Julio Talamantes Barela, born in San Ysidro, NM, served with the 200^th Coast Artillery of the New Mexico National Guard during WWII. He was among the first from Dona Ana County drafted into the Army and endured the infamous Bataan Death March, where thousands perished. Despite suffering from malaria and dysentery, Barela survived harsh conditions in Japanese POW camps, including a hellish journey to Niigata, Japan. Liberated in 1945, he returned to the U.S., receiving numerous military honors. His story and memorabilia have been showcased in various exhibitions and media, emphasizing the importance of remembering those who fought and died in Bataan. Barela, the last survivor of the 21 Dona Ana County men in the Death March, celebrated his 100^th birthday in 2016, proud of his service and dedicated to honoring his fellow soldiers.

Major (Retired) Chester K. Britt Sr. La Crosse, WI

Logan High School Class of 1934

West Point Class of 1940

World War II – 92nd Coastal Artillery; 301 Field Artillery, Philippine Scouts

Fought against and captured by the Japanese – December 1941 – April 1942

Survived Bataan Death March – April 1942

Survived 6 prisoner of war (POW) camps in Philippines, Japan and Manchuria

Camp O’Donnell; Cabanatuan; Davao; Bilibid; Fukuoka#3; Hotan #1

Survived 3 Hell Ships: Oryoku Maru and Enoura Maru (both sunk by U.S. Navy air attack); Brazil Maru

Rescued August 16, 1945 by Overseas Secret Service (OSS); later renamed to CIA

John A. Conner, retired from the U.S. Army as a Master Sergeant. 

Born on 6/13/1920 in Artesia, NM

Passed away on 12/21/1976 in Artesia NM

John survived not only the Bataan Death March, but also the trip from Camp O'Donnell in the Philippines to mainland Japan where he was held as a POW for the remainder of WWII. He then re-enlisted and fought in the Korean War.

John was a member of at least two American Ex-POW groups, both in NM and in California, where the family lived for almost 10 years.

He married Blanche Fesler on 4/21/1955 and together they raised 2 children, Jon and Mary.

Military Service and Legacy

Evangelisto "Evans" Ramirez Garcia was a native New Mexican, born in Doña Ana in 1913, whose early life was characterized by the community agricultural practices of his home village and a move north to Hot Springs (now T or C) where he graduated high school and began attending New Mexico A&M (NMSU). His name was shortened to Evans in the first grade due to his teacher's difficulty pronouncing Evangelisto. Inspired by a deep-rooted military tradition—his grandfather served under Kit Carson—Evans registered for the draft in 1940 and soon after joined the New Mexico National Guard's 200th Coast Artillery. This unit, comprising 1,800 New Mexicans, was deployed to the Philippines, where Evans served at Fort Stotsenburg near Clark Field. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 200th became one of the first units to engage the Japanese during the assault on Clark Field, with Evans later joining the newly formed 515th to help defend Manila.

Allied forces, including the New Mexican units, the 200th and 515th, fought heroically for nearly five months. The New Mexicans fought as infantry as the last line of defense at Mount Samat. Despite Evans's assertion that they were "ready to fight to the last man," the 75,000-strong force of Americans, Allies, and Filipinos, was surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. This surrender marked the beginning of the infamous Bataan Death March, which Evans survived. He was held captive in the Camp O'Donnell and Cabanatuan POW camps before being loaded onto a "hell ship," the Clyde Maru, in August 1943. Evans and 66 other New Mexicans were shipped to Fukuoka Camp 17 in Omuta, Japan, where they were forced into brutal slave labor in the condemned coal mines for approximately two and a half years until the war's end in August 1945.

After his liberation, Evans was returned to Manila for care before being transported back to the U.S. and eventually discharged on May 27, 1946. Out of the 1,800 New Mexicans who deployed, only 900 returned home. Evans and other Bataan survivors were recognized for their valor with 17 medals, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Settling in Santa Fe, he dedicated his time to ensuring the sacrifices made were never forgotten. He actively served fellow veterans through the VFW and helped establish the ceremony in Santa Fe honoring the Bataan Surrender. Evans's commitment to remembering the experience continued until 2010, and his main mission was to keep the memory of Bataan alive. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 97 and was laid to rest with full military honors.

