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Thursday, October 22, 2009

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March markers point to sacrifices of area people

By MIKE O'ROURKE

Associate Editor

The ordeals of the Bataan Death March and the valor of its survivors were more than just history lessons for Stewart C. Mills Jr. A few of those former POWs who were lucky enough to return home became classmates with him at Brainerd Junior College.

"They came back and went to school," Mills recalled of the early, post-World War II years. "They were classmates. They should have been bitter as hell but they weren't. They were heroes but they didn't really act like heroes."

Mills, 81, has long admired the Bataan veterans and his visit to the Philippines peninsula and the route of the brutal march spurred him to arrange for three concrete kilometer markers to be erected to commemorate Brainerd's connection to that infamous journey.

"We didn't do anything," he said of the markers that bear the names of the 194th Tank Battalion; Col. Ernie B. Miller, the battalion commander; and Hortense McKay, a nurse who was able to get out before U.S. forces surrendered. Instead, Mills pointed out if not for the struggles of World War II's heroes, the U.S. might not be the land of the free.

This marker along the Bataan Death March route was installed in memory of the 194th Battalion.

Mills made the trip to the Philippines with his daughter, Marisa Mills. They noticed markers along the Bataan Death March route for other survivors and the absence of any for the Brainerd participants. When they returned home they starting making arrangements to erect three markers noting the valor of Brainerd's Bataan veterans.

"Freedom's not free," Mills said. "A lot of people made sacrifices."

Mills described McKay as a "gritty girl" who served as a nurse during World War II. Walt Straka, one of Brainerd's few surviving march survivors, described McKay as dedicated.

Both men knew and respected Col. Ernie B. Miller, commander of the 194th Battalion of the Army National Guard.

"I've never seen a braver guy in my life," Straka said. "He wouldn't ask you to do do anything he wouldn't do."

Miller lived next door to the Mills family in north Brainerd and Mills remembered him as all business.

"He was a military guy ... very much in command," Mills said. "This guy's genuine."

Mills said he had read many books about World War II and the Philippines, but his visit there made his impressions much more vivid.

The installment of the markers for the 194th Battalion, McKay and Miller were appreciated by Straka.

"They're good people," Straka said of the Mills family. "I think it's a nice gesture. They'll be there forever."

MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.

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