Units

Documentary filmmaker Tim Gray inducted into Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame

The passion, attention to detail and creativity that filmmaker Tim Gray has put into the 29 PBS documentaries produced by the WW II Foundation he founded resulted in his Oct. 23, 2021, induction into Rhode Island’s Heritage Hall of Fame.  Gray was praised for making “significant contributions” to his community, Rhode Island and the nation. The quality produced by his small, non-profit staff has given him world-wide acclaim and a list of other honors including the American Public Television’s National Programming Excellence Award, five Regional Emmy Awards for documentary film writing and outstanding documentary film and three prestigious Indie Film Fest Awards. His documentaries are among the top five most requested by PBS affiliates. The WW II Foundation’s goal is to “honor, educate and inspire” individuals about “The Greatest Generation.” Each visitor to the Foundation’s Global Education Center and museum in South Kingstown is given a complimentary copy of one of his documentaries.

February 2022 “WW II Magazine” to feature British author Gavin Mortimer’s interview with D-Day medic Charles Shay, 97 

Be on the lookout for “WW II Magazine’s” February issue.  It will feature a “conversation” British author Gavin Mortimer had in France this Fall with 97-year-old D-Day veteran Charles Norman Shay. “I had an amazing week in Normandy retracing the route taken by Charles Shay, a medic in the Big Red One, who was in the first wave at Omaha and was awarded a Silver Star for his courage on the beach. Charles relocated to Normandy in 2018 to be close to his fallen buddies in his final years.”  Mortimer said because of Covid, Shay, a Penobscot Native American originally from Connecticut, was one of only two D-Day veterans attending the June inauguration of the British D-Day Memorial in the village of Ver-sur-Mer.  Mortimer said the still-physically-fit Shay, who was awarded two Bronze Stars for serving in Korea, “never got a scratch in two wars.”  There is a statue of Shay gazing out on Omaha Beach that honors Native American soldiers who took part in the D-Day invasion 77 years ago.

NOTE:  Mortimer is the author of “Merrill’s Marauders – the untold story of unit Galahad and the toughest special forces mission of WW II.”  He will assist the Museum of Liberation in Paris for their 2022 exhibition about the war in North Africa in 1940-43.

U.S. Mint requests “estimate” on number of duplicate Congressional Gold Medals “to have ready” for future official ceremony … please email Jerrie Daly

Although a date still has NOT been set for the official Washington, DC ceremony when the Merrill’s Marauder Congressional Gold Medal will be unveiled — a request has been made for an “estimate” on the number of duplicate CGM medals “to have ready” for that official ceremony, which will be hosted by Nancy Pelosi.  Jerrie Daly, daughter of 5307th CUP replacement Francis Ponder and manager of the Marauder Facebook, is compiling the “estimate” list for duplicate medals. The bronze duplicates come in two sizes – 1.5 inches for $20 and 3 inches for $160.  Please email Jerrie at mmpdtreas@gmail.com with the size and number of medals you want to purchase at the official ceremony. A method for purchasing medals online after the ceremony will be announced when that information is available.

NOTE:  Jerrie will be assisting Bob Howland, son of Marauder Gilbert Howland, with planning for both the official ceremony, which is by invitation only, and the private ceremony, which will be open to everyone and will require a non-refundable deposit. Information on both ceremonies will be shared when it is available.

See photos Marauder Dominic Baracani saved of his buddies and him in Burma and India

Marauder Dominic Baracani (L) was an enthusiastic young soldier in this WW II portrait. At a 2017 Ft. Benning 75^th Ranger Regiment Association banquet, Baracani (L) stands with (L-R) Medal of Honor recipient Thomas “Tommy” R. Norris and Marauder Gilbert “Gil” Howland. Both Norris and Howland were inducted into Ranger Hall of Fame in 2017.

Please open the three attachments below to see the many China Burma India Theater photos provided recently by Marauder Dominic Baracani’s son, Bob. The images saved by his father were taken with his “buddies” in India and Burma. Baracani was one of the 14 Marauders who greeted their 75th Burma anniversary in 2019 – and wished fellow Marauders Bob Passanisi and Gilbert Howland success that year during their three-day “May Blitz” trip to Washington, DC to gain Congressional Gold Medal support.  Baracani was buried in Libertyville, IL on what would have been his 97th birthday, Aug. 13, 2019. He fought with Khaki Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, and was one of the small number of Marauders healthy enough to continue serving with the 475th Infantry – Mars Task Force, after the 5307th CUP disbanded Aug. 10, 1944.

