SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) In August 1943, President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt and other allied leaders proposed the cre-
ation of an American ground unit that would engage 
in a ‘‘long-range penetration mission’’ in Japanese- 
occupied Burma. This unit’s mission would be to cut 
off Japanese communications and supply lines, and 
capture 
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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:11 Mar 08, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4700.IH
H4700
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
against larger Japanese forces through 5 major and 
30 minor engagements. 
(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 Maraud-
ers 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’’, 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:11 Mar 08, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4700.IH
H4700
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
through the modern day 75th Ranger Regiment, 
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, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:11 Mar 08, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4700.IH
H4700
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
where it will be displayed as appropriate and made 
available for research. 
(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 3, 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:11 Mar 08, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4700.IH
H4700
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS