Upper St. Clair father-daughter complete Bataan memorial marathon
Juliette Hirzel of Upper St. Clair was among one of the youngest to complete the Bataan Memorial Death March marathon held in New Mexico.
Juliette Hirzel of Upper St. Clair is shown at the finish line of the Bataan Memorial Death March marathon held in New Mexico. At age 11, she was one of the youngest participants to complete the 26.2-mile race
What began as a fun father-daughter activity turned into a lifetime memory for Ed and Juliette Hirzel of Upper St. Clair.
The pair completed the 2023 Bataan memorial Death March held last month at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The annual endurance race is a 26.2-mile marathon held in the high desert with an elevation ascent of over 2,000 feet.
Held live for the first time since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event attracted nearly 5,000 competitors from across the nation. Many were active-duty and reserve militia personnel.
While Juliette is an 11-year-old fifth-grade student at Boyce Middle School, Ed is a veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry Branch. He completed the march in the heavy division, which required him to carry a minimum 35-pound rucksack.
“The race tests the will of any soldier,” he said, “but to see my daughter training and completing this event without complaint made me immensely proud.
“Although I could see Juliette wiping away quiet tears from underneath her sunglasses starting at mile marker 22, she never wavered.”
Juliette often joined her dad at the USC recreation center for early morning workouts but upped the ante in late December. Knowing she had to work much harder to prepare for the event, she began training every Saturday morning since Christmas along the Montour and Panhandle Trails.
Most of her hikes started before 4:30 a.m. with one long trek starting at 2:30. She also completed an overnight hike starting at 9 in the evening and ending in the wee hours of the morning.
Although she was able to simulate the hills of New Mexico with the hills of Allegheny County, she was not able to replicate the terrain of White Sands. The duo said that while most South Hills residents were happy about the lack of snow this winter, they would have liked it to help simulate the sand.
Additionally, Juliette trained in sub-freezing temperatures, so a silver lining was her water tube did not freeze during the actual event. Temperatures on race day were over 30 degrees warmer than training conditions in Pittsburgh.
Due to its sandy terrain and endless climbs through nearby Mineral Hill and in the desert air, the march is considered one of the most challenging courses in the country. According to Men’s Health magazine, the march is the toughest race in America and requires pure perseverance.
The march commemorates one of the darkest events in United States military history.
During World War II, over 60,000 American and Filipino soldiers surrendered after the three-month Battle of Bataan. The Japanese army forced the POWs to march more than 65 miles in the scorching heat though the Philippine jungles.
Many of the soldiers who were unable to complete the march were summarily executed and left on the side of the road. Between 500 and 650 American soldiers were killed during the Bataan Death March. Those who survived faced years of hardships at prisoner of war camps.
In all, of the approximately 22,000 Americans captured by Japanese forces on the Bataan Peninsula, only about 15,000 returned to the United States, a death rate of more than 30%.
The last survivor of the Bataan Death March was retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Paul Kerchum. He died in January just short of his 103rd birthday.
Present at this year’s march was former POW Valdemar De Herrera, 103. The Hirzels were able to meet him at the opening ceremony.
De Herrera avoided the death march after the surrender at the Battle of Bataan by retreating to the island of Corregidor. He continued to battle before being captured by the Japanese three months later. He spent the next three years and seven months in a POW camp in Manchuria. De Herrera, a New Mexico resident, is believed to be the last surviving member from the Battle of Bataan.
During the opening ceremony, the White Sands Missile Range commander, Brig. Gen. Eric Little, invigorated the participants.
“While you’re marching through the high desert this morning, likely into the afternoon, remember those who were forced to participate in a very different march 81 years ago, many to the death,” he said. “When your feet hurt, knees, hips, whatever the body part, think about them. Use that as fuel to reinforce your remembrance of these great heroes. We, everyone marching, really are privileged with the opportunity to honor sacrifice today.”
Both of the Hirzels were moved by their participation in the event.
“Both of us will remember this for the rest of our lives,” Ed said.
“This was more than just a marathon,” Juliette said. “The race, the desert view, the heroes, and the history behind it made for an amazing event. It’s something I would absolutely consider doing again.”