MERRILL; HOWARD DEAL
UNITED STATES NAVY
WORLD WAR II
UT
Individual Type Unaccounted For Missing In Action
Rank Ens
Service Number 85057
Location Hawaiian Islands
Date of Loss 12/07/1941
Unit USS Arizona; UNITED STATES NAVY
https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000004oJ6EAI

On December 7, 1941, Japanese carrier-based aircraft launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Navy base and ships at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. During the attack, the USS Arizona (BB-39) was struck by eight armor-piercing bombs. One penetrated the Arizona's deck near its No. 2 turret, causing a large explosion that destroyed the forward half of the ship and started a fire that burned for two days. It is thought that most of the Arizona’s crew members died instantly during the explosion. More than 1,100 sailors and Marines were lost along with the ship.

Ensign Howard D. Merrill, who entered the U.S. Navy from Utah, was aboard the Arizona at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was among the men lost with the ship, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Ensign Merrill is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Howard D Merrill