Local WW II hero Rose Miller of Pensacola served with Merrill’s Marauders in Burma By Jody Higgins Yancey Times Journal, June 3, 2013 Rose Miller lived his life quietly in the Pensacola community and most people had no idea of the sacrifices this unassuming mountain man made for his country during World War II. Now in his nineties, his health is failing and he lives with his niece just outside Burnsville. Bob Wilson, who organizes a bi-annual Pensacola reunion, has collected many stories and photos of the community’s residents, including those who served in the military. Bob, a past president of Yancey History Association, felt the impressive story of Rose Miller’s service in the war deserved recognition. The World War II veteran was honored by YHA with a ceremony on the Town Square during “Hero Day” May 25, 2013. Rose is the son of the late George and Ruley Miller and was born and raised in Pensacola. He was inducted into the army in 1943 and trained for service in the European campaign but found himself on a ship headed for India where he was trained for jungle warfare with the U.S. Army 5307th Composite Unit, more commonly known as “Merrill’s Marauders.” Named for Frank Merrill, they were a long-range special operations jungle warfare unit. The transport ships—two loaded with soldiers and one with 800 mules—made their way toward India. While in route, the Japanese torpedoed the ship in the Arabian Sea that was carrying the mules. Half the animals were lost, and had to be replaced with 360 Australian water horses that had been with the 112th Calvary in New Caledonia. They would learn later that the horses didn’t fare as well in the jungles as the mules. His unit was trained in Bombay for long-range penetration of Japanese lines through some of the harshest jungle terrain on the planet. The unit then traveled to Deogarth and trained extensively until the end of January 1944. The mules could maneuver much more efficiently than vehicles through the rugged landscape. Heavy artillery support was sacrificed in favor of mobility. In February of 1944 they began an 800-mile march into the Burmese jungle with the mules and horses carrying supplies and ammunition. Additional supplies were air-dropped along the way. Their mission was to take out the town of Myitkyina, and airfield that were key Japanese strongholds, to cut the enemy’s lines of communication, and in general, wreak havoc. During their five-month march to Myitkyina, the Marauders fought against larger Japanese units and won by using the element of surprise, expert marksmanship, and small unit tactics. The Marauders also faced hunger and disease in the jungle, exacerbated by inadequate aerial supply drops. Malaria, typhus, and amebic dysentery inflicted more casualties on the soldiers than did the Japanese. When they arrived at Myitkyina on May 17, 1944 the remaining 1,300 Marauders, sick and hungry, joined with elements of two Chinese units to engage the Japanese. Finally, with reinforcement by a Chinese army division landed by air, the town finally fell to the Allies in August. Of the Marauders, 272 were killed, 955 wounded, and 980 evacuated for illness and disease; some men later died from cerebral malaria, amoebic dysentery, and/or scrub typhus. At the end, Rose Miller suffered a flesh wound in the lower leg from a sniper. “I was sent forward to find out why our troops had stopped moving,” he explained. “I came upon several of our men. I told them the Lieutenant said to move out. They informed me there was a sniper up ahead picking off anyone who moved forward. I was scanning the woods up ahead when I saw a puff of dust come from under a bush. At the same time, it felt like a hammer hit me just below the knee and I went down.” His wound was treated and he was able to continue with the unit. In August 1944, the town of Myitkyina fell to the Marauders and factions of the Chinese army. Only 130 officers and men out of the original 2,750 soldiers were fit for duty. A week later, the 5307th was disbanded. In recognition of their incredible feat his unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and every member was awarded the Bronze Star, something that had never been done in military history. Rose was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received during the Burma Campaign. He was also shot in the upper leg in another battle. He still has the two patches from his uniform for the “China-Burma-India Theatre” and “Merrill’s Marauders.” Although Merrill’s Marauders were only operational for the six-month mission, the legacy of their gallantry is honored by the U.S. Army through the modern-day 75th Ranger Regiment, which traces its lineage directly to the 5307th Composite Unit. Some of the information in this story comes from the National World War II Museum collections.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 14:47:55 +0000
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