Merriel "Snafu" Shelton -- WW2 Marine

Rami Malek as Merriel "Snafu" Shelton

Merriel "Snafu" Shelton was one of Eugene Sledge's fellow soldiers. He got his nickname from his cocky personality and demeanor. Though he has already had some humanity beaten out of him by his introduction, he slowly loses even more of his humanity as the series goes on.

Snafu was born in Louisiana. He enlisted in the Marines at some point, and served along with Burgin on Cape Gloucester.

Snafu is first seen in a cabin with De L'Eau and Burgin. He is later seen supervising new recruits Eugene Sledge, Bill Leyden, and Robert Oswalt clean oil drums.

Messing with the new replacments

He later participates in the Battle of Peleliu, where he is later seen prying a dead Japanese soldier's jaw right off the skull to get some gold teeth right in front of Eugene Sledge.

Snafu is later part of the Airfield assault, though he pays almost no major role in this episode. He asks Sledge for a smoke, which Sledge obliges. It is here that Snafu gives Sledge the nickname "Sledgehammer".

The real Merriel "Snafu" Shelton

He later becomes part of the marines that fight in the Peleliu hills led by Capt. Haldane. At one time, Snafu throws rocks into the partially destroyed cranium of a dead Japanese soldier. It is here that we see Sledge almost getting reduced to Snafu's level, about to cut off another Japanese corpse's jaw. Snafu stops him, maybe because he doesn't want to let Sledge become like him in a glimpse of humanity, even though all he says is that there are germs that spread diseases in the corpses, so Sledge cuts off a patch instead. Snafu is then seen going back to Pavavu with the rest of his unit, and he is presumably one of the soldiers swimming just off the shores of Pavavu.

Sledge and Snafu attacking the enemy

Snafu's unit is later called upon to assist in the Battle of Okinawa, where Snafu is first seen exchanging his old poncho for replacement Pvt. Peck's poncho which leads to some problems later. He is the same as he always is. Eventually, Snafu watches as Hamm is killed in a botched suicide attempt by Hamm's fellow replacement Pvt. Peck, and in a rare show of emotion, he holds a poncho in remorse. Snafu is later seen with Sledge looking into a house where a crying baby and a dying woman are the sole survivors of a mortar shelling. Snafu leaves without learning of the woman, and Sledge walks out some time later. Snafu is later seen questioning Sledge about his cigarette lighter. Sledge then tells Snafu that it used to belong to GySgt. Haney, slightly surprising Snafu and Burgin. Snafu is last seen leaving in a truck. Snafu is later seen celebrating Victory in Japan Day with his friends, Sledge and Burgin.

Rami Malek and some Real Marines

Snafu, Sledge, and Burgin later return to their respectivie homes in a train. Burgin goes out first, and Snafu soon follows that night. While leaving, he noticeably wanted to talk to Sledge before doing so, but Sledge was fast asleep. Snafu instead then leaves the train holding his tongue and never speaking to his friends again for 35 years until Sledge released his memiors, "With the Old Breed At Peleliu and Okinawa". Snafu stayed in Louisiana and worked in the lumber business, married, and had three sons.

Snafu Shelton, Paul Wright, and Eugene Sledge at a Marine reunion

Snafu died in 1993. Contrary to popular rumor, Eugene Sledge did not serve as one of the pallbearers in his funeral. (source WIKIA )

Rami Malek and Merriel Shelton

God Bless You Snafu!