Death March Markers

[dmether]

This was next to the KM 112 marker, wonder how old it is?

[dmether]

Visited KM112 marker today, the last one on the March. I added an earlier picture from this string so it's easy to see what it looks likes today and what it looked like in 1988.

[Karl Welteke]

We already have a thread on this subject:

Who knows a little Spanish?
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/203/who-knows-little-spanish

I think this boundary marker is most unique, it is historical. Maybe it is the only one left in all the Philippines. I’m sure it is from the early 20th Century when the United States established itself as the colonial master of the Philippine Islands.
I think no matter where you stand on the history of that fact it is a symbol of that part of the US-Phil. History and should be preserved.



Z576---In Dec. 2013 those memorials and markers where already cleaned up, I wonder who we have to thank for that good deed?



Z577---Here is the inscription on the US Military Boundary Marker in 2008, hardly readable and caused that above thread to be started.

[dmether]

If it is an original pre-war marker, then other than the columns of Ft. Stotsenburg and Camp Dau (now in storage somewhere) that may be the last one.

[Karl Welteke]

DEATH MARCH MARKERS #52 TO #67 REVISITED 2014-07-09

On the 9th of July 2014 I had cause to visit a friend in Bataan. I went early and entered the old National Road at Culis, Layac in Bataan by car and looked at the Death March Markers # 67 down to #52. I took pictures to show the present condition of those DMMs. I did not see DMM #55 this time or on my 2007 walk. DMM # 58 in Orani I missed (because of the traffic) but I repeated pictures from my 2007 walk into this relevant album.

This time I did it by car from the north, DMM #67 down to DMM #52. I had my GPS device with me and recorded a track on Google Earth, marked every DMM and added them as Google Earth placemarks to the track. In the placemark I recorded all available information of each DMM, such as the sponsor and who the DMM is dedicated to. I got that information from the DMMs and the FAME web page. After I post this effort in the forum; I also will send by email the KMZ folder to all those I have email address for. For any other person who is interested mail me and I will send the KMZ file to you. Here is my email address; “bonotrowena at yahoo.com” .

If someone knows a better way to post KMZ files in a forum like this please let me know!

As usual I established an album, it has 65 images including a map, a list of the DMMs and 5 images from 2007 to show how much the inscription on the sponsor files have been worn and weathered in 7 years.
The images in the album are much larger than the 14 sample images in this reply presentation. Here is the URL to that album:
tinyurl.com/kdq7q77

Note:
To FAME & CFI, this album may be of interest to you in regards the condition of these few DMMs.

Here are 14 sample images:




Z587---DMM 67 is located at the fork where the Bataan Express Way and the Old National Road separate, in this picture we are looking south and towards the left goes the old National Highway.

Death March Marker 67 is sponsored by the Asian Development Bank U.S.Emp.(on FAME list), Asian Development Bank Philippines (ADB) (on DM Marker) at Barrio Culis, Layac, Bataan.
This location is about 1 km south of the famous First Line of Defense Memorial in Layac where DMM 68 is also located.




Z588---This is my track on Google Earth with the placemarks for each DMM. If and when you receive my KMZ folder and you are able to open it and WANT TO DO IT you should be able to click on the placemarks and see all this same information here.



Z589--- A list of the Death March Marker Sponsors for DMMs # 52 to # 67 from FAME. I learned that the DMM marker sometime has more information that the FAME list or vice versa.





Z590--- DMM 65, Death March Marker 65, sponsored by Beverly and Shaun Fitzpatrick dedicated to Capt. Albert L. (Duke) Fullerton QMC – US Army and PFC Rosalino D. Pimental, 26th Cavalry, PS, at across the street from the Mambog Elementary School, Hermosa, Bataan. This sponsor tile has been worn out, weathered more than most.



Z591--- This is same DMM 65 in 2007.



Z592--- DMM 64, Death March Marker 64 is sponsored by Beverly and Shaun Fitzpatrick for Capt. Frank E. Riley, 194th Tank Battallion, US Army and Corporal Gregorio Tallo, 57th Inf. PS at a Barrio in Hermosa, Bataan.



Z593--- This is same DMM 64 in 2007

Note: It is very noteworthy that this couple sponsored three DMMs and dedicated it to various people high and low in rank!!!!!!!!!!




