16-197 Garand Picture of the Day - 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)

[Mark in Rochester]

Information

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[CINDERS]

2nd GI with cig carrying a BAR, also the one in charge of the mules checking their hooves during the rest period just enough in the scrape to protect them from a ground burst artillery round but not an AB one fair bit of devastation on the hillside.

[browningautorifle]

Merrill's marauders aren't they?

[RudyN]

Merrill's Marauders, yes. From I have been told my Father's brother was with them. My Father was in the Navy from 1926 till 1956.

[Mark in Rochester]

Merrill's Marauders, yes. From I have been told my Father's brother was with them. My Father was in the Navy from 1926 till 1956.

See if your Father's brother is listed here





Special order #3
5307th Composite Group (Provisional)
January 5th 1944

These pages have been transcribed from the only known set of the original Special Order #3, from the 5307 Composite Regiment (Provisional), Dated: 5 January 1944. The 5307th was renamed the 5307 Composite Unit (Provisional) a few days later when General Frank D. Merrill took command of the unit. According to Army regulations a General cannot command a Regiment, so the 5307th was renamed a Unit. SO #3 is the orders transferring the original volunteers from the 3 separate travel and training Casual Detachments 1688A, 1688B, & 1688C into the newly named 5307 Composite Regiment (Provisional).

This is the first time since the unit was disbanded that a complete listing of the approximately three thousand volunteers for a "Dangerous and Hazardous Mission" has been located. Because the unit and the mission was Secret, and the fact that the unit would be operating completely behind the Japanese lines, record keeping was held to a minimum. Then most of the records that were kept were destroyed when a Japanese artillery shell blew up the pack mule along with the records it was carrying. Members of the Merrill's Marauders Association have searched the records in Washington for these orders, without finding them. The Association was able to gather about 70% - 80% of the names from bits and pieces of other orders and records.

This, the only known set of SO #3 became available thanks to the family of Marauder 1st Lt. Leonard E. Fielder, Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, 5307 Composite Unit (Provisional). Thanks to the generosity of 1st Lt. Fielder's wife Josephine and son Brad, The Association now has a complete listing of the original members of the Merrill's Marauders.

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