No conditions in war are ideal or even favorable. Even if you take out the unfortunate nature of the violence associated with the battlefield, there are weather conditions, diseases, and any number of potentially fatal inconveniences lurking around the corner. Those who served as a part of Merrill’s Marauders during World War II knew these experiences all too well. The thousands of troops who volunteered for service would soon find themselves in the mountains and jungles of Southeast Asia where the enemy was only one of many perils capable of taking you out. Suggested read: Alwyn Cashe Earned MOH By Sacrificing Himself to Save Others

Merrill’s Marauders Overcame Enemies and Disease In the Harshest Conditions

The 5307th Composite Unit became known as Merrill's Marauders. A group of nearly 3,000 Soldiers undertaking a covert mission in Japanese-held Burma, now known as Myanmar. Enduring brutal conditions while marching over 1,000 miles, the Soldiers conducted raids, ambushes, and reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines. While overwhelming forces from Imperial Japan would be enough of a problem, Merrill's Marauders were also facing disease and treacherous weather. The unit also covered more ground marching than any other in WWII. Trained in India by British Chindits, the unit achieved notable successes under Brigadier General Frank D. Merrill. Defeating the superior Japanese 18th Division in five major battles and numerous engagements, they navigated dense jungles, rugged mountains, and rivers. Despite heavy losses, the unit played a pivotal role in the Allied push through Burma, securing the crucial Myitkyina Airfield. Brigadier Gen. Frank D. Merrill commanded the unit, emphasizing speed and lightweight equipment due to the covert nature of the mission. Another key to what made life so difficult for Merrill’s Marauders was that the fighting didn’t have the support other units had. The dense jungles and mountainous areas cut them off from others. A troubling proposition for any battle, especially those facing a powerful enemy, monsoon, malaria, and dysentery. Being cut off meant that those in need of medical care would simply have to keep fighting forward. Throughout the months of fighting, heavy casualties would continue to rise. By the time the 5307th Composite Unit disbanded in August 1944, there were only 130 to 200 Soldiers the Army would deem effective on the battlefield. Merrill’s Marauders faced impossible odds and nightmarish conditions. Nonetheless, they were able to help liberate Burma from an occupation from Imperial Japan. Their exploits were not alone, but their role did help allies China and India reconnect.

Immortalized Through Film and Congress

The accomplishments of the unit would inspire literature and film. In 1962, Merrill's Marauders was based on Charlton Ogburn Jr.’s book, The Marauders. The box office success was written by Samuel Fuller, a Veteran of WWII. Filming the movie in the Philippines, the cast of Merrill's Marauders would include Jeff Chandler, Ty Hardin, Peter Brown, Andrew Duggan, and Will Hutchins. This came after Ogburn Jr. wrote a poem about his experience in the unit as a Communications Officer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehV6phpy-N8 Those with a Merrill’s Marauders patch are the predecessors to the 75th Ranger Regiment. Their successes not only helped win the war but helped change warfare as we know it. Those who fought in the China-Burma-Indian Theater as a part of the 5307th Composite Unit would receive the Congressional Gold Medal in 2020, though some would receive this honor at a later date. Additionally, every member also earned a Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation. Related read: Operation Allies Refuge Airmen Finally Awarded For Kabul Airlift

How Many Merrill’s Marauders Survived?

When the mission was complete, just over 1,300 Soldiers would be left standing. Of these, no more than 200 of Merrill’s Marauders were combat-capable. Men from a variety of ethnicities came together to fight like hell in unimaginable conditions to overcome Imperial Japan. As of this writing, the remaining Soldiers that were a part of the Merrill Marauders members list have passed away. This came to be after Private First Class Russell Hamler passed on December 26, 2023, in a Veterans hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hamler was 99 years old and the last known living member since December 2022, when Gabriel Kinney died at the age of 101. Understanding the worst in man (because of his time in Merril’s Marauders), Hamler called for peace and to outlaw war during the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony. Read next: Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) Persists Despite Setbacks