Death March Markers

[Bob Hudson]

Karl,

When I took on the responsibility of the Death March Markers, I had to limit myself to the ones on Bataan. At the time I only had a trike for transportation. Rosalie and I personally cleaned and painted 75 of the 98 markers in Bataan. We were able to enlist the help of other organizations to clean and paint the other 23 in Bataan.
I needed help for those beyond my reach, mainly #73 to #112. I received help from Dave Metherell, Robert Lucke and Rhonie Dela Cruz who live in the Angeles City area. They were able to clean and paint numbers 112 through 101, I believe. So markers 100 to 73 are orphaned and nothing has been done to them except perhaps a few that were done by local govt's in their respective locals.
Marker #70 was struck and damaged by road widening equipment. I advised FAME of it last April. The repair work on markers is handled through the CFI and you know what situation they are in I believe. Nothing has been done to it last time I drove by last month.

Money, money, money. That's the problem and will always be the problem. I wish that pointing out the problem would suffice in their repair but not going to happen. I'm glad you're out there documenting the problems beyond my reach. we really need someone in that area who would take some interest in their maintenance. It too much and too far for me.

[Karl Welteke]

BATAAN DEATH MARCH REMEMBRANCE 2015-04-11

Philippine Authorities are pleased to share with you

The 1st Capas Freedom March 2015


On April 11, 2015, thousands of people from all walks of life will gather in Capas, Tarlac to commemorate the agonizing battle of the heroes of the Bataan Death March. Local and foreign military personnel who have fought in a war, family members and friends of a veteran, civilians - young and old, rich and poor - will march together united as one in remembering the sacrifice of the heroes.


The Capas Freedom March which is made possible through the partnership of Department of National Defense, Department of Tourism and Automobile Association Philippines has the vision to be the biggest annual gathering of marchers to commemorate a historical event, promoting peace and freedom. Its mission is to honor and remember the heroes of the Bataan Death March by tracing the path they have endured and for a military cause of building the Capas Concentration Camp Replica and provide scholarship to deserving children of slain soldiers.

Event Objectives
1. To honor and remember the Bataan Death March heroes who actually made a forced march as POWs in 1942 under the worse of conditions;
2. To impress upon the youth that the price of freedom that we all now enjoy is the result of the long arduous ordeal that our Bataan Death March endured. In the process, the value of nationalism will be instilled to the new and the next generations;
3. To recognize the universal value of democracy, human dignity, equality, open society and respect for human rights;
4. To learn that the true essence of survival is compassion, sacrifice, mutual aid and altruism; and
5. To preserve and promote historical sites and events, building an edifice of Historical Tourism.

This is the flier:



X210. The 1st Capas Freedom March 2015 Flier

This is the registration URL:
www.capasfreedommarch.com/

Note from Karl:
I would have joined and signed up but I will be on Corregidor and join some friends there.

[Bob Hudson]

Karl

So many things happening quickly. Too many to attend them all. On the 12th is the Bataan Freedom Run in Balanga sponsored by Veterans Bank. On the 11th I have to meet with members of Veterans Bank to erect a banner I had made for FAME (Filipino American Memorial Endowment). All proceeds from the event go toward the maintenance of Bataan Markers.
Wanted to let you know that I had lunch with Kevin Hamdorf at the Sit N Bull....just down the street from your home on March 28th. He turned over to me a donation to the Bataan WW2 Museum artifacts of the Nakajima ki-27 Japanese fighter and the P-40, which, of course you know, impacted on Mt. Tarak, taking the lives of both pilots on February 9th, 1942.
The museum will become the permanent home to the artifacts and we hope that people take the time to come and see the museum behind the Balanga Elementary School which served as General Homma's headquarters during the Bataan siege.
Rosalie and I just finished cleaning and painting all but 11 of the 100 markers in the Province of Bataan including the one at the Layac memorial.
Thanks for all you do. All your posts are immensely interesting.

[Karl Welteke]

ROSALIE AND BOB HUDSON AT WORK, DEATH MARCH MARKER #68 AT LAYAC

This picture is from Bob Hudson’s Facebook page.

This is at Layac, “The First Line Of Defense of Bataan”, road work is going on right now!



X229

These are some comments so far at Bob’s Facebook entry:

Bob Hudson: Rosalie is a tireless worker in the cleaning and painting of the Death March markers. More so than I. One hundred of the 138 markers are now cleaned and painted.
She deserves a lot of credit.

