HOULTON, Maine — Merle E. Fenlason, a native of Calais, was just 17 years old when he hopped on a train and headed to Bangor to enlist in the United States Navy in 1944.
Fenlason was born in Calais in 1927 and attended Princeton schools. Upon his enlistment, Fenlason quickly found himself embroiled in World War II and was part of the “Liberation of the Philippines” campaign when he was still just 17 years old.
His ship, the USS Mendocino, arrived at Iwo Jima in early 1945 and quickly loaded up wounded marines and transported them back to San Diego. A radarman for the Navy, Fenlason returned to the South Pacific and participated in the invasion of Okinawa, where he and his crew were subjected to repeated kamikaze attacks.
(Joseph Cyr)
Upon his return to the States in 1946, Fenlason received an associate’s degree from Husson College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine. He married Jean Polleys of Woodland in 1951 and the couple moved to Houlton in 1968.
The couple had two daughters: Judy (Buck) and Sandy (Cummings). Fenlason worked for Great Northern Paper as a pulpwood buyer and later taught cooperative education at Southern Aroostook Vocational Education. His wife taught social studies at Houlton High School. She died in 1990 and Fenlason married Lois McCarthy, a retired Hodgdon High School guidance counselor, who died in 2015.
Now 92, Fenlason spends his time at Madigan Estates and has a new momento to hang on his wall thanks to the Aroostook County Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1368. Fenlason was presented a shadow box on July 4, featuring reissued medals from his time in the military.
(Contributed photo)
Fenlason said enlisting at 17 years old was “something I wanted to do” because he felt it was important to serve his country.
Fenlason received five medals for his service in the military: American Campaign Medal; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star; WW II Victory Medal; Philippine Liberation Ribbon; and Honorable Discharge Button.
Those original medals were lost some time ago, but with the assistance of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, replacement medals were issued.
“We take great pride in presenting Merle with this shadow box display of the awards bestowed upon him while serving in the Navy during World War II,” said Ed Lake, commandant for the Marine Corps League. “Thank you so much for your service.”
