YOUNG OFFICER STUDIED JAPS IN JAPAN       
            AND NOW HEADS YANKS IN BURMA STAB   
Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill, 39, Won West Point Appointment by Service in Ranks, Lived
With Enemy's Army in 1937 Maneuvers and Shared Stilwell's Historic March in 1942
From Territory He Is Now Re-entering With the American Spearhead.

BY CHARLES A. GRUMICH   Associated Press Staff Correspondent

   ON the North Burma Front - The first all-American penetration into Burma is headed by 39-year-old Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill of North Woodstock, N.H., a one-time buck private who as an officer came to know the Japanese warrior caste through a long, warily intimate association with Tojo's generals in their homeland.
AMONG YOUNGEST OF ARMY'S GENERAL LINE OFFICERS, BRIG. GEN. FRANK MERRILL IS CARRYING OUT STILWELL'S PLEDGE TO "GO BACK AND RETAKE" BURMA.

Important among his many qualifications for his significant job is the fact he walked out of Burma two years ago with Lieut. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell who maintained then that "we got a hell of a beating" in the country and "we ought to find out what caused it, go back and retake it." One of the youngest general line officers in the United States Army, Merrill was hand-picked by Stilwell to lead the expedition spearheading the eventual redemption of that famous pledge, steeped both in humility and determination, which the general uttered at the end of his long dismal retreat.
Long before he became a general, Merrill had thoroughly studied the Japanese military system while serving as a language student officer and later as assistent military attache in Tokyo. He learned to read, write and speak Japanese and picked up a working knowledge of Chinese and dialects which are handy in the tribal jungle and uplands. He enlisted in the engineers as a youngster and was plucked from the ranks in Panama to attend West Point from which he was graduated in 1929. Thereafter the Army sent him through a special course in engineering at Massachusetts Tech and then to cavalry school at Ft. Riley, Kans.

On Maneuvers With Japanese

In 1937 he was attached to the Japanese Army on maneuvers when he cultivated many friendships among the officers. He now is perhaps the foremost American Army authority on Japanese military thought. He especially sought out the younger Japanese officers, who are those now commanding. Some of the Japanese, their tongues loosened by liquor, told him it was unfortunate they would have to fight America "because the American government doesn't understand the Japanese position. We like Americans, because we feel more like you than anyone else."
General Merrill remained in Japan until October, 1941. From Japan he went to Manila to become intelligence officer to General Douglas MacArthur. He was on a flying mission to Rangoon at the time of Pearl Harbor. In Burma he was an observer with the British forces and was transferred to Stilwell's command when the latter arrived in Burma with Chinese troops.


   NORTH WOODSTOCK, N.H., March 7 - Frank Merrill just didn't get discouraged when a doctor told him in early youth that he had a minor eye ailment that would disqualify him from West Point, nor did he quit when doctors at "the Point" told him five times he was physically unfit. On his sixth try, he won his way into West Point and today he is leading the first all-American penetration into Burma, as Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill.
The story of Merrill's fight to get into the Army came today from his attractive wife, the former Lucy Wright of Cincinnati, at her home here in Franconia Notch, scenic fantasy in summer and winter sports center in the winter. She told of how he ran away and joined the Army Engineers after he was told he could not go into West Point from civil life.

Family Out of Tokyo in 1941

The Merrill family was in Tokyo until 1941 when all but the general were evacuated here. Mrs. Merrill, fond of the surroundings at Franconia because of summer vacations spent there in the past, brought her family of two sons, Frank Jr., 12, and Thomas, 6, to North Woodstock for the duration.
Merrill was born in Hopkinton, Mass., noted as the start of the annual Boston A.A. marathon races. He grew up in Amesbury, Mass., and from his early boyhood cherished the ambition to become a West Pointer.
"A doctor told him he had astigmatism, however, and could not make it," Mrs. Merrill related today. "So he ran away and joined the Army. He went to Panama and finally worked his way up to sergeantcy. Five times he tried to get into the Point and each time he was rejected. Finally, on his sixth try, he made it."
Where did they meet? She chuckled as she recalled a visit she made to a girlfriend in Vermont. They went to Ft. Ethan Allen. There she was introduced to the tall, rugged, young cavalry officer, fresh out of West Point. That was in 1929. A year later they were married.
Mrs. Merrill last heard from her husband three weeks ago, she said, and at that time he wrote her not to expect any more mail from hom "for some time" but "you keep writing to me."
"I had an idea they were going somewhere, but of course, I didn't know where. I'm delighted to know he got field duty again. That was what he always wanted."
Asked of her impression of Japan, gained during her three years of life there, while her husband was assistant military attache, she thought a moment and replied: "I have very definite opinions of the Japanese." She declined to elaborate.
What was her reaction on learning her husband was leading the Americans into Burma?
"I'm glad because I know he is delighted to be in the field. And I'll keep those letters going to him."








YOUNG OFFICER STUDIED JAPS IN JAPAN           
            AND NOW HEADS YANKS IN BURMASTAB

As published in the March 8, 1944 issue of the Kansas City Star

Original article courtesy of Joe Davis

Adapted by Carl W. Weidenburner







Similar better quality picture of Gen. Merrill used in this adaptation









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