Rosalie Bautista Serrano: It sooo damn hot, if i will move slow it will take longer under the sun, so better move double time.

Bob Hudson: Summer is here with the smothering humidity

N Shirlene Wheeler: Thank you so very much Rosalie!!

Rick Slater: You BOTH deserve a LOT of credit!!



X230. A picture of Death March Marker #68 at the Layac Intersection at the “First Line of Defense Memorial” on the 25 Dec. 2007.

PS: Death March Marker # 68 is sponsored by Federal Express. If you like to find out who sponsored the other Death March Markers click on this URL:
www.filipino-americanmemorials.org/markersbataan.html

PS2: Bob, just after I posted my reply about Rosalie and you doing your work of love, I seen your entry of 13 hours earlier. Thank you for your kind words but you Two deserve all the Praise, you Two are the Angels!

[Bob Hudson]

In 2013 I visited the Bataan Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lo and behold, there was one of the original plaques from the Death March Markers hanging on the wall. It was Marker # 11 which is located 1km north of Sisiman turn off which goes by the new GN power plant.
The original "Real Estate" type markers had to be replaced because of scrappers and relic hunters with the new more expensive Concrete markers.

[Karl Welteke]

The QUAN 2013-03 News Letter Reports on Death March Markers # 101 & # 102



W315, the QUAN 2013-03 News Letter Heading

philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/QuanNews/quan2000s/quan2010s/march_2013_quan.pdf

Is presented by the ADBC Memorial Society and the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor.

A shipmate sent me the above URL and I had a closer look. I seen a short paragraph about the Death March Markers and I thought I copy it and share it with our friends and make them aware of the great organization of the ADBC



W316 this is the Death March Marker #101 from the QUAN 2013-03 News Letter.

The description under the above image from the QUAN 2013-03 News Letter is copied below here:
KM 101 Marker (in the Philippines)
purchased by Col. Richard
McMahon, president of the Maywood
Bataan Day Organization (MBDO)
memorializing 580 men of the 192nd
tank Battalion who fought in the
Philippines.

MBDO purchased/ KM 102,
significant as it is in the fenced in
area at the newly renovated San
Fernando Train Station museum.
The train station was the end of the
long Death March. Col McMahon
sent us this picture and information.
He participated in the ceremony at
Capas. More information can be
found at www.mbdo.org



W317 close –up of part of the above image # W316

[Karl Welteke]

JAYAC JUNCTION, FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE MARKER, 38TH INF. DIV. MONUMENT, DEATH MARCH MARKER # 68. THE 38TH INF. DIV. REMEMBERS IT SOMETIME.

Here are 2 URLs from the 38th Inf. Div. Facebook pages:



W332 38th Div. Facebook; 38th ID Monument in the Philippines album; Photos from Steve Mitchell who saw this 38th Infantry Division monument at a roundabout in the Philippines. It's dedicated to the Cyclone Division, the Avengers of Bataan.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.889868204392404.1073741899.152461594799739&type=3



W333 2013 Bataan Memorial Death March from the 38th Inf. Div Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.512253262153902.1073741826.152461594799739&type=3


Many URLs cover this monument:

Corregidor Proboard, Layac Junction, 4 pages already, from Vic and Karl
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/703/layac-junction


Layac Junction from fots2 aka John Moffitt.
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/741/layac-junction-bataan

DMM #68, Layac Junction Monument, Photobucket. The First Line Defense Marker has been seen by many, anyone traveling to Bataan, Zambales or Subic Bay got to thru this intersection and passes this marker. But how many had a closer look? In 2007 I stopped by when I walked the Death March and posted these images
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Death%20March%20Markers%20Death%20Camps%20and%20Memorials/DMM%20No%2068%20Layac?sort=9&page=1


38th Div. Facebook; 38th ID Monument in the Philippines album; Photos from Steve Mitchell who saw this 38th Infantry Division monument at a roundabout in the Phillipines. It's dedicated to the Cyclone Division, the Avengers of Bataan.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.889868204392404.1073741899.152461594799739&type=3


2013 Bataan Memorial Death March from the 38th Inf. Div Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.512253262153902.1073741826.152461594799739&type=3

FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE MARKER (Rotunda, Layac, Dinalupihan), Phil Gov. says it was built by the 38th Inf. Div.
www.bataan.gov.ph/ragingpeninsula/firstline.html





First Walk to the Layac Battle Area.
Several friends of mine are interested in the First Line of Defense at Layac. I am planning to walk there several times. This was the 1st walk and was with my Army friend Chris. We drove to Culis, Hermosa and looked at the rice fields between the National Hwy and the Culo River from the new Hermosa Public Market. That will be another walk, that is were the Philippine Army 71st Div was manning the defense line. Then we parked at the entrance of the Hermosa Economic Industrial Park (HEIP). We basically walked the road along the north perimeter of HEIP towards the village Little Baguio and continued west to Bacong and then returned checking out the low ridge line running towards Layac which come from the Mt. Natib Volcano. This area was manned by the 31st Inf. US Army, 26th Cav. Philippine Scouts and the 23rd and 88th FA Philippine Scouts. We wanted to look for possible artillery positions that may have been used.
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/HEIP%20to%20Bacong%202010-06-15?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/nwujdlf


Second Walk in Layac!
On the 19th of June 2010 I did my 2nd walk in the Layac Battle area. My Army Buddy Chris was my partner again. This walk was in the area where the Tama River flows into the Colo River and I believe we were at or right behind the front line which the two Battalions of the 31st Inf. manned. We came across some spots that made us wonder whether they were Artillery impact holes. In the album above I recommend that you look close at the hill I labeled CP Hill. I think it was important for observation and placing artillery behind it.
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/to%20Colu%20Rv%202010-06-19?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/o574c4y


Third Walk in Layac, 21st June 2010 This walk had the purpose to look deeper into the rear for the possible Artillery Positions and to have a closer look at holes in the ground near the Culo River at Layac. Where they Carabao wallows or WWII artillery impact holes? John, fots2, had come to join in this effort. We had a good walk and considered several locations where the artillery positions might have been.
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/Around%20rear%20of%20Arty-Positions%202010-06-21?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/o7ybm8g


Fourth Walk in Layac, 2013-06-22
My friend John and I decided to scout out and get a picture of the area the Philippine 71st Div. defended. Basically this area was between the national Highway and the Culo River.
We walked a circle around the area where the 71st Division of the Philippine Army had their positions
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Walk%20in%20the%20Philippines/No%202%20Walk%20PI%20Group/Layac%20Project/71st%20PA%20Div%20area%202010-06-22?sort=9&page=1
or
tinyurl.com/ncoed2y


Here's a good background on the battle, lifted from the John Whitman book. Good for reference.

www.historynet.com/battle-of-bataan-brigadier-general-clyde-a-selleck-commands-the-layac-line.htm


This album is from the visit of Victor Verano and his friends to Bataan. We visited the Layac Defense Position of the 88th FA PS, the Mabatang MLR Marker, the Balanga Church, the Alangang River Last Defense Line Marker, the Gen. Wainwright Surrender Marker, the Death March Zero Marker in Mariveles and the Longos Kawayan Point Battle area. Most of the images have been upload with a high resolution.
s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/X%20for%20HR%20Albums/Bataan%20HR%20images/Bataan%20w%20Victor%202013-07-08?sort=9&page=1


The Death March Markers are a constant reminder to us in the Philippines of the tragedy of the defeat in the Philippines and the immeasurable sacrifices there by the Philippine and US Forces. There are 10 pages already.
corregidor.proboards.com/thread/813/death-march-markers


As I said Vic is a most energetic man, his first priority is his family and his job of course. Whenever he has time he is contributing to this bulletin board but he also participates on the Facebook Battle of Bataan page, is the secretary of the Philippine Scout association and has his own web page:

www.facebook.com/groups/bataanbattle/

www.philippine-scouts.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

pinoyhistory.proboards.com/

[Karl Welteke]

BATAAN DEATH MARCH MARKER KM67

DMM 67 was damaged and restored 2015.

Bataan Death March Marker (DMM) Km 67 is sponsored by the Asian Development Bank US Employees.



W342 (Z1) this picture of DMM 67 was shown on Nov 7 2015 in the Bataan WWII Museum Facebook page and this is the URL:

www.facebook.com/groups/179174439086633/179558092381601/?notif_t=group_activity_unconfirmed



W343 (Z2) this picture, upper portion, came original from this FAME webpage:

filipino-americanmemorials.org/road-work-destroys-death-march-markers/



W344 (Z3) is the lower portion of image W342 which original came from the Fame webpage and shows many links about the Bataan Death March Markers.

