundreds more volunteers and spectators in place by the 6:30 a.m. opening ceremony. WSMR commander U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John Regan praised the "superhuman courage and iron will" of the Bataan veterans, Advertisement assured those doing the march for the first time they would "leave the field a changed person." The crowd of 5,700 fell completely silent as the names of Bataan veterans who died since last year were read, followed by a solemn playing of "Taps." Then, with a loud cannon burst, the memorial march began. Clarence Leonard, 51, walked and his son Jeremiah ran Sunday for his father Oscar Leonard, a Bataan ex-POW. Leonard, who had been fasting for 30 days "obeying Lent to the fullest," said the memorial march shows how many people care about the "Battling Bastards of Bataan." "It's amazing, like my dad says, just going from a 'bastard' to being so respected," Leonard said. A family tradition The family of New Mexican Bataan survivors Jose and Juan Baldonado, whose likenesses were used for the Bataan Memorial at Las Cruces' Veterans Park, were among hundreds who gathered to cheer on the marchers, including five of their own. Jose Baldonado's grandson Joseph Vargas, who has done the memorial march five times, said it is "different from other marathons. It's not just for self-gratification; there's this bigger purpose. It's a lot more deep." Albuquerque Bataan veteran Bill Overmier, 90, watched several of his family members take part, including son Richard and 15-year old grandson David. "It's a painful endeavor, but it kind of puts into perspective what the (Bataan) guys went through," Richard Overmier said. "I've done a lot of races, but there's just such a great camaraderie in this one," said Stephen Jett, whose grandfather and great-uncle were Bataan veterans from New Mexico. "Everyone is just yelling at each other, encouraging them. You just don't see that in other races." For the physical challenge U.S. Army Pvt. Nicholas Levan and Pvt. Jose Garcia, both natives of New York and now stationed at Fort Bliss, were among the first to finish in the heavy individual category. "I came for the history," said Levan. "But I also love the physical challenge." U.S. Air Force Capt. Meghan Corbett did the march as part of a co-ed, heavy division team from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Sunday was the second memorial march for 15-year-old Charles Sinclair, of Albuquerque, who came down with a group of fellow teens mostly for the physical challenge. "It's kinda fun. It's hard," Sinclair said as the first mile approached, predicting that he'd "probably continue doing (the march)" in the future. "It's just a challenge, something I've never done before," said. "I knew a little bit about Bataan before I came, so it was kind of neat to meet the people who were actually there." Albuquerque tri-athlete Terri Redman, 45, ran the shorter, 15.2-mile course primarily as a "supportive run" for an upcoming triathlon. "I think the spirit of it is unique. You have all kinds of people doing it for all kinds of reasons," Redman said after crossing the finish line. "It's a very hard run, definitely harder than what I usually do." Wyoming native Randi Tanner, 28, who finished after Redman, agreed. "I don't think there is any marathon or run like it," said Tanner, who did the march last year in honor of Iraq War casualty Jesse Zamora, of Las Cruces. "I think we should always remember the wars and the people who have served." Honoring Bataan March participants had only high praise for WSMR staff and the hundreds of volunteers who manned the 12 checkpoints along the 26.2-mile course, dispensing tireless cheers as well as thousands of gallons of Gatorade and truckloads of sliced bananas and oranges. Medics reported fewer heat-related injuries than in some previous years, though at least once person was airlifted to Las Cruces for symptoms related to dehydration. Marathon runner Corey White, of Carlsbad, was the first memorial marcher to finish, in just two hours and forty-seven minutes. It was his first Bataan march. "I had some family who had done it and told me it was worth it, and they were right about that," White said after finishing. "It was definitely the toughest thing I've done. And nothing compares to shaking the Bataan veterans' hands as we go off. It was pretty unreal." The memorial march commemorates the sacrifices, deaths and survival of 70,000 American and Philippine POWs captured by Japanese forces shortly after the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942. Historians estimate thousands died on what became known as the Bataan Death March due to disease, starvation, torture and brutal treatment. Many thousands more died in the horrific prison camps that followed the march, or later aboard prisoner ships bound for Japan or China. Only half of the 1,800 New Mexicans stationed in the Philippines survived their three-and-a-half-year ordeal. Today, there exists some three-dozen memorials and monuments to New Mexico's Bataan veterans scattered around the state. http://lcsun-news.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=966150&CategoryID=18806&ListSubAlbums=0 -> pictures |
THANKS !!! Have been reviewing the pic's on the site you forwarded - a remote chance that SnakeaterM24 may have been caught in one of the photo's! Going to have to ask him what kind of headgear he was wearing - sure looks like him. Photo wasn't good enough to zero in on the face or the combat/unit patch on the right sleeve ... but sure did look like a 173rd fm what I could see - if so, might be him. 