“What the hell am I going to do with an artist,” said MG “Vinegar Joe” Stillwell in 1944

Famous Depression-era artist Milford Zornes was one of only 42 people selected to record WW II as an Army artist. Several of his paintings had previously been selected by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for display at the White House. When MG Joe Stilwell, China Burma India Theater commander, was introduced to Zornes after he arrived in the CBI Theater, he wasn’t quite sure what to do with him.  However Zornes quickly settled into his new role, traveling extensively throughout India, Burma and China where his sketches and water color scenes ranged from soldiers to landscapes, native people, temples and even a Chinese war lord. He won prizes in military-sponsored art shows, including one for a piece titled “The Hump Crossing.” The Army kept 78 of his paintings, now housed at the Smithsonian, and returned non-military scenes to him. Three of his sketches related to Merrill’s Marauders, including a charcoal drawing of Roy Matsumoto, one of the 14 Japanese American or Nisei Marauders.  He also sketched Dr. Gordan Seagraves and Signal Corps photographer Dale Louis Weich, who was assigned to the 5307th Composite Unit Provisional. After the war, Zornes pursued his art into his 100th year, when he died in 2008. Following Zornes’ death and that of his wife, Pat, all of his paintings, sketches and papers went to his daughter, Maria, and her husband, Hal Baker. 

In 2013, Hal, who has written two books about his father-in-law, took on the Herculean task of trying to locate descendants for about 60 of Zornes’ CBI portraits to return to their families.  He was only able to return photos to the Matsumoto family since the location of his sketch was unknown.  Weich’s son, David, received his father’s drawing.  A granddaughter of Dr. Seagraves received his.  Part of Hal’s extensive research took him to Carl Weidenburner’s CBI website honoring his CBI father, Warren Weidenburner.  Carl’s website is a CBI encyclopedia:

Remembering the Forgotten Theater – China-Burma-India on …

www.cbi-theater.com/carl

 PLEASE click the link below to read the fascinating journey Hal is still pursing to locate CBI family members.

Marauder medic James R. White’s 1945 Stilwell Road certificate was drawn by WW II artist Melvin Schwartzman Shaw 

I didn’t realize Marauder medic James R. White’s certificate for riding the perilous 1,079-mile journey over the Stilwell Road in an ambulance was drawn by one of only about 42 WW II artists serving in the Army – until Hal Baker told me. (See related story on Zornes above.)  Baker, whose father-in-law, Milford Zornes, was another WW II Army artist, said, “Melvin Shaw was an artist primarily in Burma, and had worked for Disney before the war on things like Bambi. Melvin worked on a documentary about Burma while he was there.” Baker described White’s Stilwell Road certificate as “a great piece of historical art.” White’s daughter, Neila Rosenkranz, had shared the certificate following her Dad’s June 20, 2018, death – her 43rd wedding anniversary — in Conway, SC.  Neila’s Dad had also been the keeper of a Marauder piece of art – a small, carved wooden mule he named Eleanor in memory of “my big mule who dragged me all over Burma” and was Killed In Action at Myitkyina June 1, 1944.  When White presented Eleanor as a gift several years ago to retired Ranger Chris Goodrow and his wife, Sherry, he said, “I have had the little mule for over 20 years.  It always reminded me that no matter how bad I thought I was having it at the time, nothing in my life could ever be as bad as five months with the 5307th during the North Burma campaign.”

PLEASE click below for a larger image of Melvin Shaw’s Stilwell Road certificate.

“Ranger artist” Duke DuShane’s painting of Marauder Nisei Roy Matsumoto will be loaned to Nisei Veterans Committee’s Memorial Hall in Seattle, WA.

The 1997 Ranger Hall of Fame citation for “Duke” DuShane, who served three tours in Vietnam, described him as “well known throughout the Ranger community for his contributions to Rangers of all eras. His artistic ability and design work can be seen anywhere you find Rangers.”  DuShane’s paintings of Ranger Medal of Honor recipients hang at Ft. Benning’s 75th Ranger Regiment Headquarters. DuShane’s friendship with Marauder Nisei Roy Matsumoto led to him painting the WW II veteran – who was almost 101 when he died in 2014. Karen Matsumoto said her Father was “so proud and touched to receive the painting, which was showcased in my parents’ living room. We love the painting, and it is now in my living room.”  She said the family is “planning to place it on loan at the Nisei Veterans Hall Museum in Seattle, where it can be enjoyed by the public.”  For years there has been a small “Roy Matsumoto” display at the NVC Museum.  It includes a life-like “GI ROY” Merrill’s Marauder action doll by the late Rian Ebesugawa, who created several Nisei veteran action figures. Karen worked for several years with the National Japanese American Historical Society as a consulting teacher doing teacher workshop presentations focusing primarily on the Japanese American WW II incarceration experience.   Matsumoto’s other daughter, Fumi, an artist in Alaska, also remembered how “honored and happy” her Father was “to receive the portrait painting by Duke DuShane that was proudly displayed on the wall of my parents’ house on San Juan Island.” Fumi, who began drawing as a young child, said her parents encouraged her interest in art and inspired her to pursue a career as an artist and art instructor. Much of her artwork uses family photographs as subject matter that reflect the Japanese American Experience. 

