Original Items: Only One Set Available. Merrill’s Marauders (named after Frank Merrill) or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), was a United States Army long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the Southeast Asian theater of World War II, or China-Burma-India Theater (CBI). The unit became famous for its deep-penetration missions behind Japanese lines, often engaging Japanese forces superior in number.

The male officer's winter service uniform in 1941 consisted of a four-button, four-pocket coat of finer wool fabric in olive drab shade no. 51 (OD 51), a very dark olive green with brownish hue. The coat was worn with a russet brown leather Sam Browne belt until 1942 when the leather belt was replaced by a cloth belt of matching fabric. Officers could wear trousers matching the color and fabric of the coat, or optionally they were allowed trousers of a contrasting pinkish pale taupe, officially called "drab shade no. 54", of the same material as the coat. The combination was commonly called "pinks and greens". Officers were also authorized to use the more durable OD 33 enlisted uniforms, except for the enlisted men's four pocket service coat, as long as they were not mixed with OD 51 or taupe clothing.

This Class A uniform set consists of the OD 51 coat with matching color trousers. The coat features a lovely “Merrill’s Marauders” patch on the right shoulder and a 1st Engineer Amphibian/Special Brigade patch on the left.

Merrill’s Marauders Patch: The 5307th Composite Unit was a provisional unit and as such the US Army did not give it Unit Colors, a shoulder patch, or any other form of Identity, that the 5307th could call its own. It was the newspapers that gave the 5307th the name "Merrill's Marauders" after its Commanding Officer, Gen. Frank D. Merrill. The patch was
designed and adopted by the Marauders. The design, although never official, is the patch that every Marauder will tell you is the symbol of who they are.

The Colors: Blue, White, Red & Green represent 4 of the 6 Marauders combat teams.
The Sun: From the Chinese National Flag for the unit's close cooperation with Chinese forces in Burma.
The Star: Represents the "Star of Burma" for the Marauders area of operations.
The Lightning Bolt: Stands for the speed and force that the Marauders struck the enemy.

The coat features the standard Corps of Engineers Officers’ “Essayons” (Let’s Try) buttons. The Corps of Engineers' oldest and most time honored insignia is the exclusive Essayons Button. It has not changed in basic design since the war of 1812. It is still the required button for the Army Engineers' uniform.

Evidence which could establish the actual facts concerning the designing and adoption of the Essayons Button probably burned at West Point in 1838, when the building containing the library and earliest official Corps of Military Academy records caught fire.

However, while early Army regulations mentioned the "Button of Engineers... with only the device and motto heretofore established", apparently no authoritative detailed description of the button appeared until 1840. The Army prescribed new uniforms on February 18, 1840, in General Orders 7, AGO, which officially described the button as follows:

“An eagle holding in his beak a scroll with the word, 'Essayons,' a bastion with embrasures in the distance, surrounded by water, and rising sun; the figures to be of dead gold upon a bright field."

In 1902, when the Army adopted "regulation" buttons, it allowed only the Corps of Engineers to retain its own distinctive Essayons Button in recognition of the distinguished traditions that it symbolized.

All other devices include (3) loose ribbons pinned to the left breast; American Campaign, Asiatic Campaign (2 Stars) and Philippine Liberation. The right breast bears a Presidential Unit Citation.

The condition of both the coat and trousers are very good with minor moth nips present. There is no significant damage nor are there any names or laundry numbers present. This is truly a wonderful example of the famed WWII Class A uniform attributed to a member of Merrill’s Marauders.

Comes more than ready for display!

Approx. Measurements:
Jacket:-
Collar to shoulder: 11"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25"
Shoulder to shoulder: 17"
Chest width: 21"
Waist width: 18"
Front length: 32"
Hip width: 26"

Pants:-
Waist: 16.5"
Inseam: 29.5"