Z594--- DMM 57, Death March Marker 57, sponsored by Ms. Beth Dawson in Memory of (this part is not clear anymore in 2014) Capt. Whitney A. Langlois, Commander 23rd Field Artillery, PS. Located in Samal Bataan, in front of the Grace Baptist Church.




Z595---This is same DMM 57 in 2007.



Z596--- DMM 54, Death March Marker 54, sponsored by Carmen Guevara (GI Post) in loving memory of Santiago Garcia Guevara from his wife Carmen, his children Dr. Santiago Guevara Jr., Dr. Carmen G. Newberger, Nick James and 16 grandchildren and 21 great-Grandchildren located at Barrio Kalaguiman, Samal, Bataan.



Z597--- This is same DMM 54 in 2007.




Z598--- DMM 53, Death March Marker 53, sponsored by Capt. Joseph A. Brimo and Mr. Henry Brimo, Staff of MGen. George H. Parker, South Luzon Force, located at Barrio Kalaguiman, Samal Bataan.



Z599--- This is same DMM 53 in 2007.



Z600--- This is DMM 58 which I missed this day in 2014, it is all the way to the left. In the distance at left is the Orani Church tower for your orientation. This is a 2007 image and I suspect this DMM is still there and is ok.

DMM 58, Death March Marker 58, sponsored by the Bataan Association Midwest-USA, Manny Enriquez President 2002-2003 and is located in Orani Town proper.This spot on my GPS track is picked on the basis of my pictures from my 2007 walk; I missed it on my 2014 drive.

[Bob Hudson]

I discussed the missing Death March Marker #38 with FAME. It seems that #38 was never erected for the Olsen family because payment for the marker was never received. They are researching the matter.
I already have two requests to reserve that spot for a veteran who made the March. I am not sure what the cost is nowadays. Originally they were $500.
As for Marker #27 in Limay, the Felbaum family will be contacted to see if they wish to finance a new marker at that location. If they do not, then that location will become available for a future family to honor one of their own.
There are no markers between 102 at the San Fernando train station and 106 at the Capas train station. This is, of course, because the men road in the boxcars between those locations. I have been asked if FAME would consider adding markers 103,104 and 105 between the two train stations. I have not put the matter before FAME as I am not sure it is a good idea.
Any opinions?

[dmether]

KM55 exists.

[Karl Welteke]

Thanks Dave, I will try again and find it!!

[Karl Welteke]

DEATH MARCH MARKERs # 51, 55, 58 UPDATE

Walking is part of my physical activities and sometime I combine a walk with a walk to historical locations. 2014-07-28 I done such a walk again and I chose to walk from Death March Marker (DMM) # 51 at Mabatang to 58 at Orani and back.

Beside the 20 km or so walk the other goals were, I might as well look at DMM # 51 since I’m starting there, DMM # 55 which I have missed twice before and so never had seen it. The DMM # 58 was the last goal and I had missed it on my last inspection drive 2014 9th July, so I wanted to have a look as to its condition now.

I’m not uploading the pictures of this walk but will show some relevant pictures of these 3 DMMs. If you are interested in the geography of this section of the Death March I have posted my previous walk 2007 25th Dec from DMM # 51 at Mabatang to DMM #68 at Layac at this URL:
tinyurl.com/p6b9p6o

The Update:

It was an about 20 km walk from DMM # 51 to 58 and back and a few side trips along the walk and here are 2 maps that illustrated the walk.



Z660--- GPS Garmin device terrain image with walk statistics from DMM 51 to 58 and back.



Z661--- GPS Track and Place Marks GE image of my walk from DMM 51 to 58 and back.




Z662--- The main bridge in Mabatang (rather a box culvert) over the Mabatang Creek on the Bataan National Road is being replaced and so the National Road is blocked and you need to use the Bataan Express Way to go further south


DMM #51 just at the south edge of Mabatang Village of the Abucay-Moron Main Line of Resistance Fame is still in place:




Z663---DMM 51 looking north, the bridge being repaired is only about 100 to 150 feet from here.




Z664---DMM 51 is about in the middle of the image, the people can walk across the bridge, behind me being repaired, south to here, hire a tricycle here and continue south to Abucay.




