The New Mexico Military Museum is proud to present our Annual Bataan Commemoration Exhibition, The Long Way Home: The Identification of Private First-Class Thomas Vernon “Louie” Long
- Laureta Huit
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Opening Reception: April 9, 2025 at 9am
Location: The Bataan Building 407 Galisteo St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Featuring an exhibition discussion by Curator Aaron Krebsbach at the New Mexico Military Museum on April 9, 2025 at 1PM
This year marks the 83rd Commemoration of the forced surrender and fall of Bataan, as well as the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Bataan’s Veterans and Prisoners of War.
Each year, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, we honor the Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan by creating an exhibit that highlights the story of a New Mexican Bataan Veteran and Prisoner of War.
Our goal is to spotlight narratives that embody the enduring New Mexican spirit of service and patriotism. These exhibitions offer us the unique opportunity to connect with these individuals on a more personal level. We collaborate closely with their families to learn about who they were beyond their military service—how they were seen by their families, friends, and loved ones—and strive to share their humanity with our audience.
This year, we are particularly honored to share the deeply moving story of Private First-Class Thomas Vernon “Louie” Long. Chosen for his strong ties to New Mexico, his narrative is further enriched by the work of the Defense Accounting Agency, which ultimately brought Vernon home. His story is a poignant reflection of sacrifice, resilience, and the commitment to never forget those who served.
Private First-Class Thomas Vernon “Louie” Long was born in Portales, New Mexico on January 21, 1915, the second of six children and only boy. PFC Long went by his middle name and grew up dotting on his youngest sister Billy Jean and playing football. He graduated from Portales High School in 1933 and went on to study and play for three different colleges including New Mexico A&M now New Mexico State, going by Louie his final year to circumvent the four-year limit playing at the university level. He graduated from college in 1939 with a degree in agriculture. Vernon was drafted into the National Guard on March 9, 1941with 24 others from Portales and were sent to the National Guard Armory for processing and then to Fort Bliss, Texas for training. PFC Long was part of Battery E, 200th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) when the 200th was deployed to the Philippines. The last time he saw his family was in Albuquerque when the 200th made their way through enroute to the Philippines.
Arriving in late September, early October 1941, PFC Long and the rest of the 200th were stationed at Fort Stoltenberg and assigned the defense of Clark Field. PFC Long wrote home describing the friendliness of the local Filipino people, the weather, the price of cigarettes and beer, life in the military, and ensuring that the money orders he was sending home were getting there. December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and other U.S. Military instillations across the Pacific. The 200th was put on high alert at 3 AM December 8 and became the first U.S. Regiment to shoot down a Japanese Plane during a raid on Clark Field. As the Defense of the Philippines started, PFC Long was among the 500 enlisted men transferred to the 515th Coast Artillery, becoming part of Battery B. He fought with the 515th till they were surrendered on April 9, 1942, at Bataan. PFC Long endured the atrocity of the Bataan Death March and survived reaching Cabanatuan Prison Camp. He survived until he caught Cerebral Malaria and succumbed to it on August 28, 1942. He was buried in a mass grave at Cabanatuan. His family received notice of his passing in April 1943.
1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Comments