More detail on this person: Passing of LTG
James H. Merryman - June 24, 2003.
I just received the following from Carl McNair on
the death of Jim Merryman. Jim made a supreme
effort to be with us at the last convention. He
will be greatly missed.
General Jim Merryman died at Walter Reed Army
Hospital this morning at about 8:00AM after a
lengthy bout with cancer. Jim reentered Walter
Reed in mid April shortly after the 2003 AAAA
Convention in Fort Worth, and remained in the
hospital until his passing today. The AAAA
meeting and participation on The Aviation Heritage
Panel was his last major outing and something he
really wanted to do and am glad we were able to
work out the details for his attendance.
Funeral arrangements are being made by Demaine
Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield,
VA. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery
on a date yet to be determined. Details on
time/date and any special requests will be
provided by the family at a later date. I will
keep you advised as I learn of them. Jim is
survived by his wife, Jane, and his only son, Jim,
and a brother Bob, who resides in Arkansas.
Jane Merryman's address is 7830 Belleflower Drive,
Springfield, VA 22152-3116.
James H. Merryman, 74, a retired Army lieutenant
general whose last assignment was as assistant
deputy chief of staff for research, development
and acquisition, died of cancer June 24 at Walter
Reed Army Medical Center. He lived in
Springfield.
Gen. Merryman, who was commissioned in 1951,
served as commander of a combat aviation battalion
and an aviation group in Vietnam. He also served
tours in Europe and with the Army General Staff.
Gen. Merryman's posts included service as Army
Aviations Director, commanding general of the U.S.
Army Aviation Center and deputy chief of combat
development with the Army Training and Doctrine
Command.
In his last assignment, he was instrumental in the
development and acquisition of such successful
weapons systems as the AH-64A/D Apache Attack
Helicopter, the M1 Abrams Tank and the M2/3
Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
After retiring from active duty in 1984, he worked
until last month as board chairman of Leica Corp.
in the United States.
Gen. Merryman, a former Alexandria and Arlington
resident, settled in the Washington area in 1964,
when he was assigned to the Federal Aviation
Agency.
Gen. Merryman, a biology graduate of Henderson
State Teachers College in his native Arkansas, was
commissioned in the infantry in 1951. He
transferred to
the Armor Branch in 1955 and became an artillery
officer in 1959.
He graduated from Army fixed-wing and helicopter
schools and also was a graduate of the Army
Command and Staff College and the Army War
College. He
also took advanced courses at the Army artillery
and armor schools.
Gen. Merryman's military decorations included the
Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the
Legion of Merit, three Distinguished Flying
crosses, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service
Medal, 25 Air medals and three Army
Commendation medals. He also wore the Master
Aviator Badge and was a member of the Army
Aviation Hall of Fame.
He was a member of the Messiah United Methodist
Church in Springfield.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, the former
Jane Frantz, of Springfield; a son, L. James
Merryman of Boulder, Colo.; a brother; and two
granddaughters.
Published in 2003 The Washington Post Company
From: Bill Harris AAAA
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association