[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 116 (Thursday, September 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S9599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page S9599]]

Senate

                    TRIBUTE TO ALVIN SEYMOUR MERRILL

  Mr. HATCH. Madam President, I am grateful for the opportunity today 
to pay tribute to a wonderful man, loving husband, father, and 
grandfather, and a true hero--Mr. Alvin Seymour Merrill. Al recently 
passed away after living a lifetime of dedicated service to his family, 
community, and to our country. Al was my brother-in-law and a person 
whom I truly admired and respected for the love and devotion he 
displayed not only to my sister and their children and grandchildren, 
but to the ideals of freedom America represents.
  Al was born and raised in a rural Utah farming community. He was the 
seventh of nine children, raised by a widowed mother. His work on the 
farm led him to a life of service in the United States Marine Corps, 
USMC. It was while he was waiting for some farm machinery to be 
repaired in Salt Lake City that he was approached by a recruiter for 
the USMC and asked to join the service. He signed the paper, and was 
shortly on his way to boot camp. This fortuitous day led to long and 
distinguished 20 years of active duty as a Marine. He loved the Marines 
and gladly answered their call of duty in many places throughout the 
world.
  Al rose through the ranks in the USMC and became a First Sergeant a 
position only entrusted to the best and bravest. He served in the 
Korean and Vietnam Wars and received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze 
Star for extraordinary valor and heroism. He was also a survivor of the 
historic Korean Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. In fact, his name is 
forever etched on a monument at Utah's Hill Air Force Base honoring the 
men who survived this battle.
  Al's respect and love for the Marines didn't end with his active 
duty. He took great pride in escorting war dead after the Korean War 
and arranging proper burials for his fellow Marines. He also served as 
a drill instructor and trained many new recruits entering the Marine 
Corps. His dedication to this training was extraordinary--he wanted all 
Marines to have the best training possible in case they might also face 
combat.
  It was Al's service in combat which led to his death many years 
later. During service in Vietnam, Al was exposed to Agent Orange. He 
didn't realize this had happened until 30 years later when it began to 
attack his body and slowly rob him of his life. When asked if he was 
bitter about this exposure he replied, ``No, I knew the risks when I 
signed up.'' In addition to this exposure, Al carried shrapnel in his 
body as a result of injuries sustained in fighting for our country.
  I cannot even begin to express what his quiet bravery and dignity has 
meant to his family and to all those who knew him. He was a true war 
hero and an example of someone who was willing to give the ultimate 
sacrifice in defense of our country and the freedom we cherish.
  Al was also an ROTC Instructor at the University of Utah, and South 
and Cottonwood High Schools in Utah. He retired from an honorable 
career with the Utah Transit Authority. In addition, he was also 
politically active and always found time to help candidates running for 
office get elected. Al was elected himself to serve one term in the 
Utah House of Representatives.
  Al chose to live his life in service to his fellow men, not only in 
the Marines but also in his community and his church. He served three 
full-time missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 
spreading his message of Christ's love and hope to people throughout 
our Nation.
  Al was fortunate to marry a wonderful, devoted woman, my sister, 
Frances Hatch Merrill, who stood by his side for 47 years. Her devotion 
to him and his life was an inspiration to all as we watched her help Al 
with serious health challenges and remain a steadfast partner until the 
end. Al and Frances were blessed with eight children and 12 
grandchildren whom they love very much.
  Mr. President, Al Merrill's life was dedicated to service and it is 
this legacy of faith and strength that he will leave to his family.
  We just buried him recently in Arlington National Cemetery in a 
wonderful plot right near the administration building. We are so 
grateful to the Marine Corps for what they have done to help us in the 
memorialization of this wonderful man. We are so grateful for the 
Marine Corps members who showed up to represent him at the cemetery. We 
are so grateful to the Marine Corps person who played taps for my 
brother-in-law.
  Al Merrill was a wonderful man and a true American hero. I never 
heard him once brag about his service, and he was in both wars. 
Everybody who knew him knew what a wonderful man he was. I will be 
eternally grateful for the example he set for all of us to follow. Al 
Merrill was truly a giant among men.
  I have been reading a history of the Marine Corps and he is mentioned 
prominently throughout this history, what he meant as an example of 
morality and decency to other young recruits through the years and as 
he grew older in the corps. He told my sister one time: Fran, you have 
to know that the Marine Corps comes first.
  That was nice for him to say; we knew his family and his wife came 
first, but the Marine Corps came an equal first, no question about it.
  Thank you for this opportunity to honor Alvin C. Merrill and the life 
he lived in service to his family, his community, and to our great 
country of America.

                          ____________________