The Marauders, officially designated by the Army as the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), have been approved by Congress to be awarded its highest honor: the Congressional Gold Medal.
FILE - This Aug. 2, 1944 photo, courtesy of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, shows members of the famed WWII Army unit Merrill's Marauders less than 75 yards from enemy positions, on display during a gathering of remaining members, family and history buffs, in New Orleans. The unit that spent months marching and fighting behind enemy lines in Burma has been approved to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest honor.
In February 1944, the American jungle fighting unit nicknamed Merrill's Marauders set out to capture a Japanese-held airfield and open an Allied supply route between India and China. Starting with 3,000 soldiers, the Marauders completed their mission five months later with barely 200 men still in the fight.
Passanisi enlisted his fellow surviving Marauders and the families of many who have died to begin lobbying for the honor four years ago. A final bill approved in September was sent Oct. 6 to the White House, where it awaits President“After many years, all the sacrifices, and the suffering, are now finally recognized,” said Passanisi, of Lindenhurst, New York. “It makes you feel like it was all worthwhile.
Marauders spent most days cutting their way through dense jungle, with only mules to help carry equipment and provisions. They slept on the ground, and rarely changed clothes. Supplies dropped from planes were their only means of replenishing rations and ammunition. Malnutrition and the wet climate left the soldiers vulnerable to malaria, dysentery and other diseases.
The medals are individually designed for each set of winners and can take more than a year before they’re ready to be presented. As young corporal in charge of 16 Marauders manning two machine guns, Howland got wounded by artillery fire when their battalion was surrounded by Japanese fighters. While recovering at a hospital in India, Howland and other wounded Marauders received a desperate order to return to the fight.
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