MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Capt. Rodolfo Jacobo, a native of Los Angeles, California, and assigned to the Wasp-class multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), traveled to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, March 19-21 to honor the fallen heroes of the Bataan Death March.
Jacobo graduated from Hollywood High School in 1990 and joined the Navy 35 years ago. Today, Jacobo serves as the commanding officer of USS Bataan in Norfolk, Virginia.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted a different life than anybody else that I knew,” Jacobo said. “I wanted to take on a job that would give me a challenge and also provide me with job security. I love my job because it brings pride and honor to my family. The Navy gives me purpose, and it allows me to serve the American People.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Los Angeles.
“My high school football coach taught me to be resilient and to be a part of a team,” Jacobo said. “Both of these traits have served me well in the Navy.”
During the three-day namesake visit, the Sailors connected with the local community and paid their respects to the service members who endured one of World War II's most harrowing events. The visit provided a powerful opportunity for the community to engage with their U.S. Navy and witness firsthand the professionalism and commitment of its Sailors.
The cornerstone of the visit was the crew's participation in the 37th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March on March 21. Sailors either ran or hiked the 15.6-mile honorary route across the challenging high desert terrain of the missile range. Other events included visits to local schools and meetings with descendants of Bataan survivors.
The USS Bataan memorializes the valiant resistance of American and Filipino troops on the Bataan Peninsula who, after a brutal three-month battle defined by severe shortages and rampant disease, surrendered on April 9, 1942. The surrender led to the infamous Bataan Death March, where approximately 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners were forced on a torturous 65-mile march to prison camps.
The Bataan’s primary mission is to land, train, and deploy a Marine Landing Force during sustained joint amphibious combat operations. The warship is crewed with Sailors and Marines to support a wide range of joint maritime operations, including humanitarian disaster relief and evacuation missions.
For more information about USS Bataan, visit the ship’s official U.S. Navy page at https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/LHD5/.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Jacobo has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is being commissioned in the United States Navy,” Jacobo said.
Jacobo serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“The Navy gives me purpose, it gives me status, it has educated me, and it changed the lives of my children for the better,” Jacobo said. “I'm a kid from the streets of Los Angeles, and my economic and social status never stood as a barrier to achieving success in the United States Navy,” Jacobo said. I came in as an E-1, and I am now a captain in the United States Navy!
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/