Charles F Sanchez

Mr. Sanchez died on October 16, 2015. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on November 11, 1918 to Carlos and Felicita (Tafoya) Sanchez. Mr. Sanchez was a 1938 graduate of Albuquerque High School where he played on the basketball team. He attended the University of New Mexico. He joined the New Mexico National Guard and on August 10, 1941 his unit was sent to the Philippines as part of the 200th Coast Artillery, which had been assigned to Clark Field. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and within a few hours they attacked Clark Field. The US Army fought to defend the Bataan Peninsula for four months, but with food and ammunition gone, General Edward P. King surrendered. Mr. Sanchez, along with thousands of other prisoners, was forced to march to Camp O'Donnell as part of the infamous Bataan Death March. The prisoners had no food or water along the march and many died. Those who fell were executed. His cousin, Herman Tafoya, could no longer walk and fell. Mr. Sanchez helped him to his feet and the two walked together for the remainder of the march to Camp O'Donnell and then to the POW camp at Cabanatuan. Mr. Tafoya survived the imprisonment and returned to New Mexico where he later became a Spanish teacher for APS. In September of 1944, Mr. Sanchez was taken from the Philippines as a POW to work in Japanese mines. The POW's were forced into the hold of Japanese freighters where they were packed so tightly that they had to stand for the entire time. He and fellow POW Manuel Archuleta from Blanco, NM tied themselves together with their belts in order to keep from falling. The trip from Manila to Japan took about thirty days. These "Hell Ships" sailed from Manila to Hong Kong but had to retreat to port many times when American submarines were detected shortly after leaving port.
After World War II ended in August 1945, Mr. Sanchez was released from a POW camp and shortly thereafter boarded an American ship to begin the journey home. The trip took almost four months. In November 1945, they arrived by train in Lamy, NM and then took a short bus trip to the Bruns Hospital in Santa Fe to meet with their families and a return home. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his military service during WWII and was recognized by the House of Representatives on October 5, 2015 by entry into the U. S. Congressional Record. Soon thereafter he began his career with the US Post Office. He retired from the Post Office and lived quietly and peacefully in the North Valley.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary F. Lucero Sanchez and his parents Carlos and Felicita and his sisters: Lucy Gutierrez, Evangeline Delwiche and Lela C. de Baca. He is survived by his children and grandchildren: Bernie S. Sanchez and wife Juanita G. Sanchez and their children Derron L. Sanchez, Kerri Sanchez Yamashita and her husband Kibo Yamashita and their daughter Charlotte "Charlie" Yamashita; Charles E. Sanchez and his children Daniel Sanchez and wife Heather Woods and stepson Davin Woods; son Dennis Sanchez and daughter Nicole Aldrich-Baca; Sylvia Sanchez Wortzman and husband Paul and their daughter Melissa Wortzman Cloud; Paul A. Sanchez and wife Kae Sanchez and their children Keith Sanchez and his wife Abigail Dean Sanchez and their children Lorelei and A. J. Sanchez, stepson Marc Montoya and his wife Ledawn Montoya and their children Madison, Lane and Isaac, and their stepson Rick Montoya; Elaine Sanchez Fordice and husband CAPT Jim Fordice, USN, Ret., and their daughter Michelle Fordice and her husband Thomas Furlong; David Sanchez and his son Travis Gudelj. Mr. Sanchez is also survived by his sisters Cecilia Chavez, Eloisa Salas and his brother Fernando Sanchez and his wife Virginia and many nieces and nephews. The family thanks the staff of the Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque for the help and attention they gave to our father and family.
Friends may call from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at FRENCH-University. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at 3424 4th Street NW, (4th & Mildred), Albuquerque, NM. Burial with military honors by the United States Army will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith Blvd, Albuquerque. FRENCH-University.

FRENCH - University
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