I missed the end of the Third Reich. On January 10, 1945, I was select-ed for a ten-day furlough in the United States, and missed the terrible months Hq1 men and my platoon fought through the bitter cold, heavy snow, and the Siegfried Line.
On June 20, 1945, I returned to Hq1 in Heddernheim, Germany and resumed my position as the Light Machinegun Platoon Sergeant.
I served 35 years in the United States Army; and, during that time I served in many different units - the 508th PIR was absolutely the finest. It had the best officers, the best noncommissioned officers, and the finest men with whom I have ever served.” CSM Kenneth Merritt served two tours as the Command Sergeant Major of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
He was nominated for the position of Sergeant Major of the United States Army in 1963, 1970 and 1973.
Rock completed 200 parachute jumps and in 1958 was awarded a "Gold" Century Parachute Badge by the Original Airborne Association.
Rock Merritt's numerous awards and decorations include:
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Silver Star Medal
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Legion of Merit Medal
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Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters
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Meritorious Service Medal with two clusters,
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Army Commendation Medal with three clusters
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Combat Infantry Badge
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Presidential Unit Citation
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Masters Parachutists Badge with two combat jump stars.
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National Defense Medal
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European Theater of Operations Medal with Invasion Arrowhead and four battle stars
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European Victory Medal, and the Occupation Medal with Germany Bar.
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French Fourragere with Palm
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Belgium Fourragere
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Orange Lanyard of the Royal Netherlands Army.
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