26th annual bataan memorial death march

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Dorothy Ridenour
  • 355th Medical Support Squadron
WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. --  On 22 March 2015, six members of the Diagnostic Flight from the 355th Medical Support Squadron participated in the 26th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March at the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range.

"The march tested our endurance as well as filled us with pride and understanding for the sacrifices of those who went before us," said 1st Lt. Dorothy Ridenour, 355th MDSS diagnostic flight deputy commander.

All members of the Desert Lightning Team finished together. A 355th MDSS coin was submitted for display in the White Sands Museum to show unit participation and pride.

5,600 people participated in this year's march.

"It was an honor and a privilege to experience only a fraction of pain and exhaustion of those that in the Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Marines experienced," Ridenour said.

The memorial march pays tribute to the bravery, heroism and sacrifice of those who defended Luzon, Corregidor and harbor defense forts of the Philippines in 1942 during World War II.