First Composite Radio Company

Fleet Marine Force Pacific

With 1st Composite Radio Company 1962 - 1965

Below is a letter presented to Bob Merle upon retirement from the Corps after 28 years of service:

   MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT ROBERT P. MERLE

                UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.       

Master  Gunnery Sergeant Merel transfers to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve after completing 28 years of active service.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Merle was born in New York City, New York on 7 November 1939.  He attended Bishop Dubois High School and graduated in 1958.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps on 25 September 1958 having served 2 years in the New York National Guard.  His first duty assignment after recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. was as a motor vehicle operator with 2d Pioneer Battalion, 2d Marine Division.  He transferred to Washington, D.C. in 1961 where he spent a year at the Naval Language School.  In June 1962 he was transferred to 1st  Radio Battalion, Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii where he was temporarily assigned to the Republic of Vietnam on two occasions.  From May 1965 to July 1967  he was a member of D Company, Marine Support Battalion in Okinawa.  Upon return to the United States, he made a lateral move to the logistics field.  He was then transferred to the Force Logistics Command in the Republic of Vietnam from August 1698 to August 1969 where he earned the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat "V".  Subsequently he was transferred to Marine Air Control Squadron 3, El Toro, California as Services Chief.  In November 1970 , he was assigned as the Combat Cargo Assistant for the Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.  In July 1973, he became the Combat Cargo Assistant aboard the USS El Paso (LKA 117).  Returning to shore duty in August 1975 he became the Logistics Chief at The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia.  In February 1978, he reported to the Commissioning Unit of the USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) as a Combat Cargo Assistant and became a "Planknower".  Upon completion of this sea duty in 1979, he assumed duties as the Logistics Course Developer at the Marine Corps Institute, Washington, D.C.  In addition, he was assigned duties as the Senior Enlisted Host at ceremonies at Marine Barracks, 8th & "I", and was promoted to Master Gunnery Sergeant.  At the completion of  his tour, the Navy Commendation Medal was awarded to him for outstanding service.  In April 1983, he transferred "across town" and assumed duties  controlling Table of Equipment allowances at Headquarters, U>S> Marine Corps, and later joined the I Marine Amphibious Force in April 1985 as the Combat Service Support Chief.

\Master  Gunnery Sergeant Merle and his wife, Marie, have a son, Stephen, who is a Lance Corporal assigned to the 2d Marine Division.  They plan to retire in the Washington, D.C. area.    

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