436th SFS to hold 10th Annual Ruck March

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
  • 436 AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 436th Security Forces Squadron will hold its 10th annual Ruck March Feb. 21 at 9 a.m., starting at the Air Mobility Command Museum.

Four-person teams can compete in the 10-kilometer march with each team member carrying a 30 pound rucksack on their back.

"The Ruck March is held to honor the veterans of the Korean War who fought in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir," said Staff Sgt. Craig Stott, 436th SFS Raven and Ruck March coordinator. "They call Korea the forgotten war, so it's great to be able to do something to honor the veterans who fought so hard there." 

During the battle of Chosin Reservoir, Army Lt. Gen. Edward M. "Ned" Almond led the X Corps, which consisted of approximately 20,000 Army and Marine troops, against 120,000 Chinese troops. 

This battle resulted in 15,000 American casualties. Nearly 2,500 were killed in action, 5,000 were wounded in action, and 7,500 suffered severe frostbite and cold injuries.
The enemy forces endured crippling losses with 40,000 killed and the X Corps wounded thousands more. The American forces fought their way back into action a month later, while seven of the 10 Communist Chinese Forces divisions never entered combat again during the Korean War. 

"The soldiers fought through foreign land with little or no food carrying heavy rucksacks on their back the whole time while being outnumbered nearly six to one," said Staff Sgt. Raphael Simmons, 436th SFS Raven and a Ruck March coordinator. "To be able to help honor them and just remind everyone of the dangers they faced for our freedoms makes me proud."

Teams must register and pay by Feb. 9. The registration fee is $50 per team, late registration will be accepted with an increased fee of $70 per team.

To enter a four-person team and receive a full list of rules, please contact Sergeant Stott or Sergeant Simmons by calling 677-6314 or by e-mail at Craig.Stott@dover.af.mil or Raphael.Simmons2@dover.af.mil.