Merl Resler grew up in a small town in Indiana and joined the Navy in September 1940, traveling for the first time outside of his home state. He was assigned to the USS Maryland and was thrilled when they were stationed at Pearl Harbor. In December of 1941 Merl was a machine gunner, drawing an extra $5 a month for being an expert shot.

Merl was just promoted to Seaman First Class and on Dec. 7, 1941 was passing out cigars to celebrate, as he helped set up for church in his division. All of sudden the word spread they were under attack and Merl saw a Japanese pilot drop a bomb on the Oklahoma. The USS Maryland was moored inboard of the USS Oklahoma and thus protected. Merl grabbed an ax and cut the line tying the Oklahoma to the Maryland so it would roll away from the Maryland.

Merl saw the first Japanese plane to be shot down in World War II when a gunner’s mate striker from the Maryland brought the first of his ship’s guns into play and shot down one of two attacking torpedo planes.

Merl immediately went to his battle station with the gunners and the Maryland managed to bring all her antiaircraft batteries into action. Merl continued shooting and saw a bomb drop on the USS Arizona and saw the ship explode. He saw another bomb fall between the Tennessee and the Maryland. His gun loader was hit and died instantly.

Despite two bomb hits and four fatalities, the Maryland continued to fire and after the attack sent firefighting parties to assist her sister ships. Battered, yet sturdy, on December 30^th she entered Puget Sound Navy Yard. She emerged February 26, 1942, not only repaired but modernized and ready for service.

The USS Maryland was involved in the Gilberts invasion and the capture of Tarawa, one of the most gallant amphibious assaults in history. In June 1944 the Maryland participated in the biggest campaign yet attempted in the Pacific war: Siapan. The Maryland delivered a barrage of blasts, but a torpedo left a gaping hole in Maryland’s bow. After another repair at Pearl Harbor she continued shore bombardments and participated in the initial landings in the Philippines.

On October 29, 1944, a suicide plane crashed the Maryland between turrets 1 and 2. Merl said this blast was about seven inches from the bunk he was in seven minutes before. Thirty-one sailors died in the explosion and fire that followed. Despite the damage she reached Pearl Harbor and was repaired and refitted. The Maryland then assisted in the invasion of Okinawa.

On April 7, 1945, the Maryland intercepted a Japanese surface force. The Maryland took a direct hit from a Kamikaze suicide plane loaded with a 500-pound bomb that crashed the top of turret No. 3 from starboard. The Maryland lost 53 men in this explosion. The gunners continued to blast and shot down two planes.

Merl stayed on the USS Maryland for the duration of the war. The Maryland received seven battle stars for World War II service.