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Merrill’s Marauders officially 5307th Composite Unit (provisional) was a US commando unit in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II who fought in the Burma Campaign. Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government • President • Vice President Federal Republic George...
The French Navy commando Jaubert storm the Alcyon in a mock assault. ...
The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in India, Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Singapore. ...
The Burma Campaign was a campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II. It was fought primarily between Commonwealth, Chinese and American forces against the Empire of Japan. ...
In the Quebec Conference in August 1943 Allied leaders decided to form a US deep penetration unit that would attack Japanese troops in Burma. It was partially modelled on the Chindits. A call for volunteers attracted about 2900 men in the USA from veterans to domestic units. Several meetings held at Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, are called the Quebec Conference. ...
1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...
When spelt with a capital A, Allies usually denotes the countries supporting the Triple Entente who fought together against the Central Powers in World War I and against the Axis Powers in World War II. For more information, see the related articles: Allies of World War I and Allies of...
The Chindits (Officially in 1942 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and in 1943 Indian 3rd Infantry Division) were a British Indian Army Special Force that served in Burma and India from 1942 until 1945 during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed into long range penetration groups trained...
Unit was officially designated as 5307th Composite Unit (provisional) with a code name Galahad. They were sent to India arriving in Bombay on October 31, 1943 to train and were reinforced with Air Corps and Signal Corps personnel. Mumbai (Marathi/Hindi: मà¥à¤‚बई) (pronounced ), formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of the state of Maharashtra, and the most populous city of India, with an estimated population of about 13 million (as of 2006)[1]. Mumbai is located on Salsette Island, off the west coast of Maharashtra. ...
October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining. ...
1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...
The Galahad troops trained in long-range penetration tactics under the direction of brigadier general Charles Orde Wingate, commander of the Chindits. At Deolali, 200 km (125 miles) outside Bombay, the troops endured both physical conditioning and close-order drill. After moving to Deogarh in central India, they received instruction in scouting and patrolling, stream crossings, weapons, demolitions, camouflage, small-unit attacks on entrenchments, evacuation of wounded, and the novel technique of supply by airdrop. In December the Galahad troops conducted a weeklong maneuver with the Chindits. Major General Orde Charles Wingate, (February 26, 1903 – March 24, 1944), was a British major general and creator of two special military units during the World War II. // Beginnings Orde Wingate was born February 23, 1903 in India to a military family. ...
The Chindits (Officially in 1942 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and in 1943 Indian 3rd Infantry Division) were a British Indian Army Special Force that served in Burma and India from 1942 until 1945 during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed into long range penetration groups trained...
Deolali was a British army camp 100 miles north-east of Bombay. ...
A C-130 Hercules airdropping a light tank. ...
American General Joseph Stilwell was determined that the only U.S. combat troops in the theatre would not serve under Wingate who was a British officer. Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten the supreme Allied commander of the South East Asia Command (SEAC) was persuaded by Stilwell who was deputy supreme Allied commander, that they should serve under the Northern Combat Area Command (NCAC). Stilwell appointed brigadier general Frank Merrill to command them, leading American correspondents to dub the unit "Merrill’s Marauders". Joseph Warren Stilwell (March 19, 1883 – October 12, 1946) was a United States Army four-star general best-known for his service in China. ...
Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (June 25, 1900 – August 27, 1979) was a British admiral and statesman and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ...
South East Asia Command (SEAC) was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II. The initial supreme commander of the theatre was General Sir Archibald Wavell, initially as head of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command...
The Northern Combat Area Command or NCAC was a mainly Sino-American formation that held the northern end of the Allied front in Burma during World War II. For much of its existence it was commanded by the acerbic General Joseph Stilwell. ...
Major General Frank Merrill (1903 – 1955) He is best rembered for his command of Merrills Marauders, officially 5307th Composite Unit (provisional), in the Burma Campaign of World War II. Merrills Marauders came under General Joseph Stilwells Northern Combat Area Command. ...
The Marauders were organized into two combat teams per battalion. In February 1944 six combat teams - coded Blue, Green, Khaki, Orange, Red and White - began a 1000-mile march over the Himalayas and through jungle to Burma. 600 men remained in India as the headquarters unit. Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ...
In Burma they were outnumbered by the men of the Japanese 18th division but caused heavy casualties. They harassed supply and communication lines and cut off the Japanese rear at Maingkwan. In March they severed Japanese supply lines in Hukawng Valley. On May 17 they helped Chinese troops to capture Myitkina airfield; the town surrendered August 4.
The Mauraders had advanced 750 miles and fought in 5 major engagements (Walawbum, Shaduzup, Inkangahtawng, Nhpum Ga, and Myitkyina) and 32 skirmishes with the Japanese Army. They lost 700 men, only 1,300 Marauders remained at capture of Myitkina and of these, 679 had to be hospitalized. This included General Merrill who had suffered a second-heart attack before going down with malaria.
The Marauders have the extremely rare distinction of having every member of the unit receive the Bronze Star Medal and in June 1944 the unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ...
USA and USAF Presidential Unit Citation Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action on or after 7 December 1941 against an armed enemy. ...
- The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign.
The Marauders were 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. 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Colonel George A. McGee is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for extraordinary valor and exemplary service as commander of the 2d Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit, known as Merrill's Marauders. In August 1943 the War Department selected Colonel McGee to command a battalion-size unit formed from volunteers from the 33rd Infantry Regiment which was redesignated as 2d Battalion, 5307th Composite Unit. Colonel McGee served as battalion commander from the formation of Merrill's Marauders until their last mission at Myitkyina in June 1944. Colonel McGee led his battalion in missions behind enemy lines in the steaming jungles of Burma to sever Japanese communications and supply lines. Many of Colonel McGee's soldiers suffered from malaria, typhoid, malnutrition and other ailments, but fought gallantly against the Japanese in major battles at Walawbum, Nhpum Ga, Inkangawtaung, Shadazup, and Myitkyina, and were involved in over 30 minor engagements with the enemy. Though Colonel McGee served in many capacities during his twenty years of service in the Army, he considered his command of the 2d Battalion of Merrill's Marauders the highlight of his military career. Colonel McGee's dedication to duty and superb leadership continue to lead the way for Rangers past and present.
See also China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the name used by the United States Army for its forces in China, Burma, India during World War II. Well-known US units in this theater included the Flying Tigers, transport and bomber units flying the Hump, the engineers who built Ledo Road, and...
The Ledo Road was built during World War II so that the Western Allies could continue to supply the Chinese after the Japanese cut the Burma Road. ...
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