United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Merrill A. Sweitzer Jr.

1935 - 2025

Lieutenant Colonel Merrill A. Sweitzer, Jr., United States Marine Corps

February 20, 1935 - October 5, 2025

Salladasburg, Pennsylvania - Merrill Arden Sweitzer, Jr 90, of Salladasburg, PA died October 5, 2025, at 4:15am at the Gatehouse Hospice facility in Williamsport.

Born on February 20, 1935, in Oval PA where he spent many hours of his youth working on his grandad's and uncle's farms. He was the son of the late Merrill A. Sweitzer Sr and Helen Sue Mantle Sweitzer.

On December 28, 1957 in Jersey Shore's Saint Luke's Catholic Church he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Therese (Terry) Ann Lauler, who died April 30, 1981 in State College, PA from lung cancer, the daughter of John W. Lauler M.D. and Ruth Ann Crandall, Jersey Shore, PA.

He graduated from the Jersey Shore Area High School in 1953. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Lock Haven University in 1957 and his Master of Education degree from Miami University, Oxford, OH in 1970. While at Lock Haven University he was on the Dean's List, Captain of the Track and Field team, State Champ in the mile 1956 & 1957, winning 46 dual meet consecutive races, an all-time school high. He was President of the Secondary Education Association and Secretary of the Varsity Club. His best times in the mile (4:17), half mile (1:58) and two-mile (9:42) were attained one year after college graduation as a member of the Second Marine Division Track and Field Team at Camp Lejune, NC.

After graduating from college with encouragement from John Lauler, a brother-in-law, he joined the United States Marine Corps, attended Officer Candidate School, Quantico, VA and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in December 1957. From January 1958 to July 1978, a period of twenty years, he served in the United States Marine Corps as a Marine officer. He was promoted to First Lieutenant, Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel. During his twenty-year career he performed with professionalism, superior leadership and unwavering devotion to duty rendering distinguished service to his country, upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. Highlights of his career include (1) Aide to the Commanding General Second Marine Division, Major General Weisman (2) Commanding Officer, Marine Detachment USS Hunley AS 31 stationed in Holy Loch, Scotland (3) Tactics Instructor at the Basic School, Quantico, VA (4) Operations Officer 6th Marines, 34th Marine Expeditionary Unit and 8th Marine Amphibious Brigade (5) Executive Officer 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division Reinforced, Vietnam (6) Marine Officer Instructor, Associate Professor, Naval ROTC Unit, Miami University, Oxford, OH (7) Graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA (8) United Nations Military Observer, Golan Heights, Israel and (9) Action Officer, Plans and Policy Division, Headquarters US Marine Corps, Washington, DC.

An example of Colonel Sweitzer's outstanding leadership follows: As Executive Officer 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during the Vietnam War (1968) he exhibited outstanding managerial ability dissecting and coordinating the functions of the battalion staff. Participating in numerous major operations, he frequently exposed himself to intense enemy fire in order to encourage his men and personally control ground units and supporting elements. During the absence of the Battalion Commander in February 1968 during the TET offensive, then a Major, assumed command of his unit and was directed to conduct a search and destroy operation in the Western portion of his Battalions tactical area of responsibility. Emphasizing his vast knowledge of tactics, he boldly maneuvered his Marines in heavily jungled terrain for four days and nights while skillfully coordinating his activities with a United States Army tank unit. When the Battalion Command post came under a heavy volume of heavy mortar fire on the night of March 3rd, 1968, he effectively coordinated the fire of various supporting arms with the maneuver of his ground units for over two hours, forcing the enemy to flee. (His Battalion commander was in the field on Operation Tampa)

Another example of exceptional meritorious conduct was as an Actions Officer in the Western Regional Branch, Plans Division, Headquarters USMC. He was responsible for developing the position to be taken by the Commandant of the Marine Corps on Middle East/African area matters addressed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff relative general war plans, contingency operation plans, military assistance programs, force deployments and a myriad of similar high-level matters of vital importance to the security of the United States. In addition, he was involved with the implementations phase as the Marine Corp representative, Crisis Action Team, Maternal Military Command Center during six real world crises.

His military decorations include Legion of Merit with combat V, a second Legion of Merit, Purple Heart Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Combat Actions Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation 2 awards, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with four stars, Vietnam Honor Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Civil Actions Medal, United Nations Medal, Security Guard Medal and Vietnam Service Medal.