Staff Sergeant Jack Spratt Lewis (1920–1984) was born in Walters, Oklahoma, and raised in California before his family settled near Deming, New Mexico. A farm boy who excelled in 4-H, FFA, and athletics, he later attended New Mexico A&M (now NMSU) studying animal husbandry and playing basketball. Jack joined the New Mexico National Guard in 1939 and entered active Army service on January 6, 1941, becoming part of the 200th Coast Artillery. Deployed to the Philippines in 1941, he survived the opening attacks on Clark Field before being pushed with American and Filipino forces onto the Bataan Peninsula in early 1942.

Captured after weeks of evasion, Jack endured the Bataan Death March and brutal imprisonment in multiple POW camps. He survived starvation, disease, forced labor in the Philippines, and later transport to Japan aboard the Clyde Maru. At Fukuoka POW Camp #17, he worked in the Mitsui coal mines and suffered severe injuries when a mine tunnel collapsed—injuries that required repeated surgeries and left permanent damage. Jack survived years of extreme deprivation until liberation in September 1945, returning home with profound physical and emotional scars, yet carrying himself with quiet resilience.

In 1946 Jack married Marjorie “Marjie” Thompson Dodd of Deming, adopting her daughter Katie and together raising three more children—Pat, Liz, and Paul. Though he rarely spoke of his wartime experiences, Marjie carefully preserved his accounts, letters, and records, safeguarding his story for future generations. Despite chronic pain, heart disease, and lasting effects of captivity, Jack lived a full life marked by devotion to family and community. He passed away on a fishing trip at age 63. His valor and sacrifice are honored through numerous military decorations, including the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the POW Medal, and the Filipino Veterans Congressional Gold Medal—testament to a life of extraordinary endurance, courage, and service.

Land of Enchantment Beginnings

Lobos ipsum dolor sit amet, Hatch chile vitae adobada consectetur. Sopapilla elementum enchilada, posole viverra carne adovada. Green over red? Siempre.

Family, Tradition & Mesa Winds

Pueblo spirit, roadrunner pace — tamales steaming by winter’s first snow. Tumbleweeds roll, cottonwoods whisper, and sunrises over Organ Peaks remind us that home is not a place; it is a heartbeat.

Marching On

Boots dusty, purpose steady — like a freight train rolling through the Jornada del Muerto. Courage hotter than fresh-roasted chile, patience longer than a summer monsoon.

Still We Stand

Red or green, old or young — one family, one memory, one promise: Nunca olvidamos. We remember. Always.

A Legacy of Resilience: World War II Service Hailing from a humble community in New Mexico, Oscar Otero began his service to the United States Army in the National Guard with some of the artillery training that took place on Fort Bliss. Following the outbreak of war with Japan in 1941, his unit, 200th Coastal Artillery was quickly deployed to the Philippines. After fierce fighting, he was captured, beginning a terrifying four-year ordeal as a prisoner of war. He survived the horrors of the 65 mile Bataan Death March, the sinking of the prison ship, Oryoku Maru, and was subsequently forced into slave labor in Japanese coal mines. During this extreme period of suffering, he served as a medic to aid his fellow soldiers and, remarkably, managed to learn fluent Japanese, a skill that became crucial to his survival and future service. Camp Fukuoka #17, his prison base, was about 20 miles from the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb blast which led to the war’s conclusion. When the war ended in 1945, Oscar  returned to American soil carrying the immense and painful memory of his captivity and the sadness of losing countless comrades. His remarkable resilience and acquired language skills led to his post-war role as a translator and aide during the subsequent Japanese War Crimes trials. His service—from the jungles of the Philippines and the darkness of the coal mines to his work ensuring justice after the conflict—is a testament to his courage, compassion, and the enduring strength of a survivor. In the months ahead, he transitioned into the Army Air Corp (Air Force) as a Sergeant but had to endure continued hospital care due to the possible effects of radiation contamination.

He was blessed to survive only 5 more years to marry Evangelina Anita Cuellar and together bring in a family of 3, Betty Anne Bartolo, Carol Frances and son, Oscar Jr..  Oscar passed away from cancer complications on Easter Sunday, March 25, 1951 only 3 months before his son Oscar was born. His loving thoughtfulness even extended to his wish to be laid to rest in Albuquerque rather than Santa Fe National Cemetery to be closer to his family. His legacy will live on with the greatest love, honor and inspiration any father, veteran and New Mexican could leave for his family.