Lt. Merritt Is Killed In Holland

Second Lt. Thomas J. Merritt, 19, of the airborne infantry, was killed in action Oct 11 in Holland, it .was learned here yesterday. He was the son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. Carleton E. Merritt, formerly of Duluth and now of Fort Bragg, N.C.

Lieutenant Merritt attended Duluth elementary schools and Shattuck Military academy at Faribault, graduating in 1943. He enlisted in the army prior to graduation, and entered basic training immediately after leaving school, On completion of basic training he was assigned to officer candidate school at Fort Benning, GA and was commissioned in the infantry in December, 1943, when he was 18.

He was sent to England in June and took paratroop training in that country, joining an airborne infantry division.

His father was a member of the 125th Field Artillery and left Duluth with that unit in March, 1941. He served throughout the course of the American campaign in North Africa and returned to the United States in July. 1943.

In addition to his parents, Lieutenant Merritt is survived by a sister, Sallie.

Grave marker for 2nd Lt. Thomas J. Merritt at Plot G Row 3 Grave 10 in Margraten American Cemetery, Holland.

Lt. Merritt was killed in action on October 11, 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart.