Current oldest Army Ranger Gabriel Kinney was one of three Merrill's Marauders to speak with UNG cadets on March 4.
Article By: Clark Leonard
About 60 University of North Georgia (UNG) cadets had a chance to ask questions and learn from the experiences of three World War II veterans during a March 4 breakfast.
The veterans were part of the group that inspired the documentary "They Volunteered for This: Merrill's Marauders," a film which premiered on March 3 at UNG and will air later this year on PBS.
"It was absolutely sacred. As time passes, there are only so many opportunities to learn from soldiers who are in the generations before us," cadet Col. Ryan Jones, a senior from Richmond, Virginia, pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies, said. Jones is the Corps of Cadets brigade commander.
Retired Col. Joseph Matthews, UNG commandant of cadets, wrote a research paper on Merrill's Marauders when he was an Army captain. The Marauders were a top-secret, commando unit of soldiers who fought in Burma under the legendary Gen. Frank D. Merrill in 1944.
"The jungle warfare techniques of long-range reconnaissance behind enemy lines showed the courage and the leadership of the Marauders," Matthews said. "They faced amazing challenges against the Japanese military and the jungle environment. It taught me to lead with courage."
The Marauders who took questions from cadets were current oldest Army Ranger Gabriel Kinney, 101, from Alabama; Gilbert Howland, 98, a triple Combat Infantryman Badge recipient from New Jersey; and Bob Passanisi, 97, from New York.
Cadet Capt. Benjamin Yetman, a senior from Kennesaw, Georgia, pursuing a degree in history, gained valuable insight from the Marauders.
It was absolutely sacred. As time passes, there are only so many opportunities to learn from soldiers who are in the generations before us.
Cadet Col. Ryan Jones
Corps of Cadets brigade commander
"The in-class instruction at UNG is phenomenal, but opportunities to visit with distinguished veterans like the Merrill's Marauders add invaluable experience as I prepare to commission as a second lieutenant in the Army," Yetman said. "To hear from the veterans who were a part of World War II was a powerful opportunity, and I am thankful to have heard about the events from their perspective."
During the war, the Marauders were not supplied very well and had to use mules to move from place to place to carry what supplies they did have.
The Japanese thought the soldiers were actually a group of 15,000-plus due to their success with being in so many places, and because of the damage and casualties they were able to inflict. The Marauders received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2021.
Cadet Capt. Hayley Farmer, a senior from Griffin, Georgia, pursuing a degree in criminal justice, will commission into the Army's infantry branch in May and hopes to one day attend Ranger School, making the opportunity to hear from the Marauders more special for her.
"Getting to meet them and hear their stories was incredible," Farmer said.
Matthews was grateful UNG hosted the Marauders.
"They truly are the Greatest Generation," Matthews said. "They are the epitome of leading with courage, and that's what we want to instill in our cadets."
