Missouri Guardsmen tryout for 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March teams

Soldiers, competing in the light category, jump off the line during the Bataan Death March prequalifing event at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. The soldiers competed for a slot on the Missouri National Guard team which will compete in the 22nd Annual Bataan Death March at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. in March. (Photos by Staff Sgt. Ty Stafford)

By Staff Sgt. Ty Stafford
70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. - More than 30 Soldiers began a 13 mile march along the troop trail at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in the hopes of garnering a spot on the Missouri National Guard sponsored teams for the 22nd Annual Bataan Memorial Death March on Saturday.

The annual event, which will be conducted March 27, 2011 at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, honors the heroic service members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War II.

Guardsmen from across the state competed as individuals but will be grouped into teams based on their times during the pre-qualifier event held Saturday.

Beginning in front of the 35th Engineer Brigade headquarters competitors were grouped into two categories: light and heavy.

The official march is broken down into individual and team categories and the light and heavy subcategories. Heavy individuals and teams must carry 35 pounds or more during the event. Heavy competitors were required to weigh their ruck sacks before the march began.

Leading the way for the heavy competitors was Maj. Craig Gatzmeyer, administrative officer for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1140th Engineer Battalion, who finished in 2 hours and 8 minutes.

In the light category, Capt. Ryan Jennings, B Battery 1-129th Field Artillery, finished ahead of the pack with a time of 1 hour and 44 minutes.

Both Gatzmeyer and Jennings have competed in the Bataan Death March prior to this year.

For first time competitor Pvt. 1st Class Marsalis Sherod, 3175th Chemical Company, this was a new opportunity.

"I got the email last month and I thought it sounded cool. I started running last month to get in shape," he said.

Sherod, of Hazelwood, Mo., hoped to finish in the top five for the light category. He fell short finishing seventh but was happy to have finished the race.

Staff Sgt. Wayne Harrel, who works in the Directorate of Information Management at the Ike Skelton Training Site, and a third time competitor had a similar philosophy on the event.

"This is a cool experience when you do this. It's not like anything else we do in the Army,"

The Army ROTC Department at New Mexico State University began sponsoring the memorial march in 1989 to mark a page in history that included so many native sons and affected many families in the state. In 1992, White Sands Missile Range and the New Mexico National Guard joined in the sponsorship and the event was moved to the missile range, according to the official web site.

Teams can choose between two routes: blue and green. The Green (full) route is the full 26.2-mile Bataan Memorial Death March. Awards are presented to the top two finishers in each category. The Blue (honorary) route is 15.2 miles and is designed for participants who would like to memorialize Bataan but do not wish to march the full 26.2-mile route. No awards are given for this Blue route.





For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.