Fort Bragg community mourns the death of WWII legend

Local World War II airborne legend Kenneth "Rock" Merritt died Wednesday, officials with the 18th Airborne Corps confirmed.

Posted 11:29 a.m. Mar 11, 2021 — Updated 11:29 a.m. Mar 11, 2021

The Fayetteville Observer

Local World War II airborne legend Kenneth “Rock” Merritt died Wednesday, officials with the 18th Airborne Corps confirmed.

The Fayetteville Observer reports Merritt served with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division during key World War II battles and was the 18th Airborne Corps’ first command sergeant major.

He is also the only command sergeant major to serve as the Corps top senior enlisted advisor twice, first selected for the spot from 1962 to 1966 and again from 1973 to 1977.

“We certainly know he did his duty here with all of us,” 18th Airborne Corps officials said on social media. “He was among our nation’s finest soldiers, mentors, and citizens.”

Last week, Corps officials said Merritt was in the hospital “in rough shape,” but did not specify his medical condition, other than saying the reason was not related to COVID-19.

On Tuesday, officials had announced that Merritt returned home from the hospital.

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