[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10373]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN MEMORY OF MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT GINO MERLI

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                           HON. DON SHERWOOD

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 2002

  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and remember an American 
hero . . . World War II Medal of Honor recipient Gino Merli. Mr. Merli 
passed away yesterday at his home in Peckville, Pennsylvania, at the 
age of 78. The son of a coal miner, Gino Merli lived a life defined by 
the words ``service'' and ``sacrifice''.
  At a time when America was at war, much like today, Mr. Merli 
answered his internal call to service and enlisted in the Army, even 
before graduating from high school. He was a teenage machine gunner in 
September of 1944, when, in the vicinity of Sars la Bruyere, Belgium, 
his company was overrun by the superior firepower and numbers of an 
attacking German force. Private First Class Merli and his assistant 
gunner resolutely held their position covering the withdrawal of his 
fellow soldiers and blunting the attack of the enemy.
  During the night, the Germans assaulted Pfc. Merli's position killing 
his assistant gunner and capturing the position. Pfc. Merli feigned 
death by slumping down aside his assistant gunner and endured many 
bayonet thrusts to determine if he and his gun crew were out of action. 
When the Germans moved on, he would jump back to his machine gun and 
engage the enemy with fire. Throughout the night, Pfc. Merli remained 
with his weapon and repeated this process several times until daybreak. 
As morning dawned, the Germans had suffered such heavy losses that 700 
surrendered. Pfc. Merli's commanding officer found him still at his 
weapon, covered in his assistant gunner's blood, with 52 enemy dead 
around his position.
  When informed by his commanding officer that he would be recommended 
to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, Pfc. Merli stated that his 
assistant gunner who had made the ultimate sacrifice should be the 
recipient. He said that his gunner was the ``true'' hero. Pfc. Merli's 
only request was to attend church.
  This moment defined the courage, integrity and conviction of young 
Merli. He demonstrated the ability to think under tremendous pressure 
to fulfill his duty. At its core, courage is the ability to think and 
act under pressure while realizing the potential costs of your actions. 
He demonstrated his integrity as he recommended his assistant gunner 
for our nation's highest military honor, for the gunner had given his 
last full measure of life in the execution of his duty. And he 
manifested his selfless religious convictions as he walked to church to 
pray for his fellow fallen soldiers and those German soldiers whose 
lives he had taken.
  Last Saturday, the History Channel aired a special on Mr. Merli's 
First Infantry Division known as the Big Red One. I recommend that all 
in this House take the time to view it. As Mr. Merli recounts the 
events of that night in Belgium to Roger Mudd, the emotional loss of 
his assistant gunner, whom Mr. Merli views throughout time as the real 
hero that night, tears welled up in his eyes. Selfless as always, Mr. 
Merli states that the true heroes are the American soldiers who did not 
come back and gave their lives in the service of their nation.
  Upon returning from the war, Gino Merli served our nation's veterans 
for thirty-four years as an adjudication officer at the Veterans 
Administration Center in Plains Township, Pennsylvania. Service and 
sacrifice were the foundations upon which he lived his life. This 
nation has been truly blessed by men such as Mr. Merli who have 
sustained us in times of war and healed the veteran in times of peace.
  In a letter to an appreciative citizen, Mr. Merli wrote:

       Not everyone can be a Medal of Honor recipient. But 
     everyone can take pride in himself--have pride in his 
     heritage. We must always keep trying to better ourselves and 
     our surrounding and we must never quit. Always remember 
     America is you and me.

  I want to assure the many military men and women from Northeastern 
Pennsylvania and throughout the country who are serving in harm's way, 
that this nation will never break the sacred promise between the 
veterans and the people for whom they have sacrificed.
  Mr. Merli fought the good fight in peacetime and war. He will be 
sorely missed, but his actions and sacrifice and service to his country 
will never be forgotten. From a grateful American people and nation we 
extend our condolences to Mr. Merli's family. Godspeed Pfc Merli, we 
know that you will hold the high ground until relieved.
  Mr. Speaker, I request that Mr. Merli's Medal of Honor Citation be 
included as part of the permanent Congressional Record for future 
generations to honor and read.

       The President of the United States in the name of The 
     Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to:
       MERLI, GINO J.--Rank and organization: Private First Class, 
     U.S. Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and 
     date: Near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium, 4-5 September 1944. 
     Entered service at: Peckville, Pa. Birth: Scranton, Pa. G.O. 
     No.: 64, 4 August 1945.
       Citation: He was serving as a machine gunner in the 
     vicinity of Sars la Bruyere, Belgium, on the night of 4--5 
     September 1944, when his company was attacked by a superior 
     German force. Its position was overrun and he was surrounded 
     when our troops were driven back by overwhelming numbers and 
     firepower. Disregarding the fury of the enemy fire 
     concentrated on him he maintained his position, covering the 
     withdrawal of our riflemen and breaking the force of the 
     enemy pressure. His assistant machine gunner was killed and 
     the position captured; the other 8 members of the section 
     were forced to surrender. Pfc. Merli slumped down beside the 
     dead assistant gunner and feigned death. No sooner had the 
     enemy group withdrawn than he was up and firing in all 
     directions. Once more his position was taken and the captors 
     found 2 apparently lifeless bodies. Throughout the night Pfc. 
     Merli stayed at his weapon. By daybreak the enemy had 
     suffered heavy losses, and as our troops launched an assault, 
     asked for a truce. Our negotiating party, who accepted the 
     German surrender, found Pfc. Merli still at his gun. On the 
     battlefield lay 52 enemy dead, 19 of whom were directly in 
     front of the gun. Pfc. Merli's gallantry and courage, and the 
     losses and confusion that he caused the enemy, contributed 
     materially to our victory.

     

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