The Ranger Force by Robert W. Black

Author:Robert W. Black
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780811743839
Publisher: Stackpole Books

The Rangers trained with LCAs in Sicily for the upcoming invasion of Italy. SIGNAL CORPS

He stated that despite the existence of Ranger units since June 1942, no assurance had been received that this type organization was considered permanent by the War Department. In fact, Darby concluded, indications were that the organizations were considered transient, with no permanent place in army organization. Darby sought a review of Ranger unit performance, and if the reports of action proved their operational value, he urged that the Ranger battalions be formed into a permanent organization assigned as corps, army, or general headquarters troops.

The intensity of Darby’s feelings was expressed by his request that if the Ranger battalions were not granted permanent status, they should be disbanded and re-formed along the lines of a regularly approved organization. If permanent status was not granted, Darby thought that the Ranger battalions could be re-formed into a reconnaissance regiment. Patton loved a fighter and wholeheartedly endorsed Darby’s request. Patton wanted a Ranger regiment headed by Darby and assigned to the Seventh Army.

The other letter was written in England by Brig. Gen. Norman S. Cota of the Combined Operations G-3 Section. Cota’s letter was titled “Need for Ranger Battalions in ETOUSA.” Cota wrote that experiences in North Africa and Sicily had demonstrated that Ranger battalions were vitally necessary. He continued that Ranger battalions were needed for operations being contemplated in the European theater and that there was only one understrength Ranger battalion in that theater, the 29th Ranger Battalion. He also noted that there was no long-range plan for training or development in the European theater to remedy the lack of sufficient Ranger battalions.

Cota discussed the three Ranger battalions in Sicily and wrote enthusiastically about Bill Darby. Cota called Darby “the foremost Ranger expert” and “the ideal leader for this type of unique military effort.” Cota sought immediate consolidation of all previous information about Ranger training and experience and specifically recommended that the European theater immediately develop a Ranger training program, with Bill Darby and a cadre of Ranger officers and enlisted men brought trom Sicily to develop the program.

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