 Merz took up the position of engineer for Rayfield Carburetter Company in 1914 then served in France in the American Expeditionary Forces, forerunner of the US Army Air Corps, from 1917 to 1919 reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel.He joined Harry C. Stutz when Stutz set up his new business, H. C. S. Motor Car Company, in mid 1919.There he held the position of assistant to the president until 1925 when he was appointed receiver for the company until it was liquidated in 1927.