Merrill’s Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act

In August 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other allied leaders proposed the creation of an American ground unit that would engage in a “long-range penetration mission” in Japanese-occupied Burma. This unit’s mission would be to cut off Japanese communications and supply lines, and capture Japanese-held airfield and town of Myitkyina.

President Roosevelt issued a call for volunteers for “a dangerous and hazardous mission”, the call was answered by approximately 3,000 American soldiers. The unit was officially designated as the “5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)” Code Name: “Galahad”. Later it became known as “Merrill’s Marauders” named after its leader, Brigadier General Frank Merrill.

In February 1944 the Marauders began their approximately 1,000-mile trek through the dense Burmese jungle. The Marauders had no artillery support and carried their supplies on their backs or the pack saddles of mules.

Over the course of their 5-month trek to Myitkyina, the Marauders fought victoriously against larger Japanese forces through 5 major and 30 minor engagements.

During their march to Myitkyina the Marauders faced hunger and disease that were exacerbated by inadequate aerial resupply drops. Malaria, typhus, and dysentery inflicted more casualties on the Marauders than the Japanese.

By August 1944 the Marauders accomplished their mission, successfully disrupting Japanese supply and communication lines, taking the town of Myitkyina and the Myitkyina airstrip, the only all-weather airstrip in Northern Burma.

After taking Myitkyina only 130 Marauders out of the original 2,750 were fit for duty. All remaining Marauders still in action were evacuated to hospitals due to tropical diseases, exhaustion, and malnutrition.

For their bravery and accomplishments the Marauders were awarded the “Distinguished Unit Citation”, later redesignated as the “Presidential Unit Citation”. Each Marauder also earned a Bronze Star for his service.

Though Merrill’s Marauders were operational for only a few months, the legacy of their bravery is honored by the United States Army through the modern day 75th Ranger Regiment, which traces its lineage directly to the 5307th Composite Unit.

Award authorized— The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly known as “Merrill’s Marauders”, in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service in the jungles of Burma during World War II.

Design and striking— For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the “Secretary”) shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.