Another Hero Gone

[Pistolero]

Another one of our nation's heroes has gone home to his glory. God bless Elias and Chester........

A survivor of the Bataan Death March died at his home on Wednesday at the age of 96.
Elias Saavedra of San Rafael, New Mexico, served with the New Mexico National Guard's 200th Coast Artillery Regiment in the Philippines during World War II. He was transferred with other American prisoners of war on the Bataan Death March. He was the last surviving member within Cibola County.

A rosary service will be held on Friday and a burial service with full military honors will take place on Saturday in San Rafael.

Pistolero

 

[Bob Wright]

In addition, he must have been one of the last members of the old Coast Artillery.

His story, and other similar stories, need to be told and retold, time and time again!

Bob Wright

 

[gramps]

RIP Elias.
gramps

 

[exavid]

A good family friend, Ray Demeres, was a Bataan survivor. He spent three years literally slaving in a Japanese copper mine as a POW. If he were still alive he'd be the first to deny being a hero, he always said he was a survivor, not a hero. I consider myself lucky and honored to have been an Army/Air Force brat to have known the caliber of men who fought in both theaters of war in WWII. It wasn't until they began to disappear that I really could appreciate the men I'd looked up to in my youth. I was indeed lucky to have some of the best role models you could have asked for.

 

[WendyZXZ]

RIP...

 

[mayra22]

Ohh!!

 

[ajw65]

RIP, my mothers oldest brother was a Bataan survivor also. We sure do miss him.

 

[smoke-eater]

It wasn't until they began to disappear that I really could appreciate the men I'd looked up to in my youth. I was indeed lucky to have some of the best role models you could have asked for.

Amen to that, brother. For many years, my Dad was active in the local VFW post (#633), including Post Commander in the 1970's. I had the great good fortune to spend a lot of time there with the members, most of whom were WW II vets. It saddens me that they have all passed on, and Post #633 has long been disbanded, but the memories of those heroes, all very humble about their roles in the war, will stay with me until I'm gone.