Private Bobbie L. Merrill, was granted the Distinguished Service Cross because of his extraordinary heroism on 27 March 1945 while a member of the 77th Infantry Division. Assigned to Company D, 305th Infantry Regiment, Private Merrill was first gunner of a machine gun protecting the left flank of the defensive area where the unit was dug in on a ridge above the town of Asa, Zamami Shima, Ryukyu Islands. At 0200 the enemy opened up an intensive mortar and grenade barrage and then attacked in force. Bearing the brunt of the concentrated assault, Private Merrill and his comrades delivered deadly fire from two machine guns, and succeeded in repulsing the enemy advance. Although painfully wounded in the arm and face by grenade fragments, he refused to withdraw to the medical aid station, and remained at his post, fighting off two more fanatical attacks which reached the gun positions. Wounded in the leg in the violent hand-to-hand combat which ensued he continued to beat off the frenzied attackers. When with mounting intensity the enemy attacked for the third time, he emptied his pistol into the charging forces, and grasping an intrenching tool, attacked and killed a Japanese officer. Seizing the dead man’s saber, he turned upon another enemy officer and engaged him in a violent duel, finally killing him. With unflagging determination he pressed the fight, and charged the remaining enemy, who turned and fled in terror. 27 Japanese dead were counted the next morning in and around the machine gun position which he and his comrades had held so valiantly. Through his aggressive fighting spirit and indomitable will to destroy the enemy, Private Merrill played an important part in preventing a disastrous breakthrough of the company defense, and set an inspiring example of bravery to all members of the command.

Mr. Merrill joined the L.O.V. in 1979 and resided in California.