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FORT HUACHUCA - In preparation for Bataan Memorial Death March later this month, the Boy Scouts of America Catalina Council's Troop 431 hoofed along post for about 22 miles Saturday morning.
Eleven of the troop's scouts participated in Saturday's training. Troop 431 has participated in the Bataan memorial march for seven years now, but seven years is longer than the stipulated Boy Scout tenure.
For example, Jake Oliver, an Eagle Scout, has marched in White Sands for four years, he said.
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The 26-mile memorial march has been annually staged in New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range since 1989, in remembrance of the 1942 Bataan Death March in the Philippine jungles.
The U.S. Army ROTC at New Mexico State University began sponsoring the tradition in 1989, and the White Sands range and New Mexico National Guard joined in sponsorship when the memorial march was relocated to White Sands in 1992.
The March 20 memorial march is a marathon in length - 26.2 miles long, said Master Sgt. Matthew J. Miller, scoutmaster of Troop 431 scoutmaster.
That's why Saturday's training was needed, and the scouts were glad the cool breeze was air conditioning their path.
The course at White Sands is dusty and hilly, and the elevation ranges from 4,100 to 5,300 feet.
"Most of them are military, and different types of organizations," Miller said regarding participants in the memorial march later this month.
The Bataan Memorial Death March Web site, www.bataanmarch.com, on Saturday tallied 2,400 participants registered for the coming event. The online registration has been extended through March 13, according to the Web site.
Miller said the Troop 431 has participated in the Bataan memorial for so many years because of its hands-on educational value.
"It's tangible. It's not like reading out of a history book," he said. "It kind of proves to the boys that they can do just about anything."
He said hiking all day, in this age of home video game systems, seems to build character and lend a sense of real victory.
On Saturday, the scouts gathered at Fort Huachuca Youth Center, and set afoot about 6:45 a.m.
"Down around the Aerostat, along Buffalo Soldier Trail, and then back to the main fence," Miller said as they made their way up a dirt road.
The troop meets weekly at the fort, which provides the scouts with many merit badge endeavors.
Today, they will be at Libby Army Airfield working on the Aviation Merit Badge, and in April they will work on the Shotgun Merit Badge at the fort's skeet range.
Senior Patrol Leader Daniel Rich is ready to bust some clay pigeons.
"My dad got me a .20-gauge for Christmas," he said.
Rich, a 13-year-old, also said he has already reached the rank of Life Scout.
"I'm trying to get my Eagle (rank) before I'm 14," he said.
REPORTER Gentry Braswell can be reached at 515-4680.
Patty wrote on Jan 18, 2009 10:40 PM: