World War II Honoree

William Z. Duncan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A RECONNAISSANCE OFFICER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE 5307TH COMPOSITE UNIT, (PROVISIONAL), OR BETTER KNOWN AS 'MERRILL'S MARAUDERS.' VOLUNTEERED FOR AND J0INED THE UNIT FOR TRAINING AT DEOGARH, INDIA. PARTICIPATED IN THE INDIA-BURMA CAMPAIGN DEEP INSIDE JAPANESE-OCCUPIED BURMA BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944 IN THE HUKAWING VALLEY TO SHUT DOWN JAPANESE OPERATIONS THERE. HIS UNIT CAPTURED MYITKYINA AIRFIELD ALONG THE IRRAWADDY RIVER ON MAY 17, 1944; AND CAPTURED THE TOWN OF MYITKYINA ON AUGUST 3, 1944. THE 'MARAUDERS' WERE A FORERUNNER TO ELITE RANGER UNITS FORMED LATER IN THE WAR. HE WAS ONE OF ABOUT 200 MEN, REMAINING FROM THE ORIGINAL 3,000 THAT WERE ASSIGNED, TO RETURN ALIVE FROM THE MISSION IN BURMA. IN ADDITION TO THE DANGERS OF COMBAT WITH ENEMY FORCES, HE WAS FACED WITH NEAR STARVATION, THE RAVAGES OF TROPICAL DISEASES, AND THE ALMOST-CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT HIS UNIT WAS ISOLATED ON THE BATTLEFIELD WITHOUT MUCH HOPE OF SUPPORT OR RESCUE. SUPPLIES, WHEN AVAILABLE, WERE DROPPED BY AIR AND WOUNDED WERE EVACUATED BY AIR TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. THE 'MARAUDERS' WERE DISBANDED ON AUGUST 10, 1944. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT IN BURMA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.