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The FReeper Foxhole Revisits Merrill's Marauders - March 25th, 2005
www.marauder.org ^
Posted on 03/24/2005 9:46:40 PM PST by snippy_about_it
Lord,
Keep our Troops forever in Your care
Give them victory over the enemy...
Grant them a safe and swift return...
Bless those who mourn the lost. .
FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.
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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues
Where Duty, Honor and Country are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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The FReeper Foxhole Revisits
MERRILL'S MARAUDERS Code Name: "GALAHAD"
In August 1943 at the "Quebec Conference", President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and other allied leaders decided that an American Long Range Penetration Mission behind the Japanese Lines in Burma was needed to destroy the Japanese supply lines and communications and to play havoc with the enemy forces while an attempt was made to reopen the much needed Burma Road.
Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill Commanding General, 5307th Composite Unit(Provisional)
President Roosevelt issued a Presidential call for volunteers for "A Dangerous and Hazardous Mission". The call was answered by approximately 3,000 American soldiers. The volunteers came from State side units, from the jungles of Panama and Trinidad they came, from the campaigns of Guadalcanal, New Guinea, New Georgia they came, to answer the call, some battle scarred, some new to the ways of war, each different but with one thing in common.
They Answered The Call.
The Unit was officially designated as the "5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)" Code Name: "GALAHAD", later it became popularly known as "MERRILL'S MARAUDERS" named after its leader, Brigadier General Frank Merrill. Formed into six combat teams (400 per team),color-coded Red, White, Blue, Green, Orange and Khaki, two teams to a Battalion, the rest formed the H.Q. and Air Transport Commands.
After preliminary training operations were undertaken in great secrecy in the jungles of Central India, the Marauders began the long march up the Ledo Road and over the outlying ranges of the Himalayan Mountains into Burma. The Marauders with no tanks or heavy artillery to support them, walked over 1,000 miles through extremely dense and almost impenetrable jungles and came out with glory.
In Five major (WALAWBUM, SHADUZUP, INKANGAHTAWNG, NHPUM GA, & MYITKYINA)and thirty minor engagements, they defeated the veteran soldiers of the Japanese 18th Division (Conquerors of Singapore and Malaya) who vastly outnumbered the Marauders. Always moving to the rear of the main forces of the Japanese the Marauders completely disrupted the enemy supply and communication lines, and climaxed their behind the lines operations with the capture of Myitkyina Airfield, the only all-weather airfield in Northern Burma.
The attack on Myitkyina was the climax to four months of marching and combat in the Burma jungles. No other American force except the First Marine Division, which took and held Guadalcanal for four months, has had as much uninterrupted jungle fighting service as Merrill's Marauders.
But no other American force anywhere had marched as far, fought as continuously or had to display such endurance, as the swift-moving, hard-hitting foot soldiers, of Merrill's Marauders
Men and animals of Merrills Marauders predecessors to todays U.S. Army Rangerscross the Tanai River on a bamboo bridge built by Kachin tribesmen, 1944.
When the Marauders attacked Myitkyina they had behind them over 800 miles of marching over jungle and mountain roads and tracks. They had to carry all their equipment and supplies on their backs and on the backs of pack mules. Re-supplied by air drops the Marauders often had to make a clearing in the thick jungle to receive the supplies.
Every wounded Marauder was evacuated, an extraordinary feat in itself. Each wounded Marauder had to be carried on a makeshift stretcher (usually made from bamboo and field jackets or shirts) by his comrades until an evacuation point was reached. These evacuation points where mostly small jungle village's, where the Marauders would then have to hack out a landing strip for the small Piper Cub Evac. Planes. The brave sergeant-pilots of the air-rescue unit would then land and take off in these very hazardous conditions, removing every seriously wounded Marauder one at a time. The small planes, stripped of all equipment except a compass, had room for the pilot and one stretcher.
At the end of their campaign all remaining Marauders still in action were evacuated to hospitals suffering from tropical diseases, exhaustion, and malnutrition or as the tags on their battered uniforms said "A.O.E."(accumulation of everything).
For their accomplishments in Burma the Marauders were awarded the "DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION" in July, 1944. However in 1966 this award was redesignated as the "PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION" which is awarded by the President in the name of Congress. The Marauders also have the extremely rare distinction of having every member of the unit receive the "BRONZE STAR".