Z665--- DMM 51, Death March Marker 51 is sponsored by the War Orphans Networks (AWON) at south edge of Matabang Village, the MLR east end of the Abucay-Maron Line.



DMM # 55 I didn’t see it on my 2007 march and I missed it again on my inspection drive 9th July 2014. Then David Metherell, from this forum, set me straight, he posted pictures in this thread recently to show it exist. So this time I was not going to fail.



Z666--- DMM 55 does exist and is in pretty good shape, it is located at the north edge of Samal Village.




Z667--- DMM 55, Death March Marker 55, sponsored by the National American Veterans, AMVETS-SAD SACK and is dedicated in Honor of Nathan Blinker Ohio.




Z668----DMM 55 is located at left near the village gate post to Barangay Tabing Ilog which is part of Samal Municipality.

DMM #58 I had missed on my inspection drive 2014 9th of July. I was sure it was in good shape but I made it my goal to walk there today, see it and take a picture.




Z669---DMM 58 is in good shape it is located at a big intersection just north of the Orani Plaza, maybe a half km distance.




Z670--- DMM 58, Death March Marker 58, sponsored by the Bataan Association Midwest-USA, Manny Enriquez President 2002-2003 and is located in Orani Town proper.



Z671--- The main bridge over the Orani River in Orani Town is being replaced, a major job. Small vehicles are being rerouted but large vehicles got use the Bataan Express Way.

[Karl Welteke]

DEATH MARCH MARKERS (DMM) # 81 TO # 86 UPDATE 2014-07-31

DMMs #81, 82 and 83 are located in the Municipality of Lubao, Pampanga along the Olongapo-Gapan Road. I travel this road often and noted that these DMMs were removed because of construction of a new bridge over the Gumain River and because of widening of that road. I had heard from Bob Hudson that something was done with DMM #84.

After the construction was finished the DMMs were repositioned and I had planned for some time to have a closer look and might as well go a little further to DMM #86 which I had missed before in 2007 and then on the way back have a closer look at the Lubao Town. Lubao Town, after all, is the hometown of two Philippine Presidents. But the Lubao portion of this walk will be presented as an excursion into the Philippines at a different thread.

On that day I parked at the new Santa Cruz Bridge over the Gumain River, walked west to DMM #81 and back. Then I walked to DMM #86 and on the return trip walked thru the Lubao Town. I established this album only about the DMMs because the town I will present later at another location. This is the album with 51 images:
tinyurl.com/lywzcf7

This presentation is a little different than in the past because I write who the sponsors were for these DMMs and in who’s memories they were established.

Here are some sample pictures of that walk, remember the pictures in the album are larger. In this presentation here I will also upload images of how these DMMs looked in 2007 when I walked the route of the Death March then.



Z777---2014-07-31, we are looking west on the Olongapo-Gapan road and this is the new position of DMM # 81. It was moved this direction, about 100 feet or a little more, from the west from in front of the Barangay Santa Cruz Elementary School, Lubao Municipality because of a widening of the National Road project.



Z778--- 2014-07-31 Death March Marker 81, is sponsored by VFW Post 2485, Angeles City, it was located in front of the Sta. Cruz Elementary School, Lubao, Pampanga. It was moved about 100+ feet east here from in front of the school because of widening of the road



Z779---2007 Oct. 4th the old position of the DMM #81 in front of the Sta. Cruz Elementary School, Lubao, Pampanga Province.



Z780---2007 Oct. 4th the old position of the DMM #81 in front of the Sta. Cruz Elementary School, Lubao Municipality and in Pampanga Province. Death March Marker 81 is sponsored by VFW Post 2485, Angeles City; in this picture we are looking west along the Olongapo-Gapan Road.



Z781---a section of the FAME Sponsor and Location list with the Death March Markers # 81 to # 86; this is the URL to it: www.filipino-americanmemorials.org/markersbataan.html



Z782---this is a copy of my GPS track on Google Earth with Placemarks of the 6 Death March Markers and their Sponsors. Other landmarks are also indicated.



Z782---AND A BIGGER COPY TO DOWNLOAD.



