Bill Text: NJ AR251 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Respectfully urges Congress to pass legislation awarding Congressional Gold Medal to "Merrill's Marauders."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-23 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR251 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR251-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Respectfully urges Congress to pass legislation awarding Congressional Gold Medal to "Merrill's Marauders."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging Congress to pass legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to World War II "Merrill's Marauders."
Whereas, In August 1943, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill proposed the creation of an American ground unit that would engage in a "long-range penetration mission" in Japanese-occupied Burma to cut off communications and supply lines and capture northern Burma's only strategic, all-weather Myitkyina airfield; and
Whereas, President Roosevelt's 1943 call for volunteers for this "dangerous and hazardous mission" was answered by approximately 3,000 American infantrymen from the United States mainland, Caribbean, and South Pacific, representing fifteen ethnic groups; and
Whereas, The top-secret commando unit was officially designated as the "5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)," code named "Galahad," and later became known as "Merrill's Marauders" after the unit's leader, Brigadier General Frank D. Merrill; and
Whereas, In February 1944, "Merrill's Marauders" began their approximate 1,000-mile march through the dense Burma jungle and up the outlying ranges of the Himalayan Mountains with no artillery support and bringing only the supplies they could pack on their backs or mules; and
Whereas, The Marauders endured starvation, disease, monsoons, and isolation, which were exacerbated by inadequate aerial resupply drops, the treacherous journey, and continuous skirmishes and battles with enemy troops; and
Whereas, Despite being vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied, "Merrill's Marauders" victoriously defeated the much larger, elite Japanese 18th Division in five major battles and 30 minor engagements; and
Whereas, After successfully seizing northern Burma's only all-weather Myitkyina airfield, only about 130 out of the approximate 3,000 original members remained fit for combat, the others having been wounded, incapacitated by diseases, or killed in action; and
Whereas, For their bravery and accomplishments, each member of "Merrill's Marauders" was awarded a Bronze Star and the unit received the "Distinguished Unit Citation," later re-designated as the "Presidential Unit Citation"; and
Whereas, The legacy of "Merrill's Marauders" is honored by the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, which traces its lineage directly to the unit, which successfully freed Burma's airspace so supplies could be flown in to forge a critical Allied Forces pathway into China; and
Whereas, In 2019, during the 75th anniversary of "Merrill's Marauders" successful mission in Burma, United States Representative Peter T. King of New York introduced H.R.906 and United States Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia introduced S.743, both titled the "Merrill's Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act," to honor the unit; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to respectfully urge the United States Congress to pass H.R.906/S.743, the "Merrill's Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act," to recognize and honor the extraordinary service, bravery, and sacrifice of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) during World War II; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass legislation, currently pending before the United States House of Representatives as H.R.906 and the United States Senate as S.743, which awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly known as "Merrill's Marauders," for their extraordinary service, bravery, and sacrifice during their 1944 campaign in the China-Burma-India Theater, known today as the "forgotten theater of World War II."
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States House of Representatives elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the "Merrill's Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act," currently pending before the House of Representatives as H.R.906 and the United States Senate as S.743. H.R.906/S.743 acknowledges the contributions and sacrifices made by the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly known as "Merrill's Marauders," during their successful 1944 Burma campaign under almost "impossible" conditions in the China-Burma-India Theater by awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to the unit. This congressional recognition of the unit is fitting and proper as "Merrill's Marauders" disruption of enemy supply and communication lines enabled them to seize northern Burma's Myitkyina airfield, which freed airspace so supplies could be flown in over the Himalayas to create a critical Allied Forces roadway into China. The year 2019 represents the 75th anniversary of "Merrill's Marauders" successful Burma mission and ultimate victory in the China-Burma-India Theater.
