Frank
N. Lovato - MSGT. USAF
Two Bataan
Death March Survivors From NM Interred With Full Honors
Two Native New Mexicans who survived the horrors of the Bataan Death March and the ensuing imprisonment in Japanese POW camps have passed away. Frank Lovato passed away April 20th,2010 in Albuquerque. He was 89 years old and a member of the 200th Coast Artillery Unit assigned to provide anti-aircraft defense of Luzon in the Philippines during the initial stages of World War II.
Claude A. Hatch passed away April 23rd in his hometown of Fruitland in the Four Corners area. Hatch was 97-years old and was also a member of the 200thCoast Artillery Unit. Both men were buried with full military honors; Lovato at the Santa Fe National Cemetery and Hatch in the family plot at the Fruitland-Kirtland Cemetery. Of the 1,800 200th/515th Unit members ordered to surrender to the Japanese by U.S. Military leaders,
less than 900 survived the ordeal. Only 73 are alive today, including 40 in New Mexico.Photo: Frank N. Lovato is laid to rest at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. 2010 (L to R): USPS Regional Govenor Mickey Barnett, Santa Fe Mayor David Coss,
USPS Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy Marie Dominguez, and NMDVS Cabinet Secretary John GarciaFrank N. Lovato - MSGT. USAF
Frank Lovato died April 20, 2010 at the Albuquerque (NM) VA Medical Center. Lovato was born in Albuquerque, NM, October 31, 1921, to WWII Army veteran Atanacio Lovato and Anita Sanchez. He was named after his famous great uncle, Congressman Francisco Perea who was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. Frank joined the New Mexico National Guard while in high school and received training at Fort Bliss, Texas prior to being activated in January 1941. His unit was designated the 200th Coast Artillery and was shipped to Fort Stotsenberg/Clark Air Field, Philippine Islands in September 1941 to shore up the joint American/Filipino forces of General Douglas MacArthur. He was among the very first Americans to engage the Japanese land invasion forces on the beach at Lingayen Gulf. He and his American/Filipino, 27 man mechanized-artillery, halftrack battery sunk over 30 Japanese landing craft and later destroyed four enemy tanks before they were ordered to surrender and endure the infamous Bataan Death March, POW camps, “Hell Ships,” and “Slave Camps”. While in a POW camp near Nagasaki, Japan, he also witnessed the flash and sound of the last bomb dropped in WWII. Frank returned home, received his promised field promotion, started a family, and served his country that had liberated him. He was among the first Army Sergeants to join the newly formed Air Force, fulfilling his promise to see that the conditions that led to the fall of the Philippines would never happen again. Frank lived in his home in Albuquerque for 60 years, helping others less fortunate than himself, surrounded by great grandchildren and enjoying local sports and veteran events.
He is survived by children Francisco Lovato, Marie Lovato, Debbie Humphreys, Patrick Lovato; 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren,
including Disney acting and singing star Demi Lovato.SURVIVOR Msgt. Frank N. Lovato
Dad died of complications following a freak accident that occurred ironically on April 9th 2010 - Bataan Day! He was struck by two sliding automatic doors at the USAF Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base. The irony continues as the parent company of the door manufacturer is Sanwa Corporation, Japan! The mechanical failure of a faulty sensor in the door frame prevented the door from "seeing" him in the door opening. The impact of the two doors closing was sufficient enough to fracture his shoulder and hip. He died of complications 11 days later at the VA hospital in Albuquerque.
Msgt. Frank Lovato was proudly in his Air Force uniform when the accident happened. Earlier that day at the State Capital in Santa Fe, he had made an emotional presentation to a group of veterans and civilians about the Death March, Bataan and the POW camps. He played God Bless America on his harmonica for the last time (on this earth) to an appreciative audience. It was 68 years to the day that he had incurred multiple wounds from a Japanese made mortar round during the retreat to the tip of Bataan - you could still see dark fragments in his left leg that were never removed.
Frank was a man of service to his family, countrymen, and peace..he lived it every hour of his life in compassionate deed and action. He had no animosity toward the Japanese people. Remember in the latter chapters of his book how he reached out to the Japanese children and civilians who came to the camp following the Nagasaki bomb that ended the war? He always encouraged talking through a problem before fighting but if you must defend your family and country, then do so with a strong military and leadership.
To all my former customers and readers, I offer additional limited 1st edition books to you at a discount price of $15.00. I can ship direct for Christmas. Contact me direct via email for the discount. My website cart can only do orders at full price. I will sign them to whom ever you choose.
God Bless you and your family and God Bless America.
Respectfully,
Francisco
Francisco L. Lovato
Del Oro Press
18313 Starduster Dr.
Nevada City, CA 95959
530-615-9202
<francisco@franciscolovato.com>
www.Survivorbook.com