Merwin awarded Veteran Commendation by Gianforte
RON MERWIN had nearly all his family members at the VFW in Ronan on April 17 to watch him receive his Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation. Pictured from left are great-granddaugher Hailey Felsman; grandson-in-law Kyle Felsman; granddaughter Emma Felsman; great-granddaughter Makenzie (Merwin) Felsman; Ron Merwin; wife Jessie; son Joe Merwin; grandaughter Ashley Rolfe; daughter-in-law Dana Merwin; granddaughter Cierra (Merwin) Reynolds holding great-granddaughter Chloey Reynolds; daughter-in-law Darlene Merwin; and son Ian Merwin. Not pictured: son Gene Merwin. (Joe Sova photos/Lake Cou…
U.S. REP. Greg Gianforte reads the verbiage in the Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation before presenting it to Ron Merwin, right, during the April 17 ceremony at the VFW in Ronan.
RON MERWIN salutes U.S. Congressman Greg Gianforte and the folded U.S. flag he received to conclude the Montana Congressional Veteran Commendaton presentation. (Joe Sova photo/Lake County Leader)
U.S. CONGRESSMAN Greg Gianforte is all smiles as he receives a cake and balloon to celebrate his birthday during his visit to Ronan on April 17.
U.S. REP. Greg Gianforte enjoys a visit with Charlo High School government class students who were on hand to see Ron Merwin receive a Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation on April 17 at the Ronan VFW. (Joe Sova photos/Lake County Leader)
Ron Merwin of Ronan was honored by receiving the 2018 Montana Congressional Veteran Commendation from Rep. Greg Gianforte during a ceremony April 17 at VFW Post 5652 in Ronan.
Merwin served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years — from 1960-81. He retired with the rank of lieutenant commander.
He was nominated for the prestigious award by his peers in Ronan.
“Each year, we reach out to the veteran community and we ask for nominations,” Gianforte said. “There are two criteria for this commendation award. The first is that you served your country honorably, and in uniform. And secondly, you returned home and you served your community.”
Gianforte previoulsly read Merwin’s biography into the Congressional Record, and flew a U.S. flag over the nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C., in his honor. He presented the flag to Merwin just after Merwin received the commendation.
It said, “... A member of the Silent Service,” Mr. Merwin was a valued shipmate and officer on conventional and nuclear submarine deployments during the height of the Cold War ... Mr. Merwin is actively involved in numerous veterans and civic organizations serving his community. As Commander of VFW Post 5652 in Ronan, Mr. Merwin was awarded a rare honor of being named a VFW All-American Post Commander. He coordinated fundraising events, youth programs, community celebrations, and was a board member of the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana for 15 years.”
“The last two years I was navigator and third officer on the USS Kamehameha. We were deterrent patrol, so we were trying to hide all the time,” he said. “We were carrying 16 missles, mostly warheads, during the Cold War. We made nine alert patrols.”
Merwin was aboard seven different vessels — two diesel boats and five nuclear submarines.
The first boat was a World War II converted diesel submarine. We made tours in Japan and all over the Pacific. The last diesel boat was out of Hawaii, on which he was on for two years. Then he was on one more boat before finishing aboard the USS Mayamaya.
Merwin retired in Boston at the Naval shipyard.
With the exception of one brother, Merwin’s entire family attended the ceremony.
Read more about Merwin’s commendation and the credit given law enforcement and volunteer firemen in Lake County in next week’s Lake County Leader.