[Partner] White Sands: Keeping alive memories of old soldiers who never die

FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba and FilVetREP Director Sonny Busa (center) join thousands of men and women make their way through dirt, sand, and rocks below the San Andres Mountains in White Sands, New Mexico.

March 22, 2025

As dawn breaks, a bugler softly plays taps as thousands in military uniforms and civilians in running gear stand in a moment of silence, followed by words surging out of the speakers:

“Marchers, give me your attention. Hear their cry, in their own words. ‘We are the Battling Bastards of Bataan. No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam. No aunts, no uncles, no nephews, no nieces. No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces and nobody gives a damn.’ Let our cry be known, we all give a damn.”

The words stir thousands of men and women who roar back their response: “We all give a damn! We all give a damn!” The cry is a reminder of the brutal treatment endured by 75,000 prisoners of war, who battled in Bataan and Corregidor with almost no military and medical support, then forced to march for days in scorching heat with minimal water and food. Of the 10,000 who died in that grueling 68-mile march, 9,000 were Filipinos. Thousands more died in prison camps due to malnutrition, continued torture and forced labor.

Ceres Busa, daughter of a Bataan Death March survivor, marches for the sixth time.

The Bataan Memorial Death March, now in its 36th year, honors American and Filipino World War II veterans for their service and sacrifice fighting under the American flag to defend the Philippines. This year, more than 5,000 participants return to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to commemorate the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They come from all 50 states and 10 foreign countries to take part in a punishing desert course.

Filipinos represent

As they have done in the last 10 years, members and supporters of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), led by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), and the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society, led by Paul Ruiz, are visibly and actively present. They include descendants, relatives of Filipino World War II veterans, community advocates, and a Philippine delegation led by Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

Their presence was officially acknowledged in 2017 when, for the first time, the singing of the Philippine National Anthem was included in the program and the Philippine flag was prominently displayed on stage beside the American flag. FilVetREP National Chairman Antonio Taguba’s keynote address at the opening ceremony eight years ago highlighted the historic role of Filipino soldiers and guerrillas in World War II. This historical fact was not largely known among the marchers for many years.

Lida Peterson, Matt Aninzo and Dan Gruta sing the Philippine National Anthem at the opening ceremony.

The full route is 26.2 miles. An honorary trail is 14.1 miles. But this yearly event is more than just a marathon. To many, it’s a pilgrimage. “It’s a humbling experience to honor the fallen heroes and the survivors of the brutal, brutal death march,” says FilVetREP Chairman Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret). “And to those who simply want to walk even for just a few miles, it’s an emotional journey to remember loved ones – an honor that is beyond measure.”

Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony

The prominence given to Filipino American participation is a meaningful tribute to the heroic role of Filipino soldiers in the Pacific theater. It is now significantly highlighted every year with an educational program featuring Duty to Country (www.dutytocountry.org) and a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. FilVetREP also features a booth at the Exhibit area to promote the Duty to Country program. Copies of the graphic novel, “In the Shadow of Giants,” spurred generous donations.

This year’s CGM award ceremony was conducted by Brig. Gen. George Turner, Commanding General of the White Sands Missile Range and Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

CGM recipients include Arsenio Abuan, a Philippine Commonwealth Army and USAFEE veteran; Mariano Acosta, a recognized guerrilla and Filipino Scout; Trinidad Fidel Otero, a member of the US Army 515th Coast Artillery Regiment; Santiago Saavedra Zais, a member of the US Army 200 Coast Artillery Regiment; and Magnor Andreas Peterson Jr., who served with the 93rd Bomb Squadron of the US Army Air Corp. All endured the Bataan Death March. Accepting their awards were family members Clena Marie Abuan, Col. Mariano Campos, Arlene Garcia Carver, Mack Peterson.

Duty to Country Education Program

CGM next-of-kin recipient Mack Peterson set the stage for the education program by telling his father, Magnor Andreas Peterson Jr.’s survival story. FilVetREP Region 7 Director, Christy Poisot, followed the narrative with a history lesson of key dates in history starting with the 1898 Paris Treaty leading up to the Bataan Death March in 1942, and concluding with the independence of the Philippines in 1946.

Poisot recalled her own grandfather’s account of survival, Captain Francisco Panis, 3LT Signal Officer of the Philippine Commonwealth Army 2nd Bn. 23rd Inf Regt., 21st Division, and 2017 CGM recipient. He served in the United States Army Forces in the Far East or USAFFE. She stated the obvious fact - she simply would not exist today, had he not survived.: “No matter our rank and file, we share a history where our ancestors were at war at the same point in time. This is the convergence of our family trees in between these dates on this timeline.”

Poisot concluded: “Descendent stories of discovery, allow for FilVetREP to help families heal by recognizing their veterans and by ensuring their stories continue to be told as part of the Duty to Country education program. The collectible graphic novel and curriculum are available online for educators, free of charge.”