Walawbum, Burma Early March, 1944 Group of Marauders after Battle of Walawbum. Kneeling, L to R, Wilbur Smalley, "Murphy" Wonsowicz, Johnny Allen. Standings 2nd from left; Bernard Martin, extreme right; Herby Miyazak
The unit was consolidated with the 475th Infantry on August 10, 1944. On June 21, 1954, the 475th was redesignated the 75th Infantry. It is from the redesignation of Merrill's Marauders into the 75th Infantry Regiment that the modern-day 75th Ranger Regiment traces its current unit designation.
I'd like to thank Marauder.Org for their generous permission to use their graphics on today's thread
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FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links
TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: burma; china; freeperfoxhole; history; india; merrillsmarauders; rangers; samsdayoff; veterans; wwii
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To: Professional Engineer
61
posted on
03/25/2005 9:22:38 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: SAMWolf
Caught up with the rest of the world, I see.What? :-)
62
posted on
03/25/2005 9:23:32 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: tomball
63
posted on
03/25/2005 9:24:19 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: E.G.C.
Good morning EGC. No rain this morning!
64
posted on
03/25/2005 9:25:13 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: GailA
LOL. You're right about those hick country boys. My dad was raised up in West Virginia and Southern Ohio. Used to tell stories about shooting cans off each others heads across the creek. He joined up early like most of the boys back then. They did know how to shoot.
65
posted on
03/25/2005 9:28:11 AM PST
by
snippy_about_it
(Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
To: snippy_about_it
North Burma ____ February - March, 1944
1st Lt. Logan E. Weston of Youngstown, Ohio, was called the Fightin Preacher by the Marauders because he had broken off studying for the ministry to join the Army and go into combat. Weston enlisted in the 37th Division, was graduated from officer training school in Fiji, fought on New Georgia, then volunteered far the Marauders, winding up as leader of an intelligence and reconnaissance platoon that played a key role in Marauder actions from Walawbum on. Here he cleans his carbine ammunition and magazines between patrols.
Behind Japanese Lines In Northern Burma
Yank The Army Weekly-June 09 1944-Vol. 2 No 51 By Sgt. Dave Richardson Yank Staff Correspondent
The crackle of a couple of Nambu light machine guns and the whipsnap of Ariska rifles stopped the single-file column of Merrill's Marauders and sent the men scrambling for cover on both sides of the narrow jungle trail.
They had trudged nearly 250 miles in the last four weeks. After marching up 116 miles of the Ledo Road, they had swung wide around the Jap positions that were holding up the Chinese drive in the Hukawng Valley of Northern Burma. They had followed narrow native paths and elephant trails through dense undergrowth and high elephant grass and across dozens of rivers and streams.
This was to be the first of their missions as a volunteer raiding outfit behind Jap lines--attacking the enemy rear supply base of Walawbum to force a Jap withdrawal 30 miles northward so the Chinese could push through. The Marauders led by Brig. Gen. Frank D Merrill, who had walked out of Burma with Stilwell two years before, were this afternoon only three miles from their goal.
The CO of the unit that had bumped into Jap resistance sent for 1st Lt. Logan E Weston of Youngstown, Ohio. A slim, quet pokerfaced young officer, Weston edged his way through the bush to the CO's side.
"Weston," said the CO, "take your intelligence and reconnaissance platoon across the river and move south to a position near the river bank that will cover us from the Walawbum area when we drive through this village of Langag Ga. on the east bank."
(read more from Yank, the Army Weekly)
I had the great honor and privilege of getting to know Colonel Weston some years ago when we published his book, The Fightin' Preacher. The tales he had to tell were both harrowing and uplifting. What an ordeal these men went through! Col. Weston was one of the most heavily decorated soldiers, with over 200 medals and awards to his credit, and fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. My husband and I went to the Merrill's Marauders Reunion about 10 years ago and met the most fantastic group of gentlemen. I'm thrilled that you're doing this theme today in the Foxhole!
(If anyone wants to borrow a copy of his autobiography, FReepmail me!)
66
posted on
03/25/2005 9:45:57 AM PST
by
shezza
(Eagles Up!)
To: Darksheare
The ammo bearer got that job in my squad.
67
posted on
03/25/2005 10:03:07 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(Liberal Rule #9 - Can't refute the message? Attack the messenger!)
To: bentfeather
68
posted on
03/25/2005 10:03:42 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(Liberal Rule #9 - Can't refute the message? Attack the messenger!)
To: snippy_about_it
Date is now 2005 and not 2003 ;-)
69
posted on
03/25/2005 10:04:40 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(Liberal Rule #9 - Can't refute the message? Attack the messenger!)
