Charles N . Hunter Charles Newton Hunter ( January 11 , 1906 Oneida , New York - June 14 , 1978 Cheyenne , Wyoming ) was the author of the book " Galahad " ( 1963 ) a first person account of the Burma Campaign in World War II . Galahad was the code - name for the U . S . Army ' s 5307th Composite Unit ( provisional ) , better known as Merrill ' s Marauders . " " Colonel Charles N . Hunter had been with Galahad from the beginning as its ranking or second ranking officer , had commanded it during its times of greatest trial , and was more responsible than any other individual for its record of achievement . " " West Point . Hunter began his Army career as a West Point graduate . From page 169 of the West Point " Howitzer " Yearbook , Class of 1929 , we learn that he was known to his classmates as " " Newt " " from his middle name , " Newton . " He is described as having a " " . . . ruddy countenance , slightly tilted nose , sandy hair , and twinkling blue eyes carry an appeal that can pass unnoticed by no mortal lass . " " WWII and Training for Burma . Following the Quebec meeting between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill a decision was made to create long range penetration groups to get behind the Japanese lines as a part of an overall Asian mainland offensive . Lieutenant Colonel Hunter , with three years of experience in the Philippines , two years in the Canal Zone doing jungle warfare training , and most recently in charge of the combat training course in the infantry school , Fort Benning , Georgia , was put in charge of the shipment of the new unit to India and their subsequent training . " " Colonel Hunter was able to obtain enough Galahad volunteers with previous experience with mules or horses to take care of the 700 pack animals in the 5307th . Each Special Force brigade also utilized up to 1 , 000 mules . Special attention was given to the very difficult training of the animals and their handlers for river crossings . Problems in this area , if not solved promptly , could hold a jungle column up for hours on a river bank . During the course of the operation , the men grew to love many of their animals , and they cared for and protected them just as if they were fellow soldiers . Incidentally , the Special Force debrayed their pack animals for security . Hunter , however , refused to debray Galahad ' s animals , stating that braying was one of the few pleasures a jackass enjoyed . He later claimed that to his knowledge their brays never posed a noise problem . Apparently , the mules were just too tired to bray . " " " " As a final training preparation before going into battle , Hunter hiked Galahad over 140 miles from their last assembly area to their jump - off site beyond Ledo . He claimed that this decision , despite its unpopularity , accomplished a number of goals . It completed the conditioning of the men and animals ( who had lately undergone a soft three weeks of travel time by train ) . Next , it allowed the muleteers and their animals to adjust to each other on the trail . Furthermore , it ' sweat in ' the pack saddles to the animal ' s backs . And finally , it eliminated unfit men from the ranks . Hunter stated that , " ' More than any other single part of Galahad ' s training , the hike down the Ledo Road , in my professional judgment , paid the highest dividends . ' " Having completed this arduous hike with full loads , marching primarily at night over mountainous terrain , the men of Galahad lacked no confidence in their ability to meet the physical demands of the coming operation . " " Merrill ' s Marauders and Burma . In February 1944 , under command of brigadier general Frank Merrill , 2 , 503 men and 360 mules began a 1 , 000 mile march - out of India , over the Patkai region of the Himalayas and deep into the Burmese jungle . But on March 29 , General Merrill suffered his first heart attack and command returned to then executive officer , Colonel Hunter . Following months of forced marches through monsoon season , weakened by hunger and malnutrition , suffering from amoebic dysentery , malaria , various fevers , snake bite , scrub typhus , and fungal skin diseases they were reaching the end of their ability to continue . Captain Fred O . Lyons said the last thing keeping him going had been not letting Colonel Hunter down : August 3 , 1944 , following the last battle , Myitkyina was declared secure and on that day Col . Hunter was sent back to the United States . After five major battles and seventeen minor engagements only two men survived without being hospitalized or killed . One was a lieutenant Phil Weld , who later became famous for his single - handed ocean racing of small sailboats . The other was Colonel Charles N . Hunter . After the war . After World War II , Colonel Hunter was Deputy Chief of Staff of the 4th Army and Commanding Officer of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio , Texas . He retired to Cheyenne , Wyoming , home of his wife , Don Mae , who died February 27 , 1970 of heart failure . Of their three daughters , only his youngest , Sara is alive today . Anne died in 1959 and Sue in 1977 .