Team from Kirtland to compete in Bataan Memorial Death March

  • Published
  • By Kendahl Johnson
  • Kirtland Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  After months of training and preparation, a team from Kirtland will test its physical and mental endurance March 20 at the annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range.

2nd Lt. Christian Erneston, Wing Staff Agencies resource advisor, organized a team of six participants to compete in one of the hardest marathon-length routes in the U.S.

"I'm always up for a physical challenge, and this is a worthy cause," Erneston said.  "It's important that we don't forget the sacrifices made."

The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging trek through the high desert terrain conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defended the Philippines at the onset of World War II. Tens of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers surrendered to Japanese forces, and were marched about 60 miles for days in the scorching heat through the Philippine jungles. Many lost their lives, and those who survived faced years of hardship in prisoner-of-war camps.

Erneston said the event is "heart wrenching."

"You feel pretty bad when you're drinking Gatorade and eating bananas and oranges along the way and you think of what those service members went through, marching twice as far in worse conditions with little to no food or water, with many of them getting sick and dying," he said. 

Erneston participated in the event last year, so he knows what to expect. He's worked with his team to help prepare them physically.

Beginning in January, they've gone on weekend hikes of increasing distances and difficulty, including an 18-mile hike with weighted rucksacks.

Erneston's team consists of members from the 377th Comptrollers Squadron and Wing Staff Agencies and spouses: himself; Lt. Col. Tracy Bell, Comptroller Squadron commander, and his wife, Samantha; Lt. Col. Kevin Ingram, 377th Air Base Wing staff judge advocate, and his wife, Tiffini; and Senior Airman David Rodriguez, 377th Air Base Wing command executive.

Most of his team will compete in the heavy division, carrying rucksacks packed with 35 pounds of rice. At the end of the march, the food will be dropped in a bin and donated to the Community Action Agency Food Bank. To learn more about the event, visit www.bataanmarch.com.  

Erneston hopes to use this event as a springboard into a squadron fitness event, the 1,500-mile physical training challenge. Last year, the squadron ran more than 1,000 miles cumulatively during a six-month stretch.

"It helped with PT scores.  I saw a significant rise in points earned on the run," he said.