Courtesy Photo | Five U.S. Army 1st Space Brigade Soldiers took first place in the women's heavy weight...... read more read more
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By Capt. Emily Lessin
Five Soldiers from the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s 1st Space Brigade came together to take first place in the grueling 26.2-mile annual Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, last month. Though the event pushed us to the edge of our physical and mental capacity, it reinforced the importance of training as a team, trusting one another, and the knowledge of history.
The Bataan Death March took place in 1942, where approximately 75,000 American and Filipino Soldiers were forced by their captors to march 65 miles to prison camps. Many of these Soldiers died along the way due to injury, exhaustion and the brutality of their captors.
Like a last-minute muster of individuals for a normal military mission, throwing a team together for the Bataan Memorial Death March was challenging - the prospect of such a great physical challenge intimidates most Soldiers – and some of our teammates did not join until three weeks before the march. We entered the women’s heavy weight division, defined by the load carried by the participants, which was the most difficult category our team could select. With only four all-female teams signing up for our division, we made completing this monumental task our only goal, challenging ourselves against the event - not the other teams. We were nervous to have not marched together as a team before, but we were ready to complete the event as one. If we did not finish together, we would be disqualified from the event, so if even one of us sustained an injury that we could not push through we would be out of the race.
We started off at a fast pace, around 16.5-minute mile pace. Realizing our brisk start would overexert us, we slowed down to better pace the team. Further adding to the challenge is a two-mile sand pit in the middle of the route. The loose, hot sand rocks the feet and rubs painfully on growing blisters - a coarse reminder of all we had already done and had yet to do. At around mile 15, we paused to quickly patch blisters and again at mile 20, where we stopped at an aid station to get blisters popped and bandaged. One teammate likely endured these pailful injuries for miles until the aid station; the medical team needed almost an hour to clean and patch her wounds. After this we carried on, because if we stopped and allowed our boots to come off, we were not going to continue. Each of us knew that we had to continue. If one of us dropping out wouldn’t stop the rest of the team, it would disqualify us from an official finish and time. But most importantly, we kept the faith: "never leave a fallen comrade".
When that Warrior Ethos comes to the forefront, you find a second wind, walking when you don’t want to keep walking. No one in our group had known each other before this March. While we might work in the same organization, our knowledge of each other was minimal. We were all of different ages and came from different background, states and beliefs. In spite of so many things that could have divided us, we came together not only to complete the mission but to take first place. We were silent for much of the race, but our support for one another was unquestionable.
While we exceeded our own goals, we more importantly showed grit, perseverance, and accomplished a mission that many others chose to forgo. This knowledge is worth more than any timestamp. I know that I can count on these ladies to show up when it counts most.
Having events like these today allows us to reflect on the events of the past. It forces us to reckon with what happened to our troops and examine what we believe is just and right. Having just completed a two-week course on national security law, this reflection sank in during the long walk. The principals of the Law of Armed Conflict are underpinned by customary international humanitarian law, including considering what is humane and necessary, the risk or benefit tradeoffs, and our ability to prevent collateral harm to civilians. Why does the United States of America adhere to certain principals? The simple answer is to protect against unnecessary suffering and promote humane treatment of noncombatants, whether by status, injury or illness. The ultimate question, though, is this: if our adversaries don’t adhere to these principals, why do we?
Retired Lt. Gen. Charles Pede said it best when he stated, “adhering to the law of armed conflict enhances the legitimacy of our operations and supports the moral framework of our armed forces. We have learned that we deviate from these norms to our detriment and risk undercutting both domestic and international support for our operations. LOAC has been and remains a vital guide for all military operations conducted by the U.S. government.”
In following this principle, we should always consider the principles of the law of armed conflict. While these are the basic principles, the consideration for each is complex in its own nature. Therefore, it is important that we learn about the past, think about the future, and understand the basics of the law before we make a wrong decision in the midst of conflict.
The Bataan Memorial Death March is a solemn event that reminds us of the suffering that those soldiers faced. Those Soldiers endured unquestionable harm and suffering, even death. While it may seem distant now, it reminds us of why we must stand by our principles and adhere to the law of armed conflict. Without it, events of wanton suffering such as the original death march are bound to occur. For this we must never forget.
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2025 15:39 |
| Story ID: | 495454 |
| Location: | WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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