WREATH LAYING CEREMONY, APRIL 9th 2019
10:00am at the brainerd armory
Each year we commemorate the Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan on April 9th. This year we mark the 75th Anniversary. Mr. Walter Straka, the last surviving member of the Brainerd 34th Tank Company as it began, and A Company 194th Tank Battalion after federalization, will lay the wreath while Taps is played. The names of those who were killed in combat or captivity will be read as their dog tags are hung on the barrel of the M3 Stuart tank.
We'd like to thank everyone who helps us remember this important date. American Legion Post 255 and Womens Auxillary, VFW Post 1647, the DAV, the 194th Regiment, and especially Mr. Straka: Thank you!
We'd like to thank everyone who helps us remember this important date. American Legion Post 255 and Womens Auxillary, VFW Post 1647, the DAV, the 194th Regiment, and especially Mr. Straka: Thank you!
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND
For questions, contact Captain Thomas Reynolds at 651-268-8114.
34th Tank Company History
On February 10, 1941 Brainerd’s 34th Tank Company, Minnesota National Guard, commanded by Ernest B. Miller, was Federalized and ordered to Fort Lewis, Washington for training. At Fort Lewis, the 34th Tank Company was combined with units from St. Joseph, Missouri and Salinas, California and redesignated as the 194th Tank Battalion. Major Miller was appointed the battalion commander.
The 194th Tank Battalion, less Company B, was ordered to reinforce the Philippine Islands arriving in Manila on September 26th, 1941. The 194th was the first Tank unit in the Far East prior to WWII. In August 1941, Company B had been reassigned to the Alaskan Defense Command. This was the first Armored unit sent outside the Continental United States.
The 194th Tank Battalion was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg near Clark Field on the Island of Luzon, where they trained until the outbreak of the war on December 7, 1941. After the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese, the Battalion was crucial to the beleaguered defense of Luzon and the Bataan Peninsula. The 194th held vital positions throughout the Island’s defense until the fall of Bataan, on April 9, 1942, when ordered to surrender by General King. For their outstanding performance of duty in action, the 194th Tank Battalion was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations.
Following the surrender, the weakened and diseased defenders, including men of the 194th Tank Battalion, were ordered on the infamous Bataan Death March by their Japanese captors. The Death March began marching northward April 10th, 1942 from Southern Bataan and terminated April 13, 1942 at Camp O’Donnell. The 194th prisoners were marched along with other prisoners from near Mariveles to San Fernando, then they were packed into rail cars and moved to Capas and ended with a march to Camp O’Donnell. The prisoners, without food or water, with extreme cruelty and atrocities dealt by the Japanese, marched a total of over 60 miles. Nearly 10,000 troops died, both American and Filipino.
From Camp O’Donnell, where hundreds died, many prisoners were sent to other camps in the Philippines. Designated POW’s included men from the 194th, who were eventually packed into the holds of unmarked transports known as “Hell Ships” and were moved to labor camps in Japan. Many of these unmarked POW “Hell Ships” en route to Japan were sunk unknowingly by the U.S. Navy, killing many POW’s.
Of the original 82 Officers and men of the 34th Tank Company who left Brainerd, 64 accompanied the 194th overseas to the Philippines. One man was wounded and evacuated, two to OCS, three killed in action, 29 died as POW’s and 29 survived captivity.
Of the original 64 National Guardsmen, only 32 survived to return to Brainerd after the end of WWII.
The 194th Tank Battalion, less Company B, was ordered to reinforce the Philippine Islands arriving in Manila on September 26th, 1941. The 194th was the first Tank unit in the Far East prior to WWII. In August 1941, Company B had been reassigned to the Alaskan Defense Command. This was the first Armored unit sent outside the Continental United States.
The 194th Tank Battalion was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg near Clark Field on the Island of Luzon, where they trained until the outbreak of the war on December 7, 1941. After the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese, the Battalion was crucial to the beleaguered defense of Luzon and the Bataan Peninsula. The 194th held vital positions throughout the Island’s defense until the fall of Bataan, on April 9, 1942, when ordered to surrender by General King. For their outstanding performance of duty in action, the 194th Tank Battalion was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations.
Following the surrender, the weakened and diseased defenders, including men of the 194th Tank Battalion, were ordered on the infamous Bataan Death March by their Japanese captors. The Death March began marching northward April 10th, 1942 from Southern Bataan and terminated April 13, 1942 at Camp O’Donnell. The 194th prisoners were marched along with other prisoners from near Mariveles to San Fernando, then they were packed into rail cars and moved to Capas and ended with a march to Camp O’Donnell. The prisoners, without food or water, with extreme cruelty and atrocities dealt by the Japanese, marched a total of over 60 miles. Nearly 10,000 troops died, both American and Filipino.
From Camp O’Donnell, where hundreds died, many prisoners were sent to other camps in the Philippines. Designated POW’s included men from the 194th, who were eventually packed into the holds of unmarked transports known as “Hell Ships” and were moved to labor camps in Japan. Many of these unmarked POW “Hell Ships” en route to Japan were sunk unknowingly by the U.S. Navy, killing many POW’s.
Of the original 82 Officers and men of the 34th Tank Company who left Brainerd, 64 accompanied the 194th overseas to the Philippines. One man was wounded and evacuated, two to OCS, three killed in action, 29 died as POW’s and 29 survived captivity.
Of the original 64 National Guardsmen, only 32 survived to return to Brainerd after the end of WWII.