Units
Merrill’s Marauders
Updates – Plus More
China Burma India Theater
1943-1944
January 2022
Everyone,
I hope all of you are enjoying a safe and healthy entry into the new year.
This first Merrill’s Marauder UPDATE for 2022 is a “special” distribution to let you know that Marauder “Gabe” Kinney turns 101 in February and that the premiere showing of the WW II Foundation’s PBS Marauder documentary will be March 3rd at University of North Georgia .
Please take a few minutes to read these important news items.
Jonnie Melillo Clasen
Merrill’s Marauder liaison officer
Daughter, Merrill’s Marauder & Korean War veteran Vincent Melillo
706 689-0153 H NO TEXTS
Marauder and oldest Army Ranger “Gabe” Kinney turns 101 Feb. 2nd
Merrill’s Marauder Gabriel “Gabe” Kinney will celebrate his 101st birthday Feb. 2, 2022, with his wife, Elena, family and friends in Alabama. He is one of only six Merrill’s Marauders who have lived past the century mark. And he is one of only five remaining Marauders out of almost 3,000 who fought in the China Burma India Theater in 1944. Kinney is now the oldest living Army Ranger. Another Marauder centenarian, Nisei Tom Tsubota, lived to 102. There are 17 WW II Rangers remaining with the oldest being retired MG John C. Raaen JR at 99, according to David Williams with Sons and Daughters of WW II Rangers. Kinney’s last remaining sibling, Patrick, died in 2019 at 107. Patrick was also a China Burma India Theater veteran, but did not serve as a Marauder.
PLEASE use the address below if you would like to mail birthday wishes.
Gabriel “Gabe” Kinney
27440 County Road 13
Apt. 219
Daphne, AL 36526
PLEASE click the two small rectangles to see the cover and inside of a 100th birthday card to Kinney with more information about his history.
“Save the date – March 3, 2022” to attend premiere of PBS Marauder documentary at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega
Please read carefully the flyer above that the University North Georgia distributed this week asking people to mark their calendars for March 3, 2022. That’s the date award-winning filmmaker Tim Gray will have the WW II Foundation’s premiere of its PBS Merrill’s Marauder documentary in Dahlonega, GA, home of Camp Frank D. Merrill. Marauders Gabriel Kinney, who turns 101 Feb. 2nd, and Gilbert Howland, 98, NJ, will be attending. It is hoped that Marauder Bob Passanisi, 97, NY, will also be able to attend. Kinney, Howland and Passanisi are three of only five remaining Marauders.
PLEASE NOTE the only information currently available is:
Date: March 3, 2022
Time: 7 PM
Location: University of North Georgia
Other specific information will be shared by UNG as soon as it is available. There will not be a host hotel. People hoping to attend should make reservations at one of the hotels or other accommodations in the area.
75th Ranger Regiment Association, Inc.
PO Box 2200
Orangevale, CA 95662