By Davy Crockett 
Both a podcast and a full article

During the World War II period in 1940s, ultradistance races in America totally disappeared. Many of the talented runners turned in their leather running shoes for leather boots and served their country in war. But as servicemen, there were many endurance activities that took place both on the bases and on the battle field.

A “forced march” is a relatively fast march over a distance carrying a load. It was a common military exercise during the war. These marches were fast hikes with full military gear. Their history can be traced back to Roman legions who were required to march 18.4 miles carrying 45 pounds in 12 hours.

Incredible marches occurred in times of war covering ultradistances. Most have been forgotten. There were very many that can be found for those who want to search the pages of history. A few noteworthy marches from 1941-45 are covered in this article to illustrate the toughness and determination of servicemen who put their lives on hold to defend freedom.

Infantries liked to keep marching records. In 1916 two companies from the 4th Missouri Infantry marched a distance of 45 miles in 15 hours during the Mexican Border War. The march broke all known marching records for US troops.

The Japanese Forced March

In 1942 as World War II was raging and less than a year since that Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, an article was published in Reader’s Digest sharing a story of an amazing Japanese Forced march that was part of their training. The Japanese claimed that one of their army units had set a new marching record. It got the attention of US servicemen who were training for battle.

The Japanese march occurred prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. An American observer marched with the Japanese company and wrote the fascinating article. The observer explained that each man carried a firearm, 150 rounds of ammunition and a 40-pound pack. The march commenced in a driving rain at 3 a.m. “Roads turned into quagmires, rifles, packs, clothing, shoes were water-soaked. All morning, all afternoon and half of the night the regiment slogged on.”

By midnight the troops had marched 31 miles. They halted for a half hour to eat and adjust packs. By 8 p.m. the next evening the regiment had marched another 30 miles. Before they could eat, they were required to dig a 600-yard of trench. “As each squad completed its section, they gulped a helping of rice, then fell asleep in the trench.”

After only four hours’ sleep the men were ordered to make a forced march back to their barracks. Up to this point they had marched 61 miles in 40 hours with only five hour’s rest. “Once again the regiment took to the road in the darkness before dawn. The march continued all day in a broiling sun. The river of packs moved forward. Hour after hour the long serpent of weary men struggled through the darkness. There were two 20-minute halts that night. After rice balls at 6 a.m. we went on in the dogged silence of iron determination.”

At noon as they approached the finish, an order came to double-time. This group had marched 122 miles in 72 hours with only four hours of sleep. The weary column broke into a painful ragged trot. The gates of the barracks finally came into sight. The observer wrote, “They were home. The forced march, which no other army in the world could have endured, was completed.” The Japanese colonel explained about conducting the final mile in double-time. “Tired men can always march just one more mile to take another enemy position. This is the only way to prove it to them.” One man who collapsed during the double-time later died in a hospital.
The Paratrooper 155-mile March
Colonel Robert F. Sink (1905-1965), commanding officer over the 506th U.S. Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division, wanted to conduct a "toughening practice” and felt his men could do better than the Japanese. The Regiment was located at a paratrooper training sc...