Heroes of Bataan
The New Mexico Story
More than fourteen hundred New Mexicans fought with the 200th Coast Artillery (CAC) Regiment defending the Philippines and the Bataan Peninsula at the beginning of World War II. The regiment received the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters for its heroic performance during the battle.
The War Department cited the 200th CAC as 'the best anti-aircraft regiment in the United States Army' before the war started. General Jonathan Wainwright, the 200th superior commander, credited the 200th CAC with being the first unit to fire on the enemy and the last organized unit still fighting at the time of its being surrendered.
After their ordered surrender in 1942, New Mexico had the highest per capita Japanese prisoner of war population in the Nation.
Foot Print Locations
The Bataan Death March Memorial Walkway
Veterans Park Las Cruces, New Mexico
This diagram identifies the barefoot impressions of 38 survivors of the Bataan Death March. The footprints were made by pressing rubber castings of the men's bare feet into the wet cement of the walkway. The names of these men are listed below.
[Numbers coincide with the numbers next to foot prints seen on diagram in photo #2]
1. David Tellez • 2. Cipriano B. Ramirez • 3. Cecil E. Mauldin • 4. Ruben Flores • 5. Jack H. Aldrich • 6. Thomas P. Foy • 7. Pablo P. Gutierrez • 8. Weldon C. Hamilton • 9. Menandro Parazo • 10. Clifford A. Martinez • 11. Julio T. Barela • 12. Ralph Rodriquez • 13. George F. King • 14. Felix M. Salas • 15. Charles F. James • 16. Lorenzo Y. Banegas • 17. David Johns • 18. Nicholas Chintas • 19. Y.C. Lindsay • 20. Melvin T. Waldrop • 21. Mario Tonelli • 22. Manuel A. Armijo • 23. Evans R. Garcia • 24. Harry E. Steen • 25. Carlos R. Montoya • 26. Virgil L. Aimes • 27. Benjamin F. Williams • 28. Fred M. Brewer • 29. Walter Straka • 30. Henry Peck • 31. Vicente R. Ojinaga • 32. David A. Chavez • 33. Robert J. Welch • 34. John Mosely • 35. Tony B. Montoya • 36. Timothy B. Smith • 37. Edras S. Montoya • 38. Alexander H. Mathews
Marker can be reached from North Roadrunner Parkway 1.8 miles south of U.S. 70.
Courtesy hmdb.org
