USNA Class of 1947, Lieutenant Junior Grade Merner was the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 192 aboard the carrier USS Princeton (CV-37). On 28 January 1951, while on a combat mission, his aircraft was hit by small arms fire and the engine lost oil pressure and suffered a runaway propeller. He ditched the aircraft off Sinpo, Korea, but he was never recovered. He was presumed dead on 29 January 1952. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.

For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Junior Grade Merner was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.