Army Rangers
Army Rangers are elite soldiers within the United States Army, known for their specialized training and expertise in unconventional warfare. Their historical roots trace back to Roger's Rangers, who served British forces during the French and Indian War. The modern Rangers were officially formed in May 1942, inspired by the successful British commando units of World War II. Initial recruits were volunteers from various Army divisions, selected for their desire to undertake challenging missions.
Throughout World War II, Rangers participated in key operations in both the European and Pacific theaters, including the infamous D-Day landings at Normandy, where they faced heavy casualties while neutralizing enemy fortifications. Their actions also included a notable raid to rescue American prisoners of war in the Philippines, highlighting their capability for daring, behind-the-lines operations. Although the Ranger units were disbanded after the war, their legacy influenced the establishment of subsequent Ranger units in later conflicts, such as the Korean War. The reputation of Rangers as "super soldiers" reflