Books about the marauders the merrill s marauders war in burma merrill s marauders association inc. Chineseburma india theater of operations cbi during world war ii and. If you can locate the book, it is an interesting story. The attack on myitkyina was the climax to four months of marching and combat in the burma jungles. Wwii army still and motion photographer assigned to the 164th signal photographic co. Infantry soldiers in the cbi served with scant resources and a sense of physical isolation. Walawbum 31 on the move 31 kamaing road block 35 japanese withdrawal 40 mission. Hoyt, edwin, merrills marauders, pinnacle books 1980. Armys 5307th composite unit provisional also known by its code name galahad, a regimentsized unit organized and trained for longrange penetration behind enemy lines in japaneseheld burma in world war ii. Melvin schudmak was an army doctor stationed stateside when he was called in to the adjutant general s office in washington, d. He is the author of merrill s marauders zenith press, 20, which profiles the american jungle fighters who fought a brutal campaign against the japanese in burma in 1944 and was seen on the cbs network during its. Wwiiera merrills marauders veterans reflect on burma. Time to finally honor ww ii heroes merrills marauders. Most gifted in world war ii burma any department books.
General stilwells infantry fighting world war ii in burma, 1944, opens october 6 at the hoover institution, stanford university. Mar 27, 2016 merrill s marauders behind enemy lines in 1944. My greatuncle, francis frank obrien served with the merrill s marauders, mainly in burma, presentday myanmar. Its my first solitaire game and the solo play concept is somewhat interesting. Merrill s marauders came under general joseph stilwells northern combat area command. Book for young readers by frank bonham centering on a nisei intelligence soldier in burma during world war ii. Hand embroidered in heavy thread on ribbon backing. The only way to secure a supply route was to reopen the burma road and destroy japanese communications and supply lines in the process. A great introduction to merrill s marauders, aka the 5307th composite, aka unit galahad, who from february to may 1944 fought in the hills of northern burma with the aim of taking myitkyina, a integral japanese airfield. It is the story of a battle on nambyu river between units of the japanese 18th division and merrills marauders. Sep 12, 2010 national archives and records administration merrill s marauders created by quaid, david l.
Marched over miles from india to burma with no tanks or heavy artillery, carried all equipment on backs or mules. With jeff chandler, ty hardin, peter brown, andrew duggan. Merrills marauders go for broke national education center. Three merrill s marauders, 1944 survivors of the secret mission of almost 3,000 presidential volunteers who fought through the diseaseridden forgotten theater of world war. Merrill s marauders were the first american army infantry unit to fight in the china burma india theater, and one of the most renowned units to come out of world war ii 19391945. The bastards of burma merrill s marauders and the mars task force revisited by michael gabbett out of print try used books. The player has to carry out one of four missions, or string all four together in a campaign game. World war ii,documentary, 2015 world war ii documentary, ww2, full documentary.
The untold story of unit galahad and the toughest special forces mission of world war ii by gavin mortimer, published last year, from the release a new book on the legendary ww ii merrill s marauders was released to the public in november 20 in honor of veterans day, according to its awardwinning english author gavin mortimer. Interesting book on the american soldiers of the 5307th compositional unit nicknamed merrill s marauders after its commander brig. The volunteer force first known as galahad and later dubbed merrill s marauders skillfully adapted to fighting in the jungles of burma. The marauders arrived in india in september or october of 1943. 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. Merrill s marauders is an account of the operations of the 5307th composite unit provisional in north burma from february to may, 1944. They were initially known as casual detachment 1688 and were divided into 3 battalions a. Their guerrilla tactics were brilliantly executed to defeat an enemy force with superior numbers and. A story of merrill s marauders by frank bonham online at alibris. Published in 1960, it is among the first childrens books to depict the wartime incarceration of japanese americans. Last reunion for famed us wwii unit, merrills marauders. Merrill, its 2,997 officers and men became popularly known as merrill s marauders.