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Quoted: THANKS !!! Have been reviewing the pic's on the site you forwarded - a remote chance that SnakeaterM24 may have been caught in one of the photo's! Going to have to ask him what kind of headgear he was wearing - sure looks like him. Photo wasn't good enough to zero in on the face or the combat/unit patch on the right sleeve ... but sure did look like a 173rd fm what I could see - if so, might be him. Cool! Take a look at this: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&source=hp&q=bataan%20death%20march&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn ETA: http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2010/mar/23/local-soldier-takes-part-memorial-bataan-death-mar/ |
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THANKS !!! Have been reviewing the pic's on the site you forwarded - a remote chance that SnakeaterM24 may have been caught in one of the photo's! Going to have to ask him what kind of headgear he was wearing - sure looks like him. Photo wasn't good enough to zero in on the face or the combat/unit patch on the right sleeve ... but sure did look like a 173rd fm what I could see - if so, might be him. Cool! Take a look at this: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&source=hp&q=bataan%20death%20march&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn ETA: http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2010/mar/23/local-soldier-takes-part-memorial-bataan-death-mar/ *WOOT* !!! THANKS!! Yes, that's Nick in the Fergus Falls article. Have a friend that works with the local paper, I'm guessing that's where the story originated. Will have to check with him and chew him out for not letting me know! *laughing* |
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THANKS !!! Have been reviewing the pic's on the site you forwarded - a remote chance that SnakeaterM24 may have been caught in one of the photo's! Going to have to ask him what kind of headgear he was wearing - sure looks like him. Photo wasn't good enough to zero in on the face or the combat/unit patch on the right sleeve ... but sure did look like a 173rd fm what I could see - if so, might be him. Cool! Take a look at this: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&source=hp&q=bataan%20death%20march&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn ETA: http://www.fergusfallsjournal.com/news/2010/mar/23/local-soldier-takes-part-memorial-bataan-death-mar/ *WOOT* !!! THANKS!! Yes, that's Nick in the Fergus Falls article. Have a friend that works with the local paper, I'm guessing that's where the story originated. Will have to check with him and chew him out for not letting me know! *laughing* I need to post a pic of my wife wearing my 'Ranstad's Militia' t-shirt. Every time I go to wear it, it's either in the laundry or she has it in the trunk of her car after her waterobics. Damned wimmenz. Oh well, I can't wear it when I'm working. Ain't no need to apologize, my friend. Glad your boy is safe. We all love what he is doing. ETA: The only person that got ticked was 'the dog'. 
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Just wanted to extend an apology to the New Mexico threads that I recently, being stupid, 'spammed' with a post-haste request for information/video/reports on the Bataan Memorial Death March. At the time I was under a 'deadline' given that my son would be participating within hours and it was recommended to me that I post on the New Mexico sites asking for help if any could capture local news/video ... as such I posted on the sites that had the most recent activity. All I was hoping for was a glimpse of my son during the march. It was not my intention to hijack your threads and as such I'm truly sorry. Had I taken the time to remember how AR15 works, I would have remembered that all I had to do was "start new topic" ... in my haste I forgot. As such ... I sincerely apologize. For any who might be curious, his team placed 10th overall, completing the 26.2 mile march in just over 8-hours, taking 1st place among the other Spec Ops Command teams ... and 10th overall among the 5,704 participants. As a side note ... the sniper "ghille suit" he used in Afghan will soon be on permanent display at the NRA National Museum given his record kill ... and the story of that shot is presently being put together for an upcoming issue by a national magazine. Regardless of that ... again, my sincerest apologies ... RetMAC I can't believe you are apologizIng for being a proud father. If you can't rely on you fellow arfcommers to help with something like this, what good is this place? Next time, just throw a piece of poisoned meat in the corner for the dog, and the rest of us will be there for you. Bless you and your son and what you've done for our country. Alicat Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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