(SANTA FE, NM)— Bataan Death March Survivor Max Casaus was laid to rest with full military honors on Friday, June 17th, at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
The former U.S. Army Sergeant passed away on June 16th in his birthplace of Albuquerque. He was 95 years old.
Casaus was one of the 1,800 members of the legendary 200th/515th Coast Artillery Units of the New Mexico National Guard who were pressed into military service when Japan attacked the Philippines on December 8, 1942—just ten hours after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7th. The guardsmen were in the Philippines on what was supposed to be a year-long anti-aircraft training exercise.
On April 9th, 1942, the 200th and 515th Unit members along with nearly 75,000 other U.S. and Filipino soldiers were ordered by Allied Command to surrender. The Japanese captors then forced their captives to march 50-miles to prison camps. Thousands died along the way due to starvation, dehydration, or physical torture by their captors. Thousands more died from equally brutal treatment after reaching their destination camps.
And thousands, like Casaus, were sent to Japan to work in brutal conditions and long hours at steel mills and factories. According to the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico, Casaus labored for Seitetsu Steel (later known as Nippon Steel, and today known as Nittetsu) in all areas supporting the steel mill: unloading cargo and ore ships, in the machine shops and blast furnaces, clearing slag, and as a stevedore on the docks.
Casaus was eventually liberated and rescued one month after Japan surrendered to the United States on August 15th, 1945—having spent 3 ½ years in captivity. Less than half of the 1,800 captured New Mexicans were alive at the end of the war. There are only 62 survivors alive today—32 of whom live in New Mexico.
“We have lost a true hero today,” said New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale, who during the burial service presented a State Flag and Condolence Letter from Governor Susana Martinez to Casaus’ wife of 67 years, Carmen. “Though we may never fully comprehend the horrors suffered by our Bataan Death March Survivors, they will always be remembered for this heroism and sacrifice in the name of freedom for Americans and much of Asia.”
The death of Max Casaus leaves only 62 survivors of the 200th/515th Coast Artillery Unit forced to make the Bataan Death March. 32 of these survivors live in New Mexico.
In addition to his widow Carmen, Casaus is survived by a brother, a sister, a daughter, ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
The cremated remains of former U.S. Army Sergeant and Bataan Death March Survivor Max Casaus are escorted to the Committal Shelter at the Santa Fe National Cemetery the U.S. Army Funeral Team.
New Mexico National Guard Adjutant General Kenny Montoya presents the American Flag used in the Flag-Fold portion of the Burial Ceremony to Max Casaus’ widow Carmen.
New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services Cabinet Secretary Timothy Hale presents a State Flag which was flown on the grounds of the Capitol in honor of Sgt. Casaus.