The jungle war mavericks,marauders, and madmen in the chinaburma india theater of wwii by gerald astor 370 pages, 6 x 9. Aug 28, 2016 shadowspear special operations news and community network. Frank dow merrill december 4, 1903 in hopkinton, massachusetts december 11, 1955 in fernandina beach, florida was a united states army general and is best remembered for his command of merrill s marauders, officially the 5307th composite unit provisional, in the burma campaign of world war ii. Frank merrill who at age 39 became a brigadier general the youngest since george armstrong custer in the civil war a hit movie with the eponymous name came out. Fully illustrated throughout with maps, photographs and charts, this authoritative and entertaining book is an account of the operations of the 5307th composite unit provisional, more commonly known as merrill s marauders, in north burma from february to may, 1944. Merrills marauders were three thousand men who volunteered to go on a secret mission in world war ii. Zepeda, who died april 25 at 94, survived one of the most brutal and leastknown missions of world war ii. Combined operations in northern burma in 1944 by gary j. Merrills marauders named after frank merrill or unit galahad, officially named the 5307th composite unit provisional, was a united states army long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the southeast asian theatre of world war ii, or chinaburmaindia theater cbi.
No less than eight books have been written about the unit officially named the 5307 th composite unit provisional codenamed galahad but dubbed merrill s marauders by the press after its heroic commander, gen. Burma had been conquered by the japanese 2 years before the marauders. Books on burma wwii merrill, wingate and the chindits. The title of this book is somewhat misleading, for actually it is two stories, linked by the hero of the story. Men of the marauders merrills marauders proud descendants. Fort benning, ga jonnie clasen three merrills marauders, 1944 survivors of the secret mission of almost 3,000 presidential volunteers who fought through the diseaseridden forgotten theater of world war ii, the chinaburmaindia theater, have lived to the age of 101. Army campaigns of wwii out of print try used books. The untold story of unit galahad and the toughest special forces mission of world war ii. It is based on the exploits of the long range penetration jungle warfare unit of the same name in the burma campaign, culminating in the siege of myitkyina. Jan 01, 20 f you are looking for the ultimate wwii special ops adventure story, this is the book. The us army center of military history, in 1990, published a great booklet about general frank merrill and the troops he led in southeast asia during world war ii. The 5307th composite unit provisional of the army of the united states was organized and trained for longrange penetration behind enemy lines in japaneseheld burma. Merrills marauders februarymay 1944 is one of a series of fourteen studies of world war ii operations originally published by the.
Melvin schudmak was an army doctor stationed stateside when he was called in to the adjutant generals office in washington, d. While in burma, the marauders were usually outnumbered by japanese troops from the 18th division, but always inflicted many more casualties than they suffered. Surrounded on all sides by the japanese, merrill s marauders nonetheless accomplish their objectiveonly to be ordered into another mission with barely a chance to breathe. General frank merrill merrills marauders us army world. The climax of the marauders operations was the capture of the myitkyina airfield, the only allweather strip in northern burma. Merrills marauders is the popular name given to the u. The marauders which was named after their commander, brig. The untold story of unit galahad and the toughest special forces mission of world war ii by gavin. Commandos in burma, 19431945 on a whim because i needed a few extra dollars added to my amazon order for free shipping. Three merrill s marauders, 1944 survivors of the secret mission of almost 3,000 presidential volunteers who fought through the diseaseridden. The marauders established a lasting reputation for hard fighting and tenacity in the face of adversity, combating a determined enemy, some of the most difficult and.
Each mission card grants the player a specified number of operations points to reach certain objectives. See more ideas about wwii, the marauders and world war ii. Mar 12, 2017 5307th composite unit, about 3000 volunteers. Brilliantly written book about the toughest special forces mission of world war 2 in burma. Frank merrill traversed more than 800 miles of burmese jungle and engaged in multiple battles with enemy troops. Merrills marauders named after frank merrill or unit galahad, officially named the 5307th composite unit provisional, was a united states army long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the southeast asian theatre of world war ii, or cbi. Assigned to the jungles of burma, the marauders played a key role in the war by opening up a passage from india to china while battling disease and jungle conditions in addition to a numerically superior japanese enemy. Merrills marauders the road to burma the illustrated. Merrrills marauders special ops forces of wwii rare. Jeff chandler stars as american brigadiergeneral merrill, commanding a regiment in burma during world war ii. The booklet is entitled merrill s marauders, after the nickname of his command, the 5307th composite unit provisional, us army.
