Billman, Merlin W.

MERLIN WALLACE BILLMAN

SEAMAN 1st CLASS
U.S. NAVY 

Merlin Wallace Billman was born October 25, 1944 in Waynedale, Indiana to Flavius and Gladys Billman. He had four brothers (LeRoy, Ernest, Homer, and Carl), three sisters (Marjory, Evelyn, and Lula Belle), and a half sister (Elsa). The young family spent time in Berne and Geneva, Indiana before moving to Ridgeville, Indiana. Merlin's brother Ernest died a few days shortly after his birth. His brother, Tec 5 LeRoy Billman, served in the 101st Airborne Division and died as a result of wounds during the Battle of The Bulge. A third brother, Homer stayed home and worked in factories during the war supporting his mother and father. His father, Flavius, was a WWI Veteran and worked as a blacksmith for many years in Ridgeville, Indiana. His mother passed away in 1947, leaving many of the younger children to be cared for at the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors Children's Home in Knightstown, Indiana. 

When he reached high school, Merlin moved to Geneva, Indiana where he attended Geneva High School. From there, he enlisted into the US Naval Reserve at the age of 17.

On November 18, 1943, Merlin enlisted in the U.S. Navy from Indianapolis, Indiana. On May 19, 1944, he was assigned to the USS Braine and achieved the rank of Seaman First Class. The USS Braine was a Fletcher-class destroyer which was assigned a variety of roles in WWII including convoy & carrier escort duty, anti-submarine, and anti-aircraft warfare. During his time on this destroyer, he served as a gunner.

Shortly after Merlin arrived on the USS Braine, he took part in the Battle of Tinian. Tinian is one of the northern islands in the Mariana Islands. It was originally occupied by Japan until the US saw it as an opportunity to help with bombing operations over mainland Japan. The USS Braine served as a support ship on June 14, 1944, where it was hit by a six-inch shore battery leaving it with minor damage. The USS Braine remained as a support ship in the Mariana Islands until June 23, 1944. In addition, the USS Braine took part in the Battle of Leyte and the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf. These battles were important in the retaking of the Philippines.

Merlin died May 27, 1945, while on the USS Braine during the Battle of Okinawa. Since the USS Braine was a radar picket (radar equipped station), they were prone to being attacked by the Japanese to destroy their radar capabilities. There were four Japanese kamikaze planes headed towards the USS Braine and the USS Anthony. The first two planes were immediately shot down, but the other two dove straight into the USS Braine. When the first plane hit, it destroyed just above the bow of the ship. This took out all of the gunners inside the number 2 handling room with the 40mm gun. It also caused two major fires on the bridge of the ship and the sick bay area. The second plane hit the base of the second funnel on the ship, and the blast knocked men into the ocean. The damage caused by the two kamikaze planes left many wounded and killed along with fires lasting up to four hours. Merlin was one of the men labeled as missing and later confirmed as killed in action. 

Of the 12,000 Americans killed during the invasion of Okinawa, nearly 5,000 were killed by approximately 2,000 separate kamikaze attacks as part of Operation Ten-Go. This was the Japanese militaries last ditch effort to protect the mainland from an American invasion. One of the pilots responsible for the attack on the USS Braine, was 17-year old Yukio Araki. Yukio is the youngest known kamikaze pilot and wrote letters to his family before his mission. The letters reveal a young man proud of what he has been chosen to do for his emperor. 

Seaman 1st Class Merlin Billman was buried at sea off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. His name is memorialized on the  Wall of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii and at the Peace Memorial Park commemorating the Battle of Okinawa, Okinawa Japan. 

For his service and sacrifice, Tec 5 Billman earned the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and WWII Victory Medal. Billman also earned the Combat Infantry Badge.

Information collected and researched by Evan Birch, 2015. 

SOURCES

Keefe, Joseph P. "The Kamikaze Attack on the USS Braine, May 27, 1945." National Archives, 23 June 2020, text-message.blogs.archives.gov/2020/06/23/the-kamikaze-attack-on-the-uss-         braine-may-27-1945/. Accessed 21 Dec. 2022.

Kirkland, Richard. "HISTORY OF USS BRAINE (DD 630)." USS BRAINE DD630, Nov. 2001, bobrosssr.tripod.com/630hist.html. Accessed 21 Dec. 2022.

"Merlin Wallace Billman." Ancestry Classroom, www.ancestryclassroom.com/family- tree/person/tree/170261299/person/192338327658/facts. Accessed 21 Dec. 2022.

"Second of Billman Sons Killed in War." The Berne Witness [Berne], 22 June 1945, p. 73. Berne Public Library, bernepublicin.advantage-preservation.com/. Accessed 21 Dec. 2022.

Willshaw, Fred. "USS BRAINE (DD-630)." NavSource Naval History, www.navsource.org/archives/05/630.htm. Accessed 21 Dec. 2022.

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