By The Associated Press
SANTA FE — Vicente Ojinaga, a New Mexico native who survived World War II’s infamous Bataan Death March, has died. He was 95.
Family members said Ojinaga died Monday at his Santa Fe home.
Santa Fe Mayor David Coss said in a statement that Ojinaga was a hero and a patriot.
Born in Santa Rita, Ojinaga enlisted in the military a few years after graduating high school and was sent to the Philippines.
He became one of 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers, including 1,800 New Mexicans, who were taken captive by the Japanese when the U.S. forces surrendered in the province of Bataan and Corregidor Island in April 1942.
Recent Comments