PLEASE click this link for the Nisei Vets newsletter article on the late Rian Ebesugawa and his action figures:
 https://www.nvcfoundation.org/pdfs/newsletter-pdf-2021-3-71-3-1617392373.pdf 

PLEASE click the image below for more photos of the Matsumoto family and Duke DuShane’s painting.

Merrill’s Marauders seizure of northern Burma’s Myitkyina airfield hastened support to Chinese Allies

COL Charles Hunter and BG Frank Merrill greet LTC William Lloyd Osborne, LT William T. Bright and the 1st Battalion in February 1944 as the heavily-laden men slogged almost 4,000 feet up steep, mud-filled grades to reach Pangsau Pass on the India – Burma border. Pangsau was called “Hell’s Pass.” China-bound aircraft could be seen flying hundreds of feet below.

When Merrill’s Marauders completed their “impossible mission” of seizing control of northern Burma’s only all-weather Myitkyina airfield May 17, 1944, their success “paved the way” for another “impossible mission” to become a reality – completion of the Ledo Road. Prior to May 17, 1944, the only way to get supplies into northern Burma –– was “flying the hump” over the Himalayas or on part of a land route, the Ledo Road, under construction. The Burma Road, constructed by Chinese, Kachin and other Burnese natives when Burma was a British colony, had been cut off from China in 1942 when the British Chindits and American MG Joe Stilwell were driven out of Burma by the Japanese. The Marauders and their mules walked up portions of the Ledo Road on their almost 1,000-mile march to seize the Myitkyina airfield and free airspace over Burma. The Flying Tigers and the 14th Air Force carrying supplies into Burma were having to evade Japanese aircraft on their forays “flying the hump” – until the Marauders captured the airfield in May 1944. The Ledo Road had become known as the “mile a man” road because of the number of men killed during its construction.  It was also called, “the impossible road,” “the road that raised a storm,” “the road that couldn’t be built,” “the Aluminum Highway,” “Skyway to Hell,” “the Miracle Road” and other names.  Despite its grim nicknames, the Ledo Road – referred to as the “largest, costliest and most controversial WW II project” — was completed in January 1945.

NOTE:  Please read the highlighted section in one of the attachments below, about the WW II artists’ role (including Milford Zornes mentioned in above item) during ceremonies celebrating the Ledo and Burma roads finally becoming one road.

PLEASE click the two small images for more information on the Burma and Ledo Roads – which became the “Stilwell Road.”

Merrill’s Marauder and Rosie the Riveter living history exhibits resume in Georgia

These 2021 WW II Heritage Days photos show (Bottom-L) Jonnie Melillo Clasen with her tiny swing dance partner, Tori Barton, from Monroe, GA; Rosie reenactor Carol Cain (Center) interviewing WW II Rosie the Riveters (L-R) Bettianne Harris and Earline Gaither. Clasen (Top-R) stands behind her Dad, Vincent Melillo’s, Marauder memorabilia with (L to R) retired COL Rob Choppa, president of the National Infantry Association, and retired CSM Michael Kelso

This hodgepodge of photos combines two living history events recently held for the first time since Covid began crippling the world last year.  The photos from September’s WW II Heritage Days in Peachtree City, GA overlay the WW I poem, “In Flanders Field,” by Canadian battlefield surgeon John McCrae. For Veterans Day this year, “In Flanders Field” was part of a “Poppy Day” display at FDR’s Little White House in Warm Springs, GA, where it was included with memorabilia from Marauder Vincent Melillo — born when WW I was still being fought. At the Little White House, McCrae’s poem was placed next to tiny bundles of red “Buddy Poppies,” now used worldwide to raise money for veterans. The “Buddy Poppy” tribute was born after Georgia native Moina Belle Michaels was so inspired by “In Flanders Field” that she wrote a poem in November 1918, “We Shall Keep the Faith,” pledging to use red poppies to honor and remember the war dead. The former University of Georgia professor wrote a book, “The Miracle Flower – the story of the Flanders Fields Memorial Poppy.” When Michaels died in 1944, using “Buddy Poppies” to honor war dead had spread from the United States to more than 50 countries.

