Mark Edward Brown's Blog

The journey began for 5 warriors on the 27th of March 08 (Thursday).  We boarded a white Ford van with all of our gear packed in the back and we headed for the Southwest.  My team of dedicated sojurners stopped in Witchita Falls, Texas to get a good nights sleep and then get back on the road to complete the trek to White Sands Missle Range, New Mexico where we will be participating in the Bataan Memorial Death March on 30 March 08 (Sunday).

The team is comprised of 4 men and 1 woman who have prepaired by putting in many hours at the gym, on the track and road marching for miles and miles in preparation of the 26 mile test of will and endurance.  Our team is competing in the co-ed, heavy division where we are required to carry a backpack with a minimum of 35 pounds of weight.

What inspires one to want to go through an experience like this,  We have been asked?  There are many reasons for each member of the team but the most common and motivating “reasons why” is because of our Pride, Patriotism, and one of the Army values of Selfless Service.  We not only march for ourselves, we do it for each other, those who can not and those of our brother warriors who were forced to endure the harship of the real Bataan Death March in the jungles of the Philipines so long ago.

I can not say for certain what the experience will be like but I look forward to reporting back on how it felt to finish this undertaking in a few days (it will take me at least that long to recover).

Allow me to close this entry with a quote that is fitting for this moment in time:

“Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity” – Oswald Chambers

In a similar manner and in reflection to the quote above, not every man or woman can carry a full load and march for 26 miles, the sudden elevation of the desert combined with to much pride can lead to the non-accomplishment of ones goal.  The true test is to survive the journey and experience the miles, one at a time which will lead to the success and prosperity of accomplishing the march.

I will follow up with the conclusion of our experience in a few days, thanks for reading and leave me a comment,

Mark Edward Brown – Warrior Leader