Z783--- we are looking at the new Sta. Cruz Bridge, across the Gumain River in Barangay Santa Cruz, Lubao Municipality in the Pampanga Province. Death March Marker 82 was re located to the SW corner of the bridge after the bridge was completed.



Z784---Death March Marker 82 is sponsored by Jessie Huberty (sponsor name is from the FAME list but is not on the DMM # 82 itself). On Death March Marker 82 itself it says: sponsored by Jessie Synder Thompson in loving memory of Angel M. Tuason and Lee E. Stevens.



Z785---on the 4th of Oct. 2007 I walked this section of the Death March Route and here is a picture of the DMM # 82 then. Note the old road and old bridge.



Z786---DMM # 83 is now back in its old position, but now the roads left and right are widened and the background has changed. In back used to be a Police Station but is now replaced by a gas station. Note, at this place the road splits up, left continues the newer Olongapo-Gapan Road and right is the Old National Road going to the Lubao Town.



Z787--- Death March Marker 83 is sponsored by the American Association of the Philippines; due to road work, the DMM 83 was temporally removed but is now back in place. In this picture we are looking west.




Z788--- on the 4th of Oct. 2007 I walked this section of the Death March Route and here is a picture of the DMM #83 then. Note the still only two lane road of the Olongapo-Gapan Road and in back was a Police Station.



Z789--- Death March Marker 83 is sponsored by the American Association of the Philippines; this picture is from the 4th Oct. 2007.



Z790--- Death March Marker 84 is sponsored by Alfred D. McMicking in memory of Lt. Alfred D. McMicking, Aide to General Albert Jones, Commander of 51st Inf. Div. Philippine Army. Born in Manila 1916, Defender of Freedom in the Battle of Bataan. Lt. Alfred D. McMicking Prisoner of War in Cabanatuan. Executed by the Japanese with other members of his family in Manila, February 1945.
I sure would like to know more about the tragic fate of this family.



Z791---DMM # 84 was recently renovated or replaced, I believe that is what Bob Hudson told me recently, maybe he will shed more light on this job. One difference between the new one and renovated one is that all the long Sponsor information is now on one tile while my 2007 pictures show that all this information was divided between two tiles.



Z792---this 2014 picture of DMM #84 shows there is no 2nd tile nor any descriptions like there still was in 2007.



Z793---on this 4th of Oct. 2007 picture of Death March Marker #84 we see that on the tile on this side is only a partial description. One edge of the DMM is damaged.



Z794--- on this 4th of Oct. 2007 picture of Death March Marker #84 we see that on this side a tile with only a partial description existed while the 2014 picture does not or even has a tile.



Z795--- right after the Lubao Diversion Road joined the old National Road again Death March Marker 85 came into sight. Death March Marker 85 is sponsored by US Amb. Henry Leach (France) (Info from FAME list); is sponsored by Ambassador Howard H. Leach United States Embassy Paris France (info from DMM # 85) in Honor of the 49th Tank Battalion, California National Guard, Salinas, California. It is located at east end of Lubao proper in Pampanga Province.




Z796--- this is a close-up of the description tile of DMM # 85 on the previous image; this is a 2014 image.




Z797--- this is the way it looked on the 4th of Oct. 2007. It is located at east end of Lubao Municipality, Pampanga Province. In this image we are looking east towards Gua Gua.




Z798---this is how the sponsor tile on DMM # 85 looked like in 2007.




Z799---this is the last DMM I’m going to look at today on the 31st July 2014. I’ll turn around here and walk thru Lubao proper on my way back to my car. The Municipality of Lubao is historical because this is the hometown of two Presidents. On my walk of the Death March route in 2007 I missed seeing this DMM and don’t have any comparable picture.




Z800--- Death March Marker 86 is sponsored by AMVETS (Charities on FAME list) National Auxiliary in Memory of Dr. James Duckworth, Sgt. Ralph Levenberg 17th Pursuit Squadron, PVT. Leon Beck Anti-Tank Company, 31st Infantry, PFC Blair Robinett, Company C 803rd Engineers.
Col. James Duckworth is a most noteworthy man in the saga of the WWII in the Philippines, the senior Medical Officer of the POWs in the hands of the Japanese, the Commanding Officer in POW Camp Cabanatuan when liberated by the US Army Rangers.