Colonel James L. Merchant II

Colonel James L. Merchant II (USA, ret), 84, of Daniel Island, SC passed away peacefully at home on September 20, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Born on May 19, 1937 in Manning, SC, Jim graduated from Chicora High School in 1955 and from Clemson University with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1959 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army. Jim attended the US Army Primary Helicopter training facility in Fort Wolters, TX and the Advanced Helicopter Training Center in Fort Rucker, AL and logged over 950 hours of combat missions as a UH-1 Huey and later AH-1G Cobra pilot in Vietnam. Jim received his MBA from Georgia Southern University and was a graduate of the US Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Jim retired from the US Army in 1986 after serving in his last official capacity as Chief of Staff, USA SETAF in Vicenza, Italy. Jim was an Army officer with strong principles and a deep moral conviction who espoused taking care of his soldiers as his most sacred trust. He was passionate about golf and Clemson University football. Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather and recently great-grandfather who will be dearly missed. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Suzann H. Merchant and his son, Colonel James L. Merchant III of Tampa, Fla. Jim is survived by his son, Robert Merchant (Sandy) of Grafton, Mass.; his grandchildren, Robert Merchant (Melody) Jr. of Santa Monica, Calif. and Steven Merchant of Zionsville, Ind.; and great-grandson, Robert Merchant III. His remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined later. Flowers are gratefully declined, and the family asks that those wishing to make a contribution in his memory do so to either The James L. Merchant III Endowed Scholarship through The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, S.C. 29409-6230 or The Wounded Warrior Foundation, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.