Sergeant
JOHN PAUL (J P) MERTON

• Sergeant JOHN PAUL MERTON's Story

• 	Born 2 November 1918 in Flushing, New York, United States
  	Occupation Worked as a Photographer prior to enlisting.
  	Enlisted 8 September 1941 in Toronto, Ontario | Age: 22 years
  	Buried 16 April 1943 - RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL | Age: 24 years

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Interesting Facts

• Son of Owen & Ruth Merton. Husband of Margaret May Merton, of Liverpool. While on leave in England, he met Margaret and married her in February of 1943, less than two months before his death. Brother of acclaimed author Father Thomas Merton, who wrote frequently about his brother in his autobiography 'The Seven Storey Mountain.' Reportedly, JP enlisted in the Canadian army because the United States were not yet involved in the war and he felt a deep desire to help.

  Sgt John Paul "Mert" Merton was killed as a result of a flying accident, when his plane crashed into the English Channel due to engine failure. According to a letter written by one of his crewmembers, Merton nearly drowned while attempting to recover the body of their pilot, who was killed on impact. "He was an American, and if I ever hear anyone running down the Yankees in future, I shall have a word ready," they wrote. He made it aboard the dinghy despite his broken back, but succumbed to his injuries early the next morning. The remaining crew members were rescued five days later off the coast of Dover.

  "Take my breath...

  and buy yourself a better death...

  And buy you back to your own land

  The silence of Whose tears shall fall

  Like bells upon your alien tomb.

  Hear them and come,

  They call you home."

  - Take My Breath by Thomas Merton (for his brother JP Merton)

Media

• 166 Squadron Wellington X HE862 AS-L F/O. Lupton, 5 days in survival dingy, Cayeux-sur-Mer, France

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  Read article here: http://aircrewremembered.com/lupton-selwyn.html

  [...]

  Read Article

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Fallen Soldiers from Flushing New York, United States

• Sergeant
  MERTON, JOHN PAUL
  16 April 1943
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  

Fallen Comrades of the Royal Canadian Air Force

• Warrant Officer Class II
  FORESTELL, THOMAS BERNARD
  20 March 1944
  SUDBURY ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
  
• Flying Officer
  HARRIGAN, JAMES FRANCIS
  29 January 1944
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  
• Flight Sergeant
  BOZER, DONALD MACHELL
  3 September 1941
  IPSWICH CEMETERY
  
• Flying Officer
  SMITH, LIONEL VERNON OSMAN
  3 October 1942
  KARACHI WAR CEMETERY
  
• Pilot Officer
  MACGILLIVRAY, JOHN CAMPBELL
  20 January 1944
  BERLIN 1939-1945 WAR CEMETERY
  
• Flight Sergeant
  ROBERTS, ERNEST WILSON DAVID
  9 January 1943
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  
• Flying Officer
  POST, WILLIARD IRVING
  23 May 1943
  RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
  
• Flying Officer
  OLSON, PAUL ALFRED
  14 February 1944
  CHESTER (BLACON) CEMETERY
  
• Flight Lieutenant
  WARD, FRED WILLIAM
  25 July 1944
  BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
  
• Flight Sergeant
  THOMSON, JAMES AUSTIN
  14 May 1943
  AMERSFOORT (OLD LEUSDEN) GENERAL CEMETERY
  
• Flight Lieutenant W.Op./Air Gnr.
  MARCUS, JOHN JOSEPH
  28 December 1943
  BATH (HAYCOMBE) CEMETERY
  
• Flight Lieutenant Air Bomber
  MCBAIN, ANDREW HAROLD ADELBERT
  21 August 1944
  HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY