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Ruckin' to Remember

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Public Affairs
More than 170 Airmen, soldiers and Marines strapped on 30-pound rucksacks and ran a 6.2-mile course for the 12th Annual Ruck March, organized by the 436th Security Forces Squadron, beginning at the Air Mobility Command museum here Feb. 26, 2011.

The march commemorates the "Chosin Few", or the troops who fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, which took place Nov. 27 to Dec. 13, 1950, during the Korean War. Approximately 20,000 soldiers and Marines comprising Army Lt. Gen Edward Almond's X Corps took on more than 120,000 Chinese troops in the historic battle. The X Corps suffered approximately 15,000 casualties while inflicting more than 40,000 casualties to the attacking force. Both sides endured harsh winter weather that claimed thousands of lives from frostbite and other cold-related injuries.

"[The ruck march] is a great event," said Master Sgt. Russ Michaud, 436 SFS Raven program manager who helped coordinate the event. "It helped me more accurately understand the sacrifices made by those who came before me."

The participants were organized in teams of four and assisted each other throughout the course.

"I was glad to see Airmen helping one another out there," said Sergeant Michaud. "It's important to get strength from your wingmen."

The team of Tech. Sgt. Paul Schuster, 436th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation supervisor and Senior Airman Ethan Jensen, Airman 1st Class Dustin Carlton and Airman 1st Class Marcus Lopez, all 436th APS air transportation specialists, placed first in the Ruck March with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes, 45 seconds.