Author:
Fred Miller,USN Ret
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Date Posted: 22:29:57 11/20/02 Wed
In reply to:
's message, "503rd Infantry, 4th Battalion" on 18:35:49 02/25/00 Fri
The following article was published in today's (11-20-02) edition of the Saratoga Springs (NY) "The Saratogian"
Ceremony honors war hero
CARI SCRIBNER, For The Saratogian November 20, 2002
BALLSTON SPA -- Friends, family and former schoolmates of Carl Lee Merchant gathered Tuesday to honor the Vietnam War veteran, who was killed in action in 1968.
Born on Sept. 11, 1943 to parents Jennie and Charles, Merchant was a popular student at Corinth Central High School, where he was voted class president and captain of the football team. Merchant enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 1, 1967, and was a paratrooper in the 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. He was killed on March 18, 1968 while engaged in hostile ground action in the Kontum Mountains, Hill 1050, in the Republic of Vietnam.
Merchant was honored as this month's recipient by the Saratoga County Honor-A-Deceased Veteran's Committee. Among those at the ceremony were Merchant's mother, Jennie, brother Bill Merchant, sister JoAnn Aiken, aunt Mary Reynolds and her husband Eugene, and Pat and Walter Thomas. Merchant's grown children, Andrew and Anita, were unable to attend.
''Carl was my oldest son, and it was very difficult then, and it's very difficult now, to realize he's gone,'' said Jennie Merchant, whose bright blue eyes glazed with tears. ''You never forget. I've held onto all his medals and pictures, and I keep everything in a memory chest that Carl built in his high school woodworking class.''
During his service, Merchant was awarded the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, the Purple Heart, Bronze Star for meritorious service against hostile forces, and the Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal and Gallantry Cross with Palm. He was promoted posthumously to the grade of Sergeant E-5.
Fred Cady, who attended with his wife, Joan, was a classmate of Merchant, as was Rose Farr, who now serves as town clerk for Corinth. Both recall Merchant as a fun-loving, well-liked kid.
''He was an all-around great guy,'' Farr said. ''These ceremonies remind of what's important, especially around the holidays.''
Family members were presented with the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal, and the 173rd Airborne Army Brigade Patch. A flag flown in Washington, D.C. in Merchant's honor will be given to the family after it is flown outside the Saratoga County Municipal Building for one month.
Fellow veteran Martin Torrey, a member of Sen. John Sweeney's office, spoke movingly of Merchant, and thousands like him, who gave their life for their country.
''George Washington once said that a country could be measured by the way it remembers its veterans, and let's hope we can live up to that,'' Torrey said. ''In 1968, I was just about to graduate from high school, and I was obviously a lot better off than Carl was at that time. America lost so much potential during that time, and when we honor Carl, we honor all veterans.
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