On the 19th Nov my friend Bob Hudson and his Bride wrote me this:
As you know, Rosalie and I have been doing this for three years. When I post photos of our work on the markers; it is to bring attention to the work we are doing, the work that needs yet to be done and the fact that FAME (Filipino American Memorial Endowment) who is tasked with their maintenance, needs donations to continue not only on their maintenance but also their work to replace markers due to destruction by road widening and vehicle strikes.

Recently marker #67 at the junction of the National Road and the Roman Highway was smashed and cast aside by a backhoe due to road widening. I came upon it and was saddened to see it cast aside like so much garbage. I posted a photo on my Facebook page and somehow it went viral.
Concerned citizen and Congressional representatives were calling the Department of Public Works and were questioning their methods dealing with these markers. I was interviewed by two TV stations which aired last week.
Today on the way to San Fernando on the bus, we passed by marker# 67 and it had been raised from the dead and looked brand new with a new base and freshly painted. If nothing else happens, it seems the Dept. of Public Works and they will use a little more restraint and caution next time they need to move a marker.

Thanks again for being a friend of FAME.

Bob

Here is a local News report about it:
www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/11/10/15/pinoys-urged-respect-bataan-death-march-markers

When Bob wrote me that, I drove there to look at the restored Death March Marker Km 67 and brought all the young people in my household for them to learn. We also had a closer look at the Layac First Line of Defense Monument.



W345 (Z4) because my friends Bob Hudson and his bride Rosalie reported the Death March Marker Km. 67 is restored on the 18th Nov. 2015 I decided to have a look. I took the young people in my household along. It is restored. Indeed it is restored and we are looking north. From this point it is about 1 km to the DMM 68 and the Layac First Line of Defense Monument.



W346 (Z5) I took the young people from my household along and show them some history, we are looking south and right, the Bataan Express way starts. Death March Marker Km. 67 is restored and this is a 21st Nov. 2015 image.



W347 (Z7) this is how the intersection of the Bataan Express Way, near Death March Marker (DMM) Km 67, at Culis in Layac Bataan looked like in Dec. 2007.



W348 (Z8) this is how the intersection of the Bataan Express Way, near Death March Marker (DMM) Km 67, at Culis in Layac Bataan looked like in Dec. 2007. Now we are looking north though.



W349 (Z9) this is a Dec 2007 image and DMM 67 was sponsored by the Asian Development Bank, US employees. If you look close at image Z6 (in the below album) you will notice that all dirt marks have been removed, was it you Bob or the department of Highways?

11 images with a larger size were uploaded into my Photobucket account and this album:

s74.photobucket.com/user/PI-Sailor/library/Death%20March%20Markers%20Death%20Camps%20and%20Memorials/DMM%20Updates/DMM%2067%20damaged%20and%20restored%202015?sort=9&page=1
Or
tinyurl.com/npe4g6y

[Bob Hudson]

Karl
Thanks for the excellent coverage of the markers. When #67 was destroyed and cast aside, I was only angry because there was no effort to dig beneath the base and put a chain or a strap beneath it and lift it out of the way. According to a trike driver who witnessed the roadwork, a backhoe slapped the base and broke it, and the obelisk which sits on the obelisk came loose. It was carried over to a wall and left there. The base was crushed into small pieces later.

The public outcry helped push the Dept. of Public works to quickly rebuild and replace the marker to its original condition. Not only this but in my opinion, any further necessity of moving a marker due to road widening, the Dept. of Public works will, in the future, use a little more restraint and caution with these markers when they need to be moved.

I understand that at least two Congressional representatives questioned the Dept. about their methods in moving these markers. The foreman was a bit combative when questioned by ABS-CBN Channel 2 news when I was there with them. I'm hoping that his attitude has changed.

[Karl Welteke]

FAME AND BOB HUDSON SEND.

Maintenance of the Death March Markers



W536 this picture was presented recently on the Bataan WWII Museum Facebook page and this is the URL for it with a big image:

www.facebook.com/groups/179174439086633/permalink/206328236371253/

Note:
Happy New Year to all.
Sorry, I have slowed down in my contributions lately. There are private causes but I can’t elaborate.