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