First Lieutenant Merrill was a veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater. In Korea, he was a member of the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy northeast of Chorwon, North Korea on 12 September 1951.

Merrill was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.