WWII jungle fighting unit approved for Congressional Gold Medal

A 1944 jungle fighting unit that operated in present-day Myanmar during World War II has been approved to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, according to The Associated Press.

The unit, dubbed “Merrill’s Marauders,” operated at the time in Japanese-occupied Burma and will join more than 160 individuals and groups that have received Congress’s highest honor, which dates back to the American Revolution.

The Marauders, officially the Army 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), set off on their secret mission to destroy Japanese supply lines and upset communication with 3,000 soldiers. Upon completing the task five months later, the unit was down to less than 200 men, many of whom died from the approximately 1,000 mile journey itself.

Robert Passanisi, among one of the few remaining unit survivors, began petitioning to help the Marauders obtain the honor in 2016. In September a final bill was approved, and on Oct. 6 it was sent to the White House to be signed by President Trump.

The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment regarding if Trump will sign off on the honor.