Before Bataan: New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery

When:
November 1, 2014 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
2014-11-01T10:00:00-06:00
2014-11-01T16:00:00-06:00
Where:
The Raton Museum
108 South 2nd Street
Raton, NM 87740
USA
Cost:
Free
Contact:
The Raton Museum
575-445-8979

BBefore Bataan: New Mexicoefore Bataan: New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery

An outreach exhibit at The Raton Museum

Santa Fe—In August 1940, talk of war swirled around Camp Luna near Las Vegas, N.M. The 1,800 men of New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery Regiment gathered there to train one last time on home soil before heading to the Philippines. A photographer was there, capturing images of youth and dedication, young men unaware of the ordeals they would soon face.

On Nov. 1 through Nov. 22, the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives will mount a special exhibition at The Raton Museum featuring 10 of those images. The exhibit represents a collaboration between the museum and the New Mexico History Museum’s Palace of the Governors Photo Archives. Before Bataan: New Mexico’s 200th Coast Artillery is open for viewing between 10am and 4pm; Wed. through Sat.; The Raton Museum is located at 108 South Second St., in Raton’s historic district.

As part of the exhibit, the Museum will be displaying the Annual Wall of Hero’s Exhibit;

honoring area Veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces.  The Raton Museum will also join the Raton Parks & Recreation Board by hosting a reception following the dedication of the new Veteran’s Park on Nov. 11, 2014.

The 200th Coast Artillery held 1,816 New Mexicans, many of them fluent in Spanish. That skill inspired military leaders to deploy them to the Philippines in September 1941, before the war began. Along with Filipino troops, they were defending the Bataan peninsula when it fell to the Japanese military in April 1942. During the Bataan Death March and their subsequent imprisonment, 829 men from the regiment died or were missing. A third of the survivors died within a year from injuries or disease.

“For some time I have wanted to exhibit or show the behind-the-scenes photographs of the 200th Coast Artillery in Las Vegas before going into action,” said Daniel Kosharek, photo curator at the History Museum. “We all know the story of Bataan. These photographs show the young men of New Mexico before they are sent into that horrendous situation. Many of them did not come back.”

The Raton Museum is honored and delighted to have been selected to display this series of photographs; which are part of the New Mexico Magazine Collection; collaborating with the New Mexico History Museum and the Palace of the Governor’s Photo Archives allows the Raton Museum to present to the public a rare aspect of New Mexican history.

For information contact:  The Raton Museum