Joseph F. Merrell, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Joseph F. Merrell

United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Date of Birth: 21-Aug-1926

Place of Birth: Staten Island, New York, United States

Date of Death: 18-Apr-1945

Profession: military personnel

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Joseph Frederick Merrell (August 21, 1926 – April 18, 1945) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration – the Medal of Honor – for his actions in World War II. Merrell joined the Army from his birthplace of Staten Island in August 1944 (a week after his 18th birthday), and by April 18, 1945, was serving as a private in Company I, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.
On that day, near Lohe (a suburb of Nuremberg), Germany, he singlehandedly attacked German positions that were firing on his unit.
He disabled two enemy machine gun emplacements and killed nearly two dozen German soldiers before he was himself killed.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor (now on exhibit at Fort Wadsworth) ten months later, on February 26, 1946. Merrell, aged 18 at his death, was buried in Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, New York.