In that brief combat history they accomplished more at greater cost than any other unit in PTO or ETO. They were hands down the toughest US force of the war.
Growing up (circa 1954) one of these guys lived across the street. This was new suburban LI and 75% of the dads in the neighborhood had a story to tell but they all spoke in awe of that guy down the street.
He said he volunteered to go where the weather was warmer and wound up in Merrill's Marauders.
He didn't talk about it much. He told about one thing that happened... he was talking to one of his friends and the guy's head just disappeared...blown off.
Thanks for the correction, I was mistaken, uncle Ralph served in that area for a full 6 yrs, but was with Merrill from the beginning up through Myitkynia.
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.
My Dad was 503rd Airborne.