‘It Was An Incredible Life’: Walt Straka, Minnesota’s Last Bataan Death March Survivor, Dies At 101
CBS Minnesota
3 hrs ago
Syndicated Local – WCCO | CBS Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Minnesota’s last survivor of the Bataan Death March passed away on the Fourth of July.
Walt Straka was 101 years old. During World War II he was a member of the 194th Tank Battalion in the Philippines. After surrendering, Japanese soldiers beat the American POWs and forced them to march more than 60 miles in extreme heat and without food or water.
Walt’s son and a family friend talked about the legacy he leaves behind.