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       Russell Hamler, Last of World War II’s Merrill’s Marauders, Dies at 99

       The foot soldiers marched and fought through harsh mountainous jungle on a mission to seize a Japanese-held airfield. Dozens did not survive.

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       Russell Hamler in 1942. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his time in the Army. Credit...via Hamler Family

       By Trip Gabriel

       Jan. 12, 2024

       The soldiers’ mission was as dangerous as it was audacious: a trek of more than 500 miles through mountainous jungle in northern Burma to seize a Japanese-held airfield in World War II.

       The threats were constant: fierce attacks by superior numbers of enemy troops, monsoon rains, tropical diseases and malnutrition.

       When the airfield was finally taken three months later, only 130 able-bodied soldiers remained of the 2,600 who had crossed into Burma in 1944 with Merrill’s Marauders, a fabled unit that was one of the forerunners of the Army’s Special Operations elite, the 75th Ranger Regiment.

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       A correction was made on Jan. 12, 2024

       : A photo caption in an earlier version of this obituary gave an incorrect date for a colorized photo of Mr. Hamler in uniform. The picture was taken in 1942, not 1945.

       When we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please let us know at nytnews@nytimes.com.Learn more

       Trip Gabriel is a national correspondent. He covered the past two presidential campaigns and has served as the Mid-Atlantic bureau chief and a national education reporter. He formerly edited the Styles sections. He joined The Times in 1994. More about Trip Gabriel

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