Merlin German

Sergeant Merlin German (USMC) - Sgt. German is a Marine from Manhattan, NY who enlisted in the corp in September of 2003. Sgt. Germans received several promotions during his service.

On 21 February 2005, Sergeant German's squad was on a mission to recon an unknown route from Jordan to Baghdad. While en route to Camp Ramadi, Sergeant German spotted an IED while standing in the turret at his Mk-19 machine gun. With no time to alert the driver, their HUMVEE was hit on a left side by a gas-fed shape charge explosive. Sergeant German was blown clear of the vehicle, and his fellow Marines helped extinguish the flames that had quickly burned 97% of his total body surface area.

Sergeant German was immediately transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where doctors stated Sergeant German had NO chance of living. He had a quick turn-around flight to the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio and he arrived on 25 February 2005. He was cared for as an inpatient for 17 months, and then resided as a guest of the Fisher House before purchasing his own home in San Antonio.

He fought bravely for more than three years but died in the hospital on Friday, while recovering from his most recent operation.

The Wounded Heroes Foundation provided grants to Merlin & his family and visited with him at BAMC. Sgt. German will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

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