Bataan Death March soldiers honored

ALBUQUREQUE (KRQE) - Thousands of American and Filipino troops in the Bataan Death March were tortured until they died during World War II.

Many New Mexicans were among those who suffered.

Saturday they were honored at the 70th anniversary ceremony in Albuquerque.

Out of the 1800 New Mexican soldiers that were involved, only about 30 are still alive.

On Saturday they shared the stories of the pain they saw and experienced.

Seventy years ago, half of the 12,000 American troops and more than 60,000 Filipinos did not make it out alive from the Bataan Death March in the Philippines.

The Japanese army forced them to walk 60 miles without food or water, many dying before reaching the prison camps.

Sergeant Al David spent three years in a prison camp.

“When I was in the Bataan I didn't think I’d live to see 21. Here, I’m 91 and all this attention is beginning to spoil me,” Sgt. David said.

Last week, the 91-year-old survived a stroke. This weekend he rushed from the hospital to make it to this ceremony in Albuquerque.

Troops surrendered only as their last resort and their defensive strategies helped fight off the Japanese.

“The Japanese army was delayed long enough, four months, to prevent the invasion of Australia,” David said.

Family members came to hear stories and some came searching for more.

“My husband and my son, they went to go look for me as to which battalion whatever he was in,” one woman said.

She came to learn more about her father from fellow veterans who may have known him.

“He’d always blow everything off. He'd just laugh at us kids and tell us, you children don't know what cold is or whatever hardship is,” the woman said.

Congressmen in New Mexico are trying to get the soldiers awarded with the congressional gold medal.

Albuquerque Mayor R.J. Berry honored the soldiers Saturday with a proclamation for the 70th anniversary of the death march.