Sierra Vista, Arizona (KGUN) — There’s a surprising history behind the veterans who just died in Benson. Paul Kerchum died shortly before his 103rd birthday. He lived a long life of service after surviving the infamous Bataan Death March of World War II.
Veterans Cemetery near Fort Huachuca It’s where the Army and Air Force came together to honor one of the oldest veterans who survived one of the deadliest parts of World War II and had a long military career.
Motorcycle escorts, A-10 flyovers, Air Force and Army honor guards
We pay tribute to the extraordinary life and achievements of retired Air Force Colonel Paul Karcham.
Kelchum is believed to be the last American soldier to endure the war. Bataan Death March during World War IIWhen the Japanese occupied the island of the Philippines, the army was already weakened and starving after four months of enemy deprivation of food and medical supplies.
The Japanese marched 13,000 American and 63,000 Filipino soldiers 65 miles to the POW camp. Anyone who stops will be killed.
The Army estimates that between 7,000 and 10,000 soldiers died in the march.
Surviving armies were forced into slave labor and were sometimes transported to other locations by ship.
Jeremy Gypton was teaching history at Vail when Paul Curcham visited and shared the difficult history he lived.
“My students always ask him, ‘Why do you think you survived?
The Air Force recorded Kerchum describing how the Japanese later put him and many others on ships bound for labor camps.
“We spent 18 horrible days and nights driving around the South China Sea, chased by American submarines,” Khachum said.
After Kerchum was released, he re-enlisted, this time in the Army Air Corps (which later became the Air Force). There he was promoted to Sergeant Major before leaving the Air Force to build a life in Cochise County.
Steve Chavez was one of the American Legion motorcycle riders who had the honor of escorting Paul Kerchum’s hearse.
He said, “He was just a nice person. I mean, he was just a precious person. You meet once in a lifetime. And he was that kind of person. Once you meet him, you’ll never forget it.” is not.”
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