WWII Hero Honored with Congressional Medal

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

During World War II, around 3,000 U.S. soldiers embarked on a mission behind Japanese lines to seize an airfield in Burma that would open a crucial supply route between China and India. Officially known as the 5307th Composite Unit, the group was later given the moniker Merrill’s Marauders after its commanding officer, Frank D. Merrill. Through months of combat, the Marauders endured illness, exhaustion, heat, monsoons, and a 1,000-mile trek through dense, nearly impenetrable jungles. When they ultimately captured the airfield in 1944, their numbers had plummeted from 3,000 to 200, and fewer than 120 returned home alive.

One of these heroes, Donald L. Hale, was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal — the highest civilian honor given by Congress — during a ceremony last month at Congressman John Carter’s office.

"Right here in our backyard, we had a hero," says Colonel Terry M. Wilson, state representative for District 20. While Donald did not talk much about his war experience, he often enjoyed sharing memories with his family of caring for the pack mules, having brought two of the animals with him when he returned to Oklahoma after the war. His daughter, Jarrell Alderwoman and Mayor Pro-tem Rusty Bryson, says, “My dad was an animal lover, so he talked about making sure they were well taken care of as best they could.”

When he was discharged from the Army, Donald took a few months to recover then served as a flight line mechanic in the Air Force until his retirement in 1967. He died in 1997. He and all his brothers received the Purple Heart for their service.

Freedom Fighters

While all of Merrill’s Marauders were honored with Congressional Medals during a virtual ceremony in May 2022, Rusty wanted to wait until she could accept the medal for her dad in person, saying, “It’s bigger than a video."

On June 1, she and her family finally had that opportunity. “It is a major honor to accept it on my dad’s behalf. We are extremely proud. I can’t explain the emotions when we finally larned it had gone through both the House and the Senate," Rusty says, describing a two-year process of letter writing and seeking support from congressmen and senators. "It was one of the last things President Trump signed before he went out of office.”

She adds that her dad, along with most men of his generation, were humble and didn’t ask for awards or recognition.

“They did what every man did — fight for our freedoms.”

Congressman Carter called her dad’s presence a blessing for all who knew him, and “his commitment to his nation helped keep us free.”

Col. Wilson also praised the dedication of Merrill’s Marauders. “Right now, at this point in time, our nation needs more of that. I know there’s enough of our young people serving today to be our Marauders of tomorrow.”

Photos by Emily Taylor and Rusty Bryson