Kenneth Merritt

{{Short description|American military parachutist}}

{{Orphan|date=October 2017}}

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Kenneth Merritt

| honorific_suffix = CSM Retired

| image = File:President Barack Obama's Trip to France - DPLA - f8dd9107f23393d031e0238f39b2b52b.jpg

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| caption = President Barack Obama talks with Merritt aboard Marine One after departing the 70th French-American Commemoration D-Day Ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France, June 6, 2014.

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| native_name_lang =

| birth_name = Kenneth J. Merritt

| other_name =

| nickname = Rock

| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|08|23}}

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| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|03|10|1923|08|23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/amp/obituaries/fayettevilleobserver/198010266|title=Kenneth Merritt Obituary - (1923 - 2021-03-10) - Fayetteville, NC - Fayetteville Observer|website=www.legacy.com}}

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| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1942-1977

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| rank = Command Sergeant Major

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| battles = Operation Market Garden
Battle of the Bulge
D Day

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| spouse = Sally{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/48050|title=Retired Fort Bragg Soldier shares almost 70 years of memories|publisher=}}

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Kenneth "Rock" Merritt is known for his service with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, especially during World War II. As a parachutist, he made jumps during D Day, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

During his 35-year military career, he became closely associated with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Early life and education

Merritt was born in Warner, Oklahoma on August 10, 1923.{{Cite book|title=The Devils Have Landed: WWII|last=Milkovics|first=Lewis|publisher=Creative Printing and Publishing Inc.|year=1993|isbn=0963627503|location=Longwood, Florida|pages=59}}

Before enlisting in the military, Merritt served in the Civilian Conservation Corps at the age of seventeen to help support his family. He was discharged from the CCC five weeks after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He then went to work building Camp Gruber in Oklahoma and later Camp Hale in Colorado. Later on, he became employed at a naval shipyard in California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.benning.army.mil/INFANTRY/OCOI/content/pdf/DB_Winner/CSM%20Kenneth%20Rock%20Merritt.pdf|title=*35 Years of Outstanding Service* Kenneth J. (Rock) Merritt - Private to Technical Sergeant|last=Stoeckert|first=George F.|date=October 19, 2004|website=Fort Benning, United States Army|access-date=June 6, 2017}}

Military career

After his involvement in the CCC, he wanted to join the Marine Corps. When he was in the recruitment office waiting to talk to the recruitment sergeant, he was inspired by a poster depicting a soldier with a machine gun descending to the ground strapped into a parachute. Under the image was the words "Are you man enough to fill these boots?" Merritt then decided he wanted to become a paratrooper. He enlisted in the Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma on October 15, 1942, when he was 19 years old.

He was then sent to Camp Blanding, Florida on October 20, 1942, where he joined the newly activated Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Merritt attended parachute school in February 1943 at Fort Moore, Georgia (formerly Fort Benning) and received his wings three weeks later, making him a qualified parachutist. His first time in combat was on the night of June 6, 1944.

Merritt was promoted to corporal at Camp Mackall, North Carolina and had been trained there for advanced infantry and airborne operations training.

Merritt was nominated by Lieutenant George Lamm for the Silver Star and was presented with it by General Matthew Ridgway for disabling a German machine gun nest,{{Cite web|url=http://www.normandytothebulge.be/D-Day%202014_011_Kenneth%20Merrit.html|title=Kenneth Rock Merrit}} during fighting at Hill 131 near La Cuiroterie, France on July 3, 1944.{{cite web|url=http://www.fayobserver.com/4e6c6085-5901-527e-b96f-dcd5a4099ed0.html|title=D-Day by Parachute: A soldier alone in the middle of the invasion|first=Drew Brooks Military|last=editor|publisher=}} Although Merritt was never assigned to George Lamm's unit, he was attached to the company from Normandy through the Battle of the Bulge.

Merritt retired from the military at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (formerly Fort Bragg) on December 1, 1977.{{cite web|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/12/01/army-dropping-number-of-paratrooper-units.html|title=Army Dropping Number of Paratrooper Units|first=Amy|last=Bushatz|publisher=}}

Later life

Merritt attended remembrance ceremonies for the D-Day landings in France in 2014 with other World War II veterans and world leaders.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/world/article494391/World-honors-D-Day%E2%80%99s-fallen-70-years-later.html|title=World honors D-Day's fallen, 70 years later|publisher=}}

In 2016, Merritt was the Grand Marshall for the annual Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade.{{cite web|url=http://www.wral.com/fayetteville-veterans-day-parade-to-honor-the-greatest-generation-/16199599/|title=Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade honors the 'Greatest Generation' :: WRAL.com|last=WRAL|date=5 November 2016|publisher=}}

Personal life

Awards

  • Silver Star{{cite web|url=http://www.fayobserver.com/d499359e-d1eb-518a-9a3f-704ca39d6244.html|title=As WWII veterans die, we lose connection to history|publisher=}}{{Cite book|title=History of the 508th Parachute Infantry|last=Lord|first=William G.|publisher=Battery Press|year=1977|isbn=9780898390025|location=Nashville, Tennessee|pages=111}}
  • North Carolina's Order of the Long Leaf Pine
  • Doughboy Award

References

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