After retiring from the Marines on June 30, 1978, he was employed by the State College Area School District, State College, PA as the Director of Physical Plant from July 1, 1978, to November 1, 1997. As Director of Physical Plant, he was responsible for the supervision of 70 full-time and 30 part-time custodial maintenance employees ensuring they kept the schools clean, safe and operational. He initiated an energy conservation program that saved the school district on average $300,000 per year. He was a firm believer in total quality management and employed its principles in day-to-day physical plant operations. He believed strongly in taking care of existing facilities by completing more than five thousand work orders per year. He was project manager for construction of Mount Nittany Middle School and additions to various elementary, middle and high schools. His energy management program was recognized by the Governor of Pennsylvania and a study he did regarding the "Impact of Facilities on Learning" was published with the American School and University Magazine February 1993. The physical plant of the SCASD included 11 Elementary schools, two middle and 2 high schools, administration building, four garage maintenance shops, over 300 acres of grounds and over one million square feet of building space.

He was a member or contributor to the following organizations: Veterans of the Vietnam War, American Veterans National Service Foundation, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Disabled American Veterans Commander Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars,, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Military Officer Association of America, The Retired Officers Association, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Marine Corps Association, American Association of Retired Persons, American Legion of Pennsylvania, American Legion Post 245, State College, PA Lock Haven University Foundation, Lock Haven University Endowment Fund, LHU Alumni Association, Centre County Association of School Retirees, PA Association of School Retirees, National Rifle Association, Elks Lodge 1600 State College, 1st Marine Division Association, Wheel Inn Club, Oval Cemetery Association, Nippenose Valley Fire Company, United Service Automobile Association, National Wildlife Federation, United Sportsman of PA and the Greater Nippenose Valley Watershed Association.

He is survived by his seven children; John Sweitzer and his wife Sara and children Jason (wife Emily), Jennifer (husband Dave) and Laura (husband Ryan) of Sharps Chapel, TN. Terry DonTigny and husband Steve and daughter Emilie of Falls Church VA, Timothy Sweitzer of Oval, PA, David Sweitzer and his wife Michele and sons Josh, Bobby, David Jr, Matthew and Nicholas of Avon, CT, Michael Sweitzer and his wife Molly and children Madison, Samuel and Owen of Flat Rock NC, Andrew Sweitzer and his wife Shannon and children Caleb and Emma of Dallas, PA, Douglas Sweitzer and his wife Marcia and daughters Terese and Nicolle (husband Luke) of Brogue, PA. He is also survived by 7 great grandchildren and counting. His sister Roberta King and her three children Karen, Beth and Andy of Pa Furnace, PA. Sister Carolyn and her three children Joseph, Lori and John of Brookville, MD.

He enjoyed hunting especially at Texas Blockhouse Hunting Club, English Center, fishing, gardening, hiking, jogging, walking, reading, music, dancing and the peace and quiet of the outdoors. His favorite poem was "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost. His favorite Psalm the 23rd (King James Version). His favorite prayer was the "Lords Prayer", favorite song "Amazing Grace", favorite movie Forrest Gump, favorite Bible reading I Corinthians Chapter 13 Verses 1-13.

He also enjoyed hunting on his 43 acres of land in Nygart Gap and the 156-acre Sweitzer Homestead property with his sons and grandsons, and fishing McMurrin Run and Sweitzer stream in Oval, PA. Also, coffee with the Valley boys at the Oval Country store. He moved in 1997 to Jobs Run Rd, 1.4 miles East of Salladsburg to an 11-acre property with a pond and wildlife, the home of Siegel Whiskey. His greatest achievement was raising his 7 children after their mother died in 1981. Seeing them grow, mature, graduate from college and become successful, responsible citizens. Three of his sons and only daughter became Marine officers. He also enjoyed the company of his special friend Connie Louise Cohick Whitehill and her family (her daughter Leslie and her children Eli and Rachel). His greatest disappointment was losing his wife Terry at the age of 46 to lung cancer (caused by vinyl chloride in drinking water at the military base in North Carolina) and seeing the heartbreak it brought to him and his children. He gave himself to his family, others and his country. He was a true patriot and proud of his country who loved life and prayed that his reward would be found in heaven. His faith in Christianity sustained him throughout his life especially when wounded in combat from enemy fire, only seconds from death, in February 1968 during the TET offensive, Vietnam, and surviving prostate cancer in 1996.

Viewing will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2025 at Welker Funeral Home, 125 North Main St., Jersey Shore. A Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. in the Oval Cemetery, 6743 PA-44, Jersey Shore, on Saturday October 11, 2025. A Celebration of Merrill's Life will be held at the Family Homestead immediately following the Service at the Oval Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, Jersey Shore. www.WelkerFuneralHome.com