GENERIC LETTER
Dear Representative Thomas Garrett
My name is Metta Tanikawa, and I am a resident of Virginia. My father-in-law was a member of Merrill’s Marauders as a muleskinner conducting artillery in the 3rd battalion. Althoughhe has passed away, we would like to see the 40 to 50 Marauders still living todayreceive the well-deserved Congressional Gold Medal.
I respectfully request that you co-sponsor the legislation introduced by Representative Pete King (R-NY), H.R. 667, To award a Congressional gold medal to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly known as "Merrill's Marauders", in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service in the jungles of Burma during World War II.
At the August 1943 Quebec conference, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and other Allied leaders agreed to have the United States issue a call for volunteers for a “dangerous and hazardous mission” and a warning that 85% were not expected to survive. Their missions were to disrupt and sabotage enemy operations and to capture the town of Myitkyina, which had all weather airport and controlled access to the Burma Road, which was used to transport war material from India to China.
From Feb 24 – Aug 10, 1944, 3,000 men volunteered to serve on the 1st American Long-Range Penetration Group behind Japanese lines in Burma. These brave men were frequently outnumbered by the Japanese army, suffered severe jungle diseases and endured jungle maladies such as leaches and fungus. In their 6-month campaign, they walked over 1000 miles with only what they and a few mules could carry and were sustained with limited airdrops. The Merrill’s Marauders accomplished its mission with only 200 men left standing, and opened an essential supply line to include the Myitkyina airstrip, which sustained the Allied forces in northern Burma to include the Chinese Army. TheU.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment pays tribute to the their legacy by wearing the Marauder patch as their crest and it would be an honor for the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.
Please consider co-sponsoring this invaluable legislation. If there is any other information you need that will help you to arrive at an early decision, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be pleased to meet or to speak on the telephone with you to discuss this very important topic.
Very respectfully,
Metta Tanikawa
4397 Sunset Ct
Warrenton, VA 20187
540-272-3290