FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Nathan Merique of 4th Squadron, 10th Cav. Reg., 3rd ABCT, 4th In. Div. points out 2nd Lt. Asa William Shuler’s handwritten on his uniform to his niece, Carolyn Gannon, July 25, 2021. (Photo by Norman Shifflett)
By Norman Shifflett
Fort Carson Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — For one reason or another, military members serving during World War II, had their service uniforms wind up in the hands of collectors of military memorabilia.
One collector of the memorabilia takes it a step further by trying to find out the story behind the uniforms he has collected.
Sgt. Nathan Merique, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, has been collecting military uniforms since he was 13 years old.
“Collecting the memorabilia for me is paying homage to the guys who served prior to me,” said Merique. “I think somebody needs to look after these Soldiers’ stuff, and that’s really why I do it.”
When he purchases the uniforms, sometimes they come with some information on the individuals who they originally belonged to.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Nathan Merique of 4th Squadron, 10th Cav. Reg., 3rd ABCT, 4th In. Div. points out where 2nd Lt. Asa William Shuler had written his nickname in his uniform cap to Shuler’s niece, Carolyn Gannon, July 25, 2021. (Photo by Norman Shifflett)
However, he has purchased uniforms and memorabilia with very little or no information, which requires him to do some research.
Most military members during World War II would write their names inside the uniforms. So at least Merique has a starting point.
Merique, for the past 16 years, has conducted many hours of research on the 26 uniforms he currently has. He does this because he doesn’t want their stories to go untold and wants to keep their memories alive with their family members.
He admits that because it is such a daunting task, he may not be able to get all the information about each uniform that he would like.
“I try, but I don’t know if I will be able to do it with every uniform that I have,” said Merique. “The attempt is made to find out more about every piece that I have in my collection.”
A part of his research is to see if he can find any family members of the individuals whose uniforms he has.
Two of the uniforms that Merique owns belonged to 2nd Lt. Asa William Shuler, 9th Air Force, 362nd Fighter Group, 377th Fighter Squadron.
Shuler was a pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt and was on his 25th mission when, during a strafing run, his aircraft collided with a German Tiger tank and he was killed in action March 18, 1945, in Germany.
After purchasing Shuler’s first jacket from a collector in California, Merique was able to contact some of his surviving family. They in turn put him in touch with a collector in France. Through this collector Merique was able to obtain another jacket, an officer’s crusher cap, a bracelet that Shuler had made as well as some missing paperwork.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Nathan Merique of 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division showcases two uniforms from his collection that belonged to 2nd Lt. Asa William Shuler, killed in action March 20, 1945, and pictured center, to Shuler’s niece, Carolyn Gannon, July 25, 2021. (Photo by Norman Shifflett)
Merique sent a request to the National Archives to get the reports on Shuler’s final mission. It took him roughly a year and a half to learn all he could about Shuler and his final mission.
Merique started talking to Carolyn Gannon, Shuler’s niece, about what she knew about Shuler’s death to try and fill in the gaps, but she didn’t really know much about that fateful day.
“He mentioned that he had purchased his (Shuler’s) uniform, and he wanted to learn more about him,” said Gannon.
They spoke for about a year, and Gannon said that Shuler had the bracelet that was made in England according to letters from Shuler that she had.
Gannon was coming to Colorado, and they decided to meet last month so she could see her uncle’s uniform. During their meeting, Merique let Gannon put her uncle’s jacket on.
“It was very moving to put on the jacket and sort of be in touch,” said Gannon. “It definitely makes me feel closer to my uncle.”
Gannon understood why it was important for him to find out all he could about the men who wore these uniforms during their service. She was surprised that her uncle’s 75-year-old uniform could look brand new.
“I would like to think that somebody cared about me in a way to take care of my uniform, so I feel I owe these guys the same,” said Merique.