Goodfellow service members compete in Bataan Memorial Death March Published June 22, 2017 By 2nd Lt. Joshua Foley 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- March 19, 2017, a team of six Goodfellow service members completed a Bataan Memorial Death March, a grueling competition, 26 miles in length at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, under extreme conditions of dry heat measuring at 91 degrees Fahrenheit. In full battle dress uniform the Goodfellow competitors completed the course with nothing less than bruises, open wounds and other injuries. Like the scars on their skin, the challenges they all faced brought forth the memories that will last a life time. “Looking across our team, we definitely have some spots where we are hurting...There’s some times where you want to quit, but being able to have that person next to you saying, ‘Come on, let’s pick it up, let’s go,’” said Army Sgt. 1st Class David Fillbrandt, 344th Military Intelligence Battalion instructor. “It’s definitely difficult to look inside yourself, and remind yourself why you’re doing it.” The team of Air Force and Army competitors share the same feelings on the subject, not only to each other, but to the people of the past who marched before them in World War II, whereupon thousands of soldiers marched to prisoner camps and suffered cruel treatment while nearly 10,000 died along the way. “Just remembering why we are out there, the people that did it for real,” said Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Rose, 344th MI BN instructor. “They had to march 65 plus miles with malaria and various other diseases without boots, without socks … we’re doing it with boots, with water.” As the fellowship regales memories of other competitors, some of whom wear prosthetics they confess their admiration for the historicity and cultural significance of the event. “It’s the historical aspect that brought me to it,” said Army Staff Sgt. Shannon Corona, 344th MI BN administrator and came in 44th place out of 3673 finishing competitors. Their friendship unfailing, their trust in each other unwavering the six competitors implore the rest of Goodfellow to compete next year. “I think it’s something everybody should experience at least once,” said Master Sgt. Russel Unger, 316th Training Squadron first sergeant.