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JACK MERRITT Obituary
JACK N. MERRITT General, U.S. Army (Ret.)
General Jack N. Merritt, who rose from Army Draftee Private to Four Star General and United States Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, died on January 3, 2018 at his home in Virginia. Merritt was born in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1930 and married Rosemary Ralston, also a Lawton native, in 1953. He entered the Army at Fort Sill as a private and was commissioned from the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School. Upon retirement, General Merritt became President of the Association of the U.S. Army, the leading Army advocate organization, serving until 1998. He also served as Chairman of the Marshall Legacy Institute (promoting recovery of land mines from underdeveloped nations) and as Vice Chairman of the Army and Air Force Mutual Aid Association. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary and two sons Grover and Roger. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel at 1 p.m. followed by interment at Arlington Cemetary. A reception will be held at the Army Navy Country Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor of General Merritt to the Marshall Legacy Institute at website: Marshall-legacy.org
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Memories and Condolences
for JACK MERRITT
norm king
January 15, 2024
i was a artillery liaison officer and later adjutant for LTC Merritt in Vietnam. he was quite a man i learned from him.
Christine Draughon Wantland
May 5, 2022
Jack is my first cousin, and my father, his uncle John A Draughon Jr and he were very close. They were very close in age. Jack and Daddy write many letters and Jack invited us for a visit when he was commander at Ft Sill, my daddy´s first post. Daddy never forgot how thrilling it was to have Captains wait on him hand and foot because he was the General´s uncle. A real thrill for a former corporal. Jack was an amazing man and a good nephew. God Bless his soul and keep and hold his family.
jadyn young
December 1, 2020
he was a good man i loved him so much
MARY K. BLACKMON
May 10, 2019
Jack Merritt was my mother's favorite nephew. Herma Draughon Highfill knew him since his birth, and the two of them remained very fond of each other. On several occasions, Jack went out of his way to visit her in Carlsbad, NM. I am Jack's cousin Mary K. Highfill Blackmon. I loved him, too, and appreciated how close Jack and Mother felt toward each other. Jack was my favorite male cousin. I looked up to him and stayed in touch with Jack and Rosemary during their later years. I would have liked to have attended Jack's funeral. I'm sending Love and Light to Rosemary and treasuring fond memories of visits with Jack, though the times were limited.
With love and appreciation! Mary K. Blackmon
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Mack Highfill
May 8, 2019
Wow over a year now that you left us Jack. I know you are in a better place but we miss you here. I have such fond memories about you and just what a wonderful person you were. So kind and thoughtful. Until we meet again I am thinking about you and love you. Sincerely cousin Mack.
n l KING
May 20, 2018
I AM HONORED TO HAVE SERVED WITH GEN. MERRITT. AS HIS ARTILLERY LNO AND LATER AS HIS ADJUTANT WITH THE 3D BN 34TH MOBILE RIVERINE ARTILLERY.
Mack Highfill
May 20, 2018
God bless you cousin Jack. You were always such a delight to be around and you were so thoughtful kind. I will never forget how you were so wonderful to my folks and always so kind to me. Rest in peace. I will never forget you. Cousin Mack.
Andy Laase
May 17, 2018
I was saddened to read about the passing of Jack Merritt. I lived across the street from Mr. Merritt from 1969 - 72, and was best friends with his son Roger. Although he was a high ranking military officer even then (Lt. Col and Col. if memory serves me correctly) I don't think I ever called him anything but Mr. Merritt. He never corrected me. Mr. Merritt came knocking on our door soon after we moved into our Springfield, Va., neighborhood and asked if my brother and I wanted to join a soccer league. We did, with Jack coaching or assisting with many of our teams over the next three years. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt allowed Roger to join me in freely roaming the large wooded areas around our home. Roger and I bonded over our love of snakes, among other things. Obviously Mr. Merritt was an accomplished military officer, but I simply remember him as a kind man who was easy for a kid to be around. My thoughts and blessings go out to his family. -Andy Laase
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