Thousands to reenact Bataan Death March in New Mexico desert

LOS ANGELES — Before dawn breaks over the high desert in New Mexico on March 21, thousands will gather as they brace for wind, heat and elevation. Some will shoulder 35-pound rucksacks. All will carry something heavier: remembrance.

The 37th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March returns to White Sands Missile Range on Saturday, March 21, 2026, continuing a tradition that has grown from a modest tribute into what organizers call the Army’s premier endurance event — “the must-run of all must-runs.”

Participants endure ‘Bataan Death March’ at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where the annual event has been held since 1992. Photo from war.gov

More than a marathon, the march honors American and Filipino troops who endured the original Bataan Death March, one of World War II’s most brutal episodes. The ordeal began after approximately 75,000 soldiers surrendered on April 9, 1942, on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines.

Death March

After four months of fighting with insufficient supplies, the troops were already weakened by hunger and disease. They were forced to march roughly 65 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando, transported by rail to Capas, then driven on another seven-mile trek to Camp O’Donnell.

Along the way, prisoners were denied food, water and medical care; many were beaten, shot or bayoneted without provocation. Nearly 10,000 men died during the march, with thousands more perishing in prisoner-of-war camps. The atrocities were later judged by an Allied military commission to be Japanese war crimes.

Five decades later

Nearly five decades later, in 1989, the Army ROTC Department at New Mexico State University established the memorial march to honor New Mexico’s “native sons” who served in the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery units and to ensure their sacrifices would not be forgotten. About 100 participants took part in the inaugural event. By 2017, participation had surpassed 6,300. As of 2024, nearly 10,000 marchers — active-duty military personnel, veterans and civilians from all 50 states and several countries — participate annually.

Since 1992, the event has been held at White Sands Missile Range. Participants choose between a full 26.2-mile marathon course and a 15.6-mile honorary route.

The terrain is unforgiving: rugged desert paths at elevations between 4,052 and 5,136 feet. Temperatures can range from 30 to 85 degrees, with winds reaching 50 mph. Completion times for the full distance vary from three to 14 hours, with an average of eight.

“It takes grit, determination, perseverance and strength to conquer this punishing desert course,” organizers say. “It’s a humbling and moving experience — a time to honor the heroes of Bataan and to pay our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

A living bridge between past and present

Participants often describe the march in deeply personal terms.

“Sunday morning was unforgettable, with the sun coming up, the flags waving, and surrounded by thousands of people who are proud to be Americans… people who knew just how important it is to say ‘thank you’ — by action not just words,” one marcher reflected.

Another called it “the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Never have I had to reach so deep inside my mind to accomplish something.”

A finisher of the full 26.2 miles wrote: “My thought over the last five miles was, when this is over, I can go home, unlike the thousands who died during the march and in the prison camps.”

For years, survivors of the original march attended the opening ceremonies, shaking hands with participants and sharing their stories — a living bridge between past and present. Among them was the late Col. Ben Skardon, who completed the memorial march 12 times before his death in 2021 at age 104. Their presence helped transform the event into what many describe as a “living history lesson.”

37th Bataan Memorial Death March

Several updates mark the upcoming 2026 march.

Organizers have introduced a modified route designed to enhance safety and improve medical and security response times. The new course promises rugged terrain, scenic vistas and no repeat laps. The honorary distance remains 15.6 miles.

In-person registration closes on March 2, 2026. Following the early-bird period, fees increased last January 1 to $175 for individuals and $800 for teams. Remote participants may complete the Virtual Bataan Memorial Death March between March 21 and March 28.

The event has also implemented stricter guidelines for rucksack donations. Participants are encouraged to carry nonperishable food items as weight for donation to food banks, but items must now be wrapped in clear tape rather than duct or electrical tape to be accepted.

Despite logistical updates, the essence of the march remains unchanged.

At its core, it is an act of remembrance played out across miles of desert. Each step echoes a far more harrowing journey that began in April 1942 — a march through blistering heat, starvation and violence that cost thousands of lives.

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