World Battlefronts: First in Burma

To the list of World War II specialists in close combat—Edson's and Carlson's Marine Raiders, British Brigadier Orde Charles Wingate's Raiders, Mountbatten's Commandos, U.S. Army Rangers—another was added last week. It was Merrill's Marauders, first U.S. foot soldiers to fight on the continent of Asia (see p. 29).

Frank Merrill of North Woodstock, N.H., knew no Congressman who would appoint him to West Point. He finally got to West Point the hard way—by competitive examination after three years as an enlisted man in the Engineer Corps. He finished in 1929, aged 25, went into the Cavalry.

Now 40, Frank Merrill is shy, studious,...