To: shezza
Morning shezza.
great honor and privilege
You're right it always is an honor and privilege to meet the men who lived what we only read about. I'm always in awe of them.
70
posted on
03/25/2005 10:06:31 AM PST
by
SAMWolf
(Liberal Rule #9 - Can't refute the message? Attack the messenger!)
To: snippy_about_it
Morning!
Nothing much going on today at my end of things.
71
posted on
03/25/2005 10:15:09 AM PST
by
Darksheare
("Indeed I have learned to walk, just not THIS form of walking!" -Darksheare don't dance.)
To: SAMWolf
72
posted on
03/25/2005 10:15:37 AM PST
by
Darksheare
("Indeed I have learned to walk, just not THIS form of walking!" -Darksheare don't dance.)
To: Valin
1928 James A Lovell Jr Cleveland OH, USN/astronaut (Gemini 7, 12, Apollo 8, 13)
73
posted on
03/25/2005 10:32:26 AM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(My baby girl has the strongest little finger known to man.)
To: Valin
1911 146 die in a fire at Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York NY Ever wonder why there is a standard door right next to a revolving door?
74
posted on
03/25/2005 10:47:32 AM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(My baby girl has the strongest little finger known to man.)
To: SAMWolf
75
posted on
03/25/2005 10:51:24 AM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(My baby girl has the strongest little finger known to man.)
To: snippy_about_it
Dennis said he only told them when half crocked. Drinking muddy water, bloody water, disentary, the gore and other horrors. The heat and smells.
Merrill's Marauders Last Stand
At Myitkynia today they lie at rest,
They were soldiers all, and gave their best.
They fought and died in days of rain,
And prayed for a sun that never came.
Through mud they crawled to find their foe,
They cursed and bitched, but on they'd go.
As the days went by, and the nights fell,
They all slept on walls of hell.
Artillery shells with their melody of death,
Whistled by with each drawn---in breath.
As dawn came to light the earth,
Amid sniper fire, through filth,
In falling rain, they fought on.
Hope to live by then had gone. Myitkyina has fallen at last,
They would be glad to know of the finished task,
But the trails are filled with Yankee blood,
Of gallant men who fought and died in Burma mud.
Brave men, these, they fought---and fell.
Bless them all, God---treat them well.
This poem was sent to Ralph's brother Albert Keasling by PFC. Ralph L. Keasling from Burma in 1944.
76
posted on
03/25/2005 10:53:12 AM PST
by
GailA
(Glory be to GOD and his only son Jesus.)
To: bentfeather
ROFLMAO! I've just e-mailed this to my dad, the avid flyfisherman.
77
posted on
03/25/2005 10:53:12 AM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(My baby girl has the strongest little finger known to man.)
To: snippy_about_it
78
posted on
03/25/2005 10:54:56 AM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(My baby girl has the strongest little finger known to man.)
To: bentfeather
79
posted on
03/25/2005 10:55:23 AM PST
by
Samwise
(Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.)
To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; All
Sorry do not have any before pics.
HOWEVER,ow bout some in progress pics taken this AM, sorry about the quality but it is the best my poor camera can do
First pic War Zone1 aka Mrs alfa6's sewing room
The sewing room is an "L" shaped room, if it was a rectangle it would be about 10'x12' because of the stairs to the second floor it is missing about a 4'x6' piece. Some year ago we broke out the wall over the stairs and made it into a closet which helped quite a bit. This time I have made a bookcase in the wall dividing the 2 rooms to free up some space, the bookcase is about 7' wide by almost 2'deep. This should be a good place for the Mrs. to store a lot of her goodies. I also put in a pocket door, you can see the frame in the 2nd pic, in the sewing room at the request of Mrs alfa6 as she thought it would free up some more room for her???
The next two pics are of War Zone 2 aka the Master Bedroom.
The master bedroom is about 13'x13' with a small closet on one side. In the second picture you can see the "bookcase" for the sewing room, as a bonus I get a small bookcase in the Master Bedroom as well. One of the things we did was to put in a new door to the closet as the existing door was only about 6' tall and 24" wide it made the closet somewhat impractical.
As of this posting time I have about 2/3rds of the insulboard up in the sewing room and about a third of it up in the bedroom. As the bedroom is only about 25' from the street that is why I am putting up the insulboard and the 5/8s sheetrock in the hope to provide some measure of soundproofing.
80
posted on
03/25/2005 11:00:09 AM PST
by
alfa6
(Memebr loyal order of F.O.G.)
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