Approximately 1,800 members of the New Mexico National Guard’s 200th Coast Artillery were sent to the Philippines in 1941 before the U.S. entered World War II.
Once there, the regiment was divided to form the 515th Coast Artillery, which was referred to as “The Brigade.”
Japanese forces attacked the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941. Naval and aerial bombardments preceded the landing of the Japanese 14th Army. The Japanese were under orders to capture the islands in four weeks.
Without the benefit of reinforcements or resupply, Allied defenders fought on for four months. Those on the Bataan peninsula were ordered to surrender to the Japanese on April 9, 1942.
The victorious Japanese forced their new prisoners of war – already weakened by malnutrition, tropical diseases, and battle wounds – to walk 65 miles in what is now known as the Bataan Death March.
Allied forces on the island of Corregidor were ordered to surrender a month later. As captives, the Allies were dispersed to POW camps throughout Asia, including Japan. More died aboard the “hell ships” transporting them to these camps, where many became a source of forced labor for the Japanese war effort.
Of the 1,800 New Mexicans, only half would live to see home again. Half of the survivors, their health wrecked beyond repair, would die within their first few years of freedom.
The defenders of the Philippines are credited with thwarting the Japanese plan to steamroll through the Pacific theater of operations, culminating with their intended conquest of Australia.
Martinez echoed this sentiment in her proclamation and paid tribute to the Filipino defenders in her speech.
“Freedom is not free,” Martinez said in her speech. “We will never forget their sacrifice. God bless our Bataan heroes.”
Bataan survivor 1st Sgt. Manuel Armijo (now deceased) began the commemoration ceremony in 1946. The ceremony takes place annually in front of a monument that NMNG members built at Logan Heights on Fort Bliss, Texas, during their training there before moving on to the Philippines.
Then-Gov. John Miles and Maj. Gen. R.C. Carlton (then Adjutant General of New Mexico) later had the monument moved to its current home in Santa Fe. The yearly ceremony includes the lowering of the American flag and raising of the white flag of surrender. A roll call lists the name of veterans who have died in the last year.
This year’s roll call included Trinidad G. Martinez; Pedro A. “Pete” Gonzales, Jr.; and Julio T. Barela. It’s estimated that only 11 Bataan survivors are left alive, including eight in New Mexico.
Retired Lt. Gen. Edward Baca, former Adjutant General of New Mexico and Chief of the National Guard Bureau, repeatedly promised the Bataan survivors for years that the NMNG would continue the commemoration after the last survivor has passed.
As Lt. Col. Dominic Dennis, the master of ceremonies, said, “It’s a legacy of service and honor.”]]>
