DEATH MARCH

Walt Straka of Brainerd says when he wakes up each morning and sees the white ceiling in his home he feels blessed.

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Blessed that he survived the Death March of Bataan.

Straka, Henry Peck of Brainerd and Ken Porwoll of St. Paul were remembered Saturday at a ceremony recalling the march 66 years ago in which 78,000 soldiers were forced to make a 55-mile march for nearly five days without food and water in the heat.

In the event at the Brainerd National Guard Armory were about 130 individuals, mainly Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers, who were gearing up to participate in the 11th annual Memorial Death March. Participants marched either a 10-mile or a 20-mile loop that began on Crow Wing County Road 45.

Pfc. Samuel Wacha, Pvt. Dawn Mikel, Pfc. Mike Racky and Pvt. Krissy Donnay talked Saturday at the Brainerd Armory before they partook in the Bataan Memorial March.

» Purchase reprints of this photo.Brainerd Dispatch/Jennifer Stockinger

Straka and Porwoll were escorted on foot by a few soldiers at the start of the march. Then they rode by vehicle around the loop. Peck was not at the opening ceremony Saturday.

Straka, 88, said the Memorial Death March is a nice event to remember the Bataan Death March and the fallen soldiers.

"It's hard to think about those days," said Straka. "There is no way you can forget what happen. I can forgive them (the Japanese), but I'll never forget it."

The Bataan Death March happened after U.S. and Philippine soldiers fought the Japanese for four months and surrendered on April 9, 1942. The soldiers were forced to march to the Japanese prisoner camps with no food or water and many American soldiers were shot or beheaded on the trek.

Sgt. Nick Ogborn of Crosby double checked his backpack Saturday at the Brainerd Armory to prepare for his 20-mile walk as part of the Bataan Memorial March.

» Purchase reprints of this photo.Brainerd Dispatch/Jennifer Stockinger

Straka said he was held captive in a two-by-four cell. Straka said when he left with the 194th Armored Regiment in 1941 he was 184 pounds and when he came home he was 89 pounds.

"I don't blame anyone for not believing the stories about the Death March," said Straka. "It's hard to believe that anything this horrible could have happen. Many guys went insane on the Death March and there were guys who made it out that went insane. We had nothing to eat or drink. We were dehydrated. It got worse everyday while in captivity. It never got better.

"I was lucky to get on the last boat. It was the only boat that didn't sink. When I got home it tore the hell out of me to see how many of my friends were killed. I was in a hospital for two years when I got home. I later married and had seven children. There are no words to explain the way I feel about surviving."

Maj. Mike Pazdernik said the purpose of the Bataan Memorial March, which is hosted by the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 194th Armor Regiment, headquartered in Brainerd, is to honor the survivors and to remember The Death March.

"Walking is a good way to support the enormous sacrifice the Bataan soldiers made for us," said Pazdernik. "This march is a way to remember what had happened and what these soldiers went through.

"I believe the march serves a dual purpose today and acknowledges our current soldiers who are deployed."

The 194th unit traces its history back to Brainerd's Company A of the 34th Tank Battalion which was reorganized into the 194th Tank Battalion in World War II. That battalion was the first to go overseas and was forced to surrender at Bataan.

National Guard Sgt. Nick Ogborn of Crosby marched for a second time Saturday.

"I'm here to show my support for the people who marched in the Death March of Bataan," said Ogborn, "to support what they went through and what they had done. They went through a lot of pain."

Ogborn carried a 36-pound backpack for the march. He said he was sure he'd be sore after the march, but it wouldn't be anything like what the Bataan soldiers went through in their march to the prisoner camps.

Four soldiers in the Recruit Sustainment Program participated in the march for the first time to support the Bataan survivors. The group also was hopeful for a first-place standing in the 10-mile hike. The soldiers were Pfc. Samuel Wacha, Pvt. Dawn Mikel, Pfc. Mike Racky and Pvt. Krissy Donnay.

Wacha, who lives in Sartell, helped in the march last year. Wacha said he spent most of the day with Peck and they exchanged war stories.

"It was a great experience," said Wacha. "I knew then that I'd march this year. I've been working out to prepare for this. I've been doing a six-mile course.

"This event is to honor a huge part of the unit's history. It is the most significant event to remember the Bataan and to never forget it."

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.