Frank Merrill

For the Tarzan actor, see Frank Merrill (actor).

Frank Merrill
Maj. Gen. Merrill
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1922-
Rank	Major General
Unit	3rd Special Operations Squadron
Commands held	Merrill's Marauders
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Army Distinguished Service Medal Purple Heart Bronze Star Legion of Merit

Frank Dow Merrill (born December 4, 1903 in New Hampshire – died December 11, 1955 in Fernandina Beach, Florida) is best remembered for his command of Merrill's Marauders, officially the 5307th Composite Unit (provisional), in the Burma Campaign of World War II. Merrill's Marauders came under General Joseph Stilwell's Northern Combat Area Command. It was a special forces unit modelled on the Chindits' long range penetration groups trained to operate from bases deep behind Japanese lines.

Merrill had enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1922 and earned the rank of sergeant before attending West Point where he graduated in 1929. In 1938, Merrill became the Assistant Military Attache in Tokyo where he studied the Japanese language. He joined General Douglas MacArthur's staff in the Philippines in 1941 as a military intelligence officer. Merrill was on a mission in Rangoon, Burma at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack and remained in Burma.

General Merrill oversaw the deployment of the 5307th Marauders into Burma in February 1944. In the final siege at Mykitina, Merrill alarmed at the casualties among his men, refused evacuation himself, while suffering a second heart attack.

General Merrill's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star , Legion of Merit, and Combat Infantryman Badge.

After World War II and service in the post war Philippines, Merrill became the New Hampshire Commissioner of Highways. He was elected President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials but died two days later.

Camp Frank D. Merrill, near Dahlonega, Georgia, is home to the three-week mountain training phase of the United States Army Ranger School.

Merrill was played by Jeff Chandler in the 1962 Merrill's Marauders (film).

See also

• China Burma India Theater
• Merrill's Marauders

External links

• Frank Merrill
• WW2DB: Frank Merrill