Award-winning Cadets
Representatives from the Department of Military Science and Leadership at Appalachian State University present a framed picture of the Three Sisters mountain range in White Sands, N.M., to Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock. Five cadets from the department’s ROTC program participated in the Bataan Memorial Death March held at White Sands Missile Range. The 26.2-mile march honors soldiers who were taken prisoner by the Japanese during World War II and forced to march 62 miles through the Philippine jungle to a prison camp. ROTC Participants in the memorial march wear their battle dress uniforms and carry a 35-pound rucksack. The team from Appalachian placed fifth in their competition category. “Around mile 18 when you think you can’t finish the march, there are 84- and 85-year-old veterans of Bataan there to shake your hand,” said graduating senior Jason Roberts. Pictured are Lt. Col. Doug Jett, Peacock, and cadets Jason Roberts, Robert Key, Vance Gonzales and Theodore Fyock. Eric Elsener, not pictured, also participated in the event. (Appalachian photo by University Photographer Mike Rominger)
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