PLEASE click the two images below about “The Poppy Lady” and poem, “In Flanders Field.”

80^th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack remembered at FDR’s Little White House through living history displays

Jonnie Melillo Clasen’s Merrill’s Marauder display at FDR’s Little White House in Warm Springs, GA was one of three commemorating the 80^th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Her exhibit included several photos from a packet on the Pearl Harbor attack found by her parents in a house they rented close to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 1949. Also displayed were images of future Merrill’s Marauders Russell G. Wellman, who survived the attack, and Tom Tsubota, a Hawaiian National Guardsman of Japanese ancestry, who helped capture the United States first POW on Dec. 8, 1941, in Hawaii. Wellman, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient, was inducted into Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2019.  Tsubota, one of the 14 Japanese American or Nisei interpreters with the Marauders, was on maneuvers when Pearl Harbor was hit.  He was the oldest Army Ranger at his death on Valentine’s Day 2017. Clasen’s display had Japanese American internment camp items, including a book on Manzanar, photos and two 442^nd “Go for Broke” Infantry Regiment challenge coins that were a gift from Brian Yamamoto in Alaska.  Her father, Vincent Melillo’s memorabilia also included a gurkha knife, his WW II shirt and hat and information about men he served with in Burma.

PLEASE click Pearl Harbor images below for Tom Tsubota’s story and images of the USS Lexington on fire and a group of long-deceased WW II veterans at the Little White House.

SFC Jeremy Billings’ 12 years with Airborne Ranger Training Brigade honored WW II Rangers and Merrill’s Marauders

Left photo — WW II Ranger “Rudy” Huereque (L) and Marauder Bob Passanisi were honored during 2019 Best Ranger Competition when the 75^th anniversaries of both WW II Rangers and Merrill’s Marauders were commemorated by the Airborne Ranger Training Brigade. Huereque died in May 2021, just weeks away from the 77th anniversary of D-Day. Right photo – SFC Jeremy Billings holds a photo album presented to him during a farewell dinner with Merrill’s Marauder liaison officer Jonnie Melillo Clasen (Center) and Olga Kelly, whose Vietnam War Ranger husband Charlie Craft died in 2020.  Billings arranged for the small Ranger funeral detail allowed during the height of Covid.  Olga has been president for more than four decades of Ft. Benning’s International Wives.

For many years SFC Jeremy Billings and the soldiers he worked with at Ft. Benning’s Airborne Ranger Training Brigade have been a powerful “behind the scenes” force in continuing to honor the dwindling number of WW II Rangers and Merrill’s Marauders. They have been “almost like ghosts” in their extensive background coordination roles ensuring that ALL ARTB events appear as effortless successes.  Their attention to detail in honoring members of the “Greatest Generation,” which includes Gold Star widows, has given those “90-something” individuals memories they will forever cherish.  Their dedication isn’t just during “working hours.”  It extends to evenings and weekends when they do outreach by assisting not only WW II veterans and their families – but also current Rangers and their families.  Billings will be sorely missed, and is wished well at his new post in Colorado.

PLEASE click below for images of Billings and some “Greatest Generation” individuals he has worked with while at ARTB.

Marauder Bob Passanisi is recovering from a surgical procedure

Bob Passanisi, the tireless Marauder spokesperson and historian, who is also creator of the decades-old, award-winning Merrill’s Marauders Association Homepage and former long-time editor of the “Burman News,” will be spending the holidays recovering from a recent surgery.  If you would like to send him “get well” wishes, please address your cards to:

Bob Passanisi
111 Kramer Dr.
Lindenhurst, NY  11757-5497

Please return any Marauder history binders loaned by the late historian Hansel Haycox

At the time of his death earlier this year, historian Hansel Haycox had arranged for the room-full of Merrill’s Marauder memorabilia that he and his wife, Rosemary, set up for decades at annual Marauder reunions to be transported to the Wilson Center for Leadership at Hampden Sydney College where it would be catalogued and available for research. Sarah E. Almond is the archivist there. Named after Marauder LTG Sam Wilson, a former Hampden Sydney College president, the Center has all of “General Sam’s” memorabilia – including his computer. Years of research went into finding the best place that would accept ALL – not just part – of Hansel’s Marauder memorabilia, consisting of special orders, newspaper articles, personal history binders, artifacts, Hansel’s research and much more. The Army Heritage & Education Center at Carlisle, PA was interested, but could only take part of it. There are still some boxes, according to Hansel’s widow, Rosemary, that will go to the Wilson Center. So … this is a gentle nudge to any of you who have binders loaned by Hansel to please let us know – I am the initial contact. We’re trying to ensure this priceless collection is in one location where it can be accessed by researchers for years to come.

