Warren’s third-annual Chosin Reservoir Commemorative March honors veterans Published Dec. 10, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson 90th Space Wing Public Affairs F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo. -- Warren members participated in the third-annual Chosin Reservoir Commemorative March here Nov. 30. Airmen in teams of four wore ruck sacks weighed with 30-pound bags of sand and marched or ran six miles around the base in the cold honoring the men who, 57 years ago, were involved in the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. More than 25,000 Marines, Soldiers and allied forces were surrounded and outnumbered by Chinese soldiers 10 to one when they battled 78 miles to safety in sub-arctic weather Nov. 27 to Dec. 11, 1950 through the Chosin Reservoir. Eighteen Medals of Honor, 70 Navy Crosses and many Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to the men of the campaign, the most for a single battle in U.S. military history. Before the march, participants gathered in the base theater to listen to the guest speaker, former Marine Sgt. Arthur Bunn, a veteran of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. Mr. Bunn talked about the negative 25 degree temperature and negative 50 degree wind chill that lasted throughout the battle. He said the cold was so intense that exposed skin froze almost immediately, rations were frozen solid and wounds didn't bleed because the blood froze on the bandages. Fires were not possible due to the enemy completely surrounding them. Weapons malfunctioned, and frostbite caused many casualties. Their diet consisted of partially thawed rations and Tootsie Rolls which at times were the only edible food source. The Tootsie Rolls are a symbol of their shared trial and victory, Mr. Bunn said. And they are still shared today when the Chosin Reservoir Campaign survivors get together. Col. David Martinez, 90th Security Forces Group commander, also addressed the participants before the march and thanked Mr. Bunn and retired Marine Col. E. L. Meeker, a veteran of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, for their service. "Today as we go through this march, it is important for us to remember the efforts and the actions that were taken by the people before us," Colonel Martinez said. "Thank you for your actions, thank you for allowing us to enjoy our freedoms and to be the force we are today." The rules of engagement for the march included: beginning and ending with the 30-pound rucks; running, walking or crawling the six-mile course; no one was to receive food or water from anyone outside their team; and to be eligible for a first- through third- place award, the four-person team had to finish together. There were representatives from nearly every group on base, a team from the Guard and ROTC teams of cadets from the University of Colorado and Wyoming who finished the march.