The 2024 Bataan Memorial Death In White Sands

April 11, 2024

On April 9th, 1942 the imperial Japanese forcibly marched 10,000 U.S. and 60,000 Filipino Troops to POW camps. Only 6 Clemson Alumni survived the march. Brigadier General Ben Skardon, Clemson Class of 1938, was the last living member of this group of 6 brave Alumni, before his passing on November 15th, 2021 at the age of 104.

Each year Clemson Students participate in the Clemson 8 fundraiser which sends students from Clemson to represent at the Bataan Memorial Death March located at White Sands Missile Range. The Bataan Memorial Death March is a living memorial dedicated to remembering and honoring the participants and survivors of the Bataan Death March, one of the most notorious war crimes in history. For the 2024 Bataan Memorial Death March, Clemson sent two teams: The Clemson Rangers, who rucked the event and the first All female team who ran the marathon. Two individuals, Tyler Ballenger from Army ROTC and Austin Jameson from Air Force, rucked the marathon event as well.

The Results: 
The Clemson Rangers, consisting of: Carter Campell, Giorgio Caporaletti, Colman Scanlan, Luke Scanlan, and Wilson Monroe, came in 2nd in the ROTC Team Heavy division!  The first all-female team from Clemson, Alexa Gubanich, Janna Gubanich, Tate Lewis, Caroline Yell, and Erin Sweeney, came in 1st in the Team Civilian Female Light Division; however, there were no other all-female teams who competed against them. While they paved the way in their division, if placed in the Team ROTC Light Division, they would have finished 3rd against the mostly all-male teams!  As for the two individual ROTC members who competed, Tyler Ballenger came in 2nd, and Austin Jameson came in 12th in the ROTC Individual Heavy Division. 

Overall, the experience was a great opportunity for Clemson students to band together, recognize the history, and dedicate their countless hours of training to honor those in the Bataan Death March.  Thank you to John Seketa, the Clemson 8 fundraiser, and all who helped fund and support the students to be able to represent Clemson as well as a special thank you to Cheryl, Brian, and Ben’s Brigade for hosting and sharing the memories of POW Col. Ben Skardon and those who endured.