Moody colonel humbled by ‘marauders’

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. --  In front of an audience of aging veterans, a Moody colonel spoke about his own life, and expressed his thanks and admiration for what those in the audience did almost 70 years ago.

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey W. Decker, 23d Maintenance Group commander, spoke to veterans and families at the 66th Merrill's Marauder's reunion in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 1.

"It's always a challenge getting a speaker because we have no budget," said Jerrie Daly, Treasurer and Reunion Coordinator for the Merrill's Marauders Proud Descendants. "We can't pay them, so the most we can do is offer them dinner... We asked Decker, and he said he would be more than happy to speak at the reunion."

The Merrill's Marauders, officially the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), was a U.S. Army unit specifically organized, trained and equipped for long-range penetration missions behind the lines of Japanese held Burma. The unit, which was inspired by the British Chindits, got its name after the commander, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Merrill.
One interesting point Decker mentioned was that the unit he is assigned to now, the Flying Tigers, flew missions in many of the same areas the marauders later fought during World War II.

"This was all about recognizing their service and sacrifice, and tying it into what we do today," said Decker.

Decker also noted some similarities between the challenges the marauders faced and the ones faced by today's service member.

"There is a lot we can learn from them," the colonel said. "These lessons are timeless. There are many challenges we face today, that are the same as what they faced... Just like the marauders, we are fighting a determined enemy."

For Decker, one of these lessons is the leadership of Merrill himself. While Merrill was out in the field with his men, he never wore his rank. He marched along with his men and had two heart attacks before he was evacuated.

Decker also acknowledged the differences between today's deployments and operations the marauders participated. The marauders suffered from hunger, diseases and battles with a well-equipped enemy. By the end of the campaign, the men had marched 750 miles through dense jungle in less than six months. They also fought five major engagements on 32 separate occasions. When the unit was disbanded Aug. 10, 1944, and the final muster was called, only 130 of the original 2,997 members were combat effective.

"After studying up on the campaigns fought by Merrill's Marauders, I am somewhat embarrassed by the campaign I just fought in over in Afghanistan," Decker said during his speech at the reunion. "Being posted at Kandahar, Airfield which received its fair share of indirect rocket fire and a few attempted base incursions, we still had TGIFs, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, a PX with computers for sale, Coca Cola and Pringles potato chips, hot showers every day, and air conditioning. So my embarrassment was only compounded by the realization that 10 miles on a daily basis was the expected march pace and dealing with over 300 pack animals vice motor transport was an additional challenge. A distance I drove a few times daily in my air-conditioned Ford Explorer.

"Bottom-Line my respect for those who slugged it out in the Burmese jungles has grown even more and my appreciation for their fighting at Walawbum, Shaduzup, Ritpong, and Myitkyina, though overshadowed by places such as Normandy and Okinawa, were just as important in the overall war effort and a speedy conclusion to the hostilities."

Decker's appreciation for the marauders didn't go unnoticed.

"The marauders love having a military speaker because they understand and respect them," said Daly. "He showed a huge amount of respect to them and they appreciated it. He was kind, gentle and affirmative of everything the marauders went through."