Merrill's Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act

To award a Congressional gold medal to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly known as Merrill’s Marauders 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Merrill’s Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) In August 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other allied leaders proposed the creation of an American ground unit that would engage in a long-range penetration mission (2) President Roosevelt issued a call for volunteers for a dangerous and hazardous mission 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) Galahad Merrill’s Marauders (3) In February 1944 the Marauders began their approximately 1,000-mile trek through the dense Burmese jungle. The Marauders had no artillery support and carried their supplies on their backs or the pack saddles of mules. (4) Over the course of their 5-month trek to Myitkyina, the Marauders fought victoriously against larger Japanese forces through 5 major and 30 minor engagements. (5) During their march to Myitkyina the Marauders faced hunger and disease that were exacerbated by inadequate aerial resupply drops. Malaria, typhus, and dysentery inflicted more casualties on the Marauders than the Japanese. (6) By August 1944 the Marauders accomplished their mission, successfully disrupting Japanese supply and communication lines, taking the town of Myitkyina and the Myitkyina airstrip, the only all-weather airstrip in Northern Burma. (7) After taking Myitkyina only 130 Marauders out of the original 2,750 were fit for duty. All remaining Marauders still in action were evacuated to hospitals due to tropical diseases, exhaustion, and malnutrition. (8) For their bravery and accomplishments the Marauders were awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation (9) Though Merrill’s Marauders were operational for only a few months, the legacy of their bravery is honored by the United States Army through the modern day 75th Ranger Regiment, which traces its lineage directly to the 5307th Composite Unit. 3. Congressional gold medal (a) Award authorized The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly known as Merrill’s Marauders (b) Design and striking For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary (c) Smithsonian institution (1) In general Following the award of the gold medal referred to in subsection (a) in honor of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), who became known as Merrill’s Marauders (2) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal received under this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations and events associated with Merrill’s Marauders. 4. Duplicate medals Under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 4, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 5. Status of medals Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51

Summary: Merrill's Marauders Congressional Gold Medal Act This bill directs the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to arrange for the award of 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 (now Myanmar) during World War II. Following its award, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution where it will be displayed and made available for research. It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations and events associated with Merrill's Marauders.