I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 667 
To award a Congressional gold medal to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provi-
sional), commonly known as ‘‘Merrill’s Marauders’’, in recognition of 
their bravery and outstanding service in the jungles of Burma during 
World War II. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 24, 2017 
Mr. KING of New York (for himself, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. ZELDIN, 
Miss RICE of New York, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, and Ms. GABBARD) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Finan-
cial Services, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned 
A BILL 
To award a Congressional gold medal to the 5307th Com-
posite Unit (Provisional), commonly known as ‘‘Merrill’s 
Marauders’’, in recognition of their bravery and out-
standing service in the jungles of Burma during World 
War II. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Merrill’s Marauders 
Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) In August 1943 President Franklin D. Roo-
sevelt and other allied leaders proposed the creation 
of an American ground unit that would engage in a 
‘‘long-range penetration mission’’ in Japanese-occu-
pied Burma. This unit’s mission would be to cut off 
Japanese communications and supply lines, and cap-
ture Japanese-held airfield and town of Myitkyina. 
(2) President Roosevelt issued a call for volun-
teers for ‘‘a dangerous and hazardous mission’’, the 
call was answered by approximately 3,000 American 
soldiers. The unit was officially designated as the 
‘‘5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)’’ Code Name: 
‘‘Galahad’’. Later it became known as ‘‘Merrill’s 
Marauders’’ named after its leader, Brigadier Gen-
eral Frank Merrill. 
(3) In February 1944 the Marauders began 
their approximately 1,000-mile trek through the 
dense Burmese jungle. The Marauders had no artil-
lery 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. 
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(5) During their march to Myitkyina the Ma-
rauders faced hunger and disease that were exacer-
bated by inadequate aerial resupply drops. Malaria, 
typhus, and dysentery inflicted more casualties on 
the Marauders than the Japanese. 
(6) By August 1944 the Marauders accom-
plished their mission, successfully disrupting Japa-
nese 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 re-
maining 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’’, later redesignated as the ‘‘Presidential 
Unit Citation’’. Each Marauder also earned a 
Bronze Star for his service. 
(9) Though Merrill’s Marauders were oper-
ational for only a few months, the legacy of their 
bravery is honored by the United States Army 
through the modern day 75th Ranger Regiment, 
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which traces its lineage directly to the 5307th Com-
posite Unit. 
SEC. 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 (Pro-
visional), commonly known as ‘‘Merrill’s Marauders’’, in 
recognition of their bravery and outstanding service in the 
jungles of Burma during World War II. 
(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 ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, 
devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(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 be-
came known as ‘‘Merrill’s Marauders’’, the gold 
medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, 
where it will be displayed as appropriate and made 
available for research. 
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(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should 
make the gold medal received under this Act avail-
able for display elsewhere, particularly at other loca-
tions and events associated with Merrill’s Maraud-
ers. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
Under such regulations as the Secretary may pre-
scribe, 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. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
Medals struck pursuant to this Act are national med-
als for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States 
Code. 
Æ 
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