New Mexico National Guard Role

Many people ask why New Mexico is seemingly more invested in the events commemorating the recognition of Bataan in the Pacific Theatre in WWII than other states.  The “New Mexico Brigade,” the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery regiments of the New Mexico National Guard, was the first to fire on the Japanese on December 9 just after Pearl Harbor was attacked. During the conflict, New Mexico suffered the highest per-capita casualty rate of any other state in the U.S., as 900 of the 1800 men who were deployed did not return home. The 2000th and 515th are remembered all across the state, with New Mexico holding a high concentration of memorials and events dedicated to the Bataan Death March compared to the rest of the United States, largely because of the heavy involvement of the New Mexico National Guard in the 1942 tragedy.

The New Mexico Brigade was comprised of 1800 soldiers from virtually every county in New Mexico (which numbered 31 at the time of World War II). The commitment was deeply personal to families all across New Mexico, and the impact of the devastating losses that resulted still remains with New Mexican families over the generations.

Of the1800 Guardsmen that were deployed to the Philippines in 1941, nearly 900 did not survive the war, having endured the Bataan Death March and Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.  The impact was profound, with the state suffering the highest per-capita casualty rate of any U.S. state during World War II, primarily due to losses on Bataan.  After the war, nearly one-third of those that made it home died from complications due to war time injuries, diseases such as malaria and dysentery contracted while prisoners, and malnutrition.

Some of the soldiers were brothers, some were cousins, and the loss of family members had a profound impact on families and communities. The impact on families was so concentrated that some small communities, such as Jarales, reportedly lost nearly every young man in that age group to the war and the subsequent Bataan Death March.

Examples of brothers and cousins in the Bataan conflict include brothers Ramon and Macedonia Leyba from Penasco; brothers Elias and Joe Griego from Albuquerque; uncles Juan and Pepe Baldonado from Tularosa; brothers from San Felipe Pueblo Macedonio and Jose Duran; Paul Schurtz and his brother-in-law Gerald Greeman from Deming; three brothers from Albuquerque: Atenacio, Frank, and Willie Phillips; brothers-in-law Mel Waldrop and Y.C. Lindsay from Tularosa and Alamgordo; Evans Garcia and two cousins Abel Escalante and Damacio Espalin from Dona Ana; and brothers Ben and Horacio Montoya from Taos, among others.

The 200th and 515th were courageous in battle. The 200th is credited with being the “First to Fire” on the Japanese in the Pacific Theater on December 8, 1941 when Clark Field was attacked. On April 7th, 1942, just days before the surrender, the 200th and 515th were re-organized as the Philippine Provisional Coast Artillery Brigade (AA). They were ordered to destroy their anti-aircraft equipment and organize as an infantry unit with the mission of defending Cabcaben Airfield. They stood alone as the last line of defense against the invading Japanese, the only organized unit remaining on April 9th.

Known for their bravery, the unit was praised by General Wainwright as a "Valiant Brigade".  Wainwright attended an event in Deming, New Mexico on December 11, 1945, praising the men of the 200th and Deming’s Colonel Gurdon Sage who led the 200th/515th in Bataan. During his speech, as reported by the Deming Headlight on December 14, 1945, he said:

“The men of the 200th were the first land troops of the United States forces in action in this war. They were the spearhead outfit of our war. They were stationed adjacent to Clark Field, near Fort Stotsenberg, in the Province of Pampanga, and were engaged in action from first to last—even as infantry on Bataan at the very last.

“I was standing in Fort Stotsenberg the morning of December 8th and saw the great cloud of Jap bombers come over the mountain and head directly for Clark Field. As I listened to the deafening crash of heavy bombs being dropped on Clark Field, I immediately heard the sharp crack of anti-aircraft guns and knew that Sage's guns were at work…that the 200thwas alert and on the job. And they took a toll of the Jap bombers even against the overwhelming and disastrous odds being thrown against us.

“The men of the 200th were inspired by a high sense of duty; gallant, intrepid, and heroic. None of them were more so than their Colonel, a citizen of Deming, whose gallantry, intrepidity and heroism were unsurpassed—your own Gurdon Sage.

Submitted by Margaret Garcia, daughter of Death March survivor Evans Garcia