Merrill’s Marauders part of “Faith and Courage” exhibit at FDR’s Little White House through the holiday season

Graphic and exhibit artist Tom Walker (L) and Vietnam “Shake and Bake” reunion planners (L-R) Tony Dooley and Scott Guptill stand in front of the “Faith and Courage” display that was part of their October reunion in Columbus, GA.

 Merrill’s Marauders have received wide-spread publicity in Georgia this year thanks to the “Faith and Courage” military chaplains display created by graphic/exhibit artist Tom Walker from Sevierville, TN. “Faith and Courage” can be seen through the holiday season at FDR’s Little White House in Warm Springs, GA.  Alongwith an elaborate panel on triple-Combat Infantryman Badge Marauder Logan Weston, the Little White House exhibit includes some reproductions of Weston’s personal items including the bible he carried on the Burma mission that has a bullet sticking out of its spine.  The artifacts were not part of the shorter displays Walker set up in July for Ft. Benning Ranger Rendezvous or for the October Vietnam “Shake and Bake” reunion in Coumbus, GA.  However, honor plaques created by Walker on several Marauders were part of those displays.

First issue of new University of Wisconsin newsletter focuses on the state’s MIAs from battle of Myitkyina

Vaneesa M. Cook, who’s spearheading the Missing in Action Recovery Project at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, issued her first UW MIA RIP newsletter this Fall.  The newsletter brings readers up to date on Cook’s research in identifying and providing case summaries about Wisconsin’s soldiers considered MIA from the 1944 battle for the town of Myitkyina, Burma. She recently explained that research in Burma on the MIAs has temporarily been put on hold “because of the unrest in Myanmar right now.  However, I will be teaching a course/seminar on MIA Research for the history department and MIA Project in the Spring 2022 semester, and I will focus heavily on Merrill’s Marauders and the Battle of Myitkyina during that seminar.”  Cook was aided with her initial research in 2020 by the late Marauder historian Hansel Haycox alongwith some of the still-living Marauders. Most of the MIAs were replacements to the 5307th Composite Unit Provisional flown into the Myitkyina airfield from late May into July after only about 200 emaciated Merrill’s Marauders still capable of combat completed their objective of seizing the airfield May 17, 1944. The enemy’s subsequent quick fortification of the town of Myitkyina and the fight to hold the airfield led to heavy American losses, many of whom are still MIA.

Hunton Andrews Kurth law firm that helped Marauder Congressional Gold Medal become a reality has celebrated 120 years

The “pro bono” attorneys instrumental in helping the Marauders obtain a Congressional Gold Medal are: (L-R) Jennifer Yang, Paul Qualey, McKayla Dunn, Andrew Kasnevich, Scott Stone, Fred Eames, Marisa Harrilchak and Rachel Ball. Below are Marauders Gilbert Howland and Bob Passanisi.

Thanks to attorney Fred Eames in Washington, DC and attorney Scott Stone with Glencoe Strategies in Illinois, a team of lawyers from Hunton Andrews Kurth volunteered to be part of a “pro bono” effort to assist Merrill’s Marauders obtain the Congressional Gold Medal. Their dedication and teamwork, which included planning the second and third trips to Congress for Marauders “Bob” Passanisi and Gilbert Howland, were instrumental in pushing the 10-year Congressional Gold Medal effort across the finish line in 2020. Earlier this year, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP celebrated a 120th year anniversary. In 2018, Hunton Andrews Kurth was created when two century-old firms, Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon merged.

98-year-old Merrill’s Marauder “Gil” Howland continues to do what he loves most

The “pro bono” attorneys instrumental in helping the Marauders obtain a Congressional Gold Medal are: (L-R) Jennifer Yang, Paul Qualey, McKayla Dunn, Andrew Kasnevich, Scott Stone, Fred Eames, Marisa Harrilchak and Rachel Ball. Below are Marauders Gilbert Howland and Bob Passanisi.

Thanks to attorney Fred Eames in Washington, DC and attorney Scott Stone with Glencoe Strategies in Illinois, a team of lawyers from Hunton Andrews Kurth volunteered to be part of a “pro bono” effort to assist Merrill’s Marauders obtain the Congressional Gold Medal. Their dedication and teamwork, which included planning the second and third trips to Congress for Marauders “Bob” Passanisi and Gilbert Howland, were instrumental in pushing the 10-year Congressional Gold Medal effort across the finish line in 2020. Earlier this year, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP celebrated a 120th year anniversary. In 2018, Hunton Andrews Kurth was created when two century-old firms, Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon merged.