Merrills marauders februarymay 1944 internet archive. Merrill s marauders februarymay 1944 is one of a series of fourteen studies of world war ii operations and provides an account of the operations of the 5307th composite unit provisional in north burma from february to may, 1944. This was the final victory of the 5307th composite unit, which was disbanded in august, 1944. Merrills marauders fought through miles of burmese. Armys 5307th composite unit provisional also known by its code name galahad, a regimentsized unit organized and trained for longrange penetration behind enemy lines in japaneseheld burma. This exhibition features the photographic record of the first american ground troops in asia, all volunteers, as they stealthily fought behind enemy lines to reestablish an. Merrill s marauders, national archives and records administration. The game comes in a ziplock bag and includes a small map of burma, 40 counters, 18 cards, and instructions. During ww2, a 3000strong american unit, known as merrill s marauders, battles the japanese forces in burma. A very clear, concise and great read for those interested in special forces operations and the war in burma in world war 2. Expendable wwii merrills marauders survive into their. Merrill s marauders is a 1962 technicolor war film, photographed in cinemascope, and directed and cowritten by samuel fuller. They ended up pushing through almost 1,000 miles of jungle in myanmar, known as burma at the time, and fighting in five major battles and 30 minor.
See more ideas about the marauders, wwii and world war ii. Gavin mortimer is a bestselling author and an awardwinning historian whose versatile narrative nonfiction books have been published in the united states and great britain. Merrill s marauders is an excellent wwii movie dealing with a topic often ignored in war movies covering the pacific theater. Tells the true story of the marauders and who the real heroes were, such as colonel hunter, colonel mcgee and ted mclogan. Merrills marauders by samuel fuller jeff chandler, ty.
Although he never survived burma, his sister, my grandmother, used to tell me stories he used to tell her before his passing away in the asian country. This book is by far the best and most accurate account of merrills marauders and their story of struggles and battle in burma during world war ii. Unfollow merrills marauders to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Nov 15, 20 brilliantly written book about the toughest special forces mission of world war 2 in burma. Details of the offensive are summarized briefly to set the operations of the 5307th within the larger framework. In 1944, the 5307th composite unit, merrill s marauders, 3,000 seasoned jungle fighters, march into burma with the objective of the supply depot. The first half of the book deals intensively with the nisei on the west coast at the outbreak of world war ii. Websitesbooksvideo merrills marauders proud descendants. Merrills marauders capture japanese airfield in burma. Frank bonham february 25, 1914 1988 was an author of westerns and young adult novels. Download 5307 roster provisional which includes name, rank, serial number, battalion, and unit for each marauder. The 2nd norfolk regiment, from le paradis to kohima, peter hart.
The 5037th was a longrangepenetration specialoperations jungle warfare unit specially trained. Merrills marauders the book correcting the record of their history. Expendable wwii merrills marauders survive into their 100s. Tells the true story of the marauders and who the real heroes were, such. Merrill s marauders february may 1944 contents page introduction 1 the war in burma, january, 1942 march, 1943 1 from defense to offense 5 origin and training of the american force 8 area of operations 16 supply 23 evacuation of casualties 28 communications 29 first mission. This film covers the secret campaign, under general frank d. May 01, 2015 world war ii,documentary, 2015 world war ii documentary, ww2, full documentary.
One of merrills marauders, zepeda survived the jungles of. For jerry harada is the americanborn son of japanese parents, living in california in 1941. The unit became famous for its deeppenetration missions behind japanese lines, often engaging japanese forces. Men of the marauders evolution of the casual detachments to the 5307th. Burma rifles follows jerry, russ, and the other nisei marauders through the war. Merrill s marauders february august 1944 with the japanese occupying burma from the beginning of the war, there was no land route for supplies to china. Merrill s marauders named after frank merrill or unit galahad, officially named the 5307th composite unit provisional, was a united states army. The mission was so secret, the men werent even allowed to know where they were going. The marauders effort was part of a coordinated offensive, the allied reconquest of north burma. From awardwinning historian gavin mortimer, merrill s marauders is the story of the american world war ii special forces unit originally codenamed galahad, which, in 1944, fought its way through 700 miles of snakeinfested burmese junglewhat winston churchill described as the most forbidding fighting country imaginable. May 27, 2019 time to finally honor ww ii heroes merrill s marauders gilbert howland, one of the few remaining members of the famed wwii army unit merrill s marauders, with a portrait and plaque bearing a photo of his younger self, during a gathering of remaining members, family and history buffs, in new orleans.