Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1980 Lucky Bag:

JAMES MICHAEL MERRILL

Ziggy came to us from the Buckeye State with visions of becoming the next Chet Moeller. However, two years of George was enough for Jim and he left the gridiron for more gratifying and varied pursuits. James quickly became known for flamboyance. His choice of girls, cars, and clothes ranged from the sublime to to the ridiculous. At various times he could be found sweet talking the beautiful girls, expounding his unbounded (albeit confused) philosophy to anyone who could be forced to listen, or exposing his body after physically abusing others on the Rugby pitch. We will all miss Jim’s ready smile and easygoing attitude as he journeys to Pensacola to try and find a cockpit that will close over his nose.

Loss

From VC-10 Challengers memorial page¹:

February 15, 1984: Lt. James M Merrill was killed when his TA-4J BuNo 153528 crashed between Vieques Island and St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

He was returning from training operations with USS America and USS Saratoga when his aircraft crashed. He had been practicing carrier take-off and landings. The crash was reported by a second pilot also returning to Roosevelt Roads. James was attached to the Fleet Composite Squadron 10 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

James graduated from Fairmont West High School in 1975.

In 1974, he played football and baseball. In the game vs. Stebbins in the fall 1974, he threw two touchdown passes. Final score 21-0.

James was an alternate to both the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy named by Congressman Charles W. Whalen, R-Dayton.

In February 1981, he graduated from the Navy’s Aviation Indoctrination School.

James was unmarried. He was survived by his parents Alvin and Dorothy Merrill, his brother Robert and sister Dorothy.

He has a memorial marker at the Dayton National Cemetery.

Remembrances

From the Dayton Daily News on February 17, 1984:

Frank Spolrich, assistant principal at Kettering Fairmont High School and an assistant principal at Fairmont West in 1976, the year Merrill graduated, remembered him as “an all-around top-flight, number one-type of kid.”

“As you would imagine as a student who had gone to Annapolis, Jim was an outstanding student here for us, placing in the top 10 percent of his class,” Spolrich said.

He said Merrill was “very active in sports, particularly football, and did captain the football team during his senior year. In addition, he had been an all-league baseball player and was involved in student government and Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the time.”

“I’m really saddened,” Spolrich said. “It hurts a lot.”

Photographs

From the 1980 Lucky Bag.

From his 1974 high school yearbook. "Jim Merrill fades back and clears a pass over the rushing Falcon defense during the East-West game."

From his 1975 high school yearbook. "Signaling a penalty, the referee becomes the center of attention for Jim Merrill (12) and Doug Gaines (72)."

From his 1975 high school yearbook. "Quarterback Jim Merrill confers with Coach Fred Herdman in the press box."

Note

James’ gravestone gives his rank as LTjg, as does every other contemporary reference. He is listed in Memorial Hall as a LT. Posthumous promotion? His classmates would likely have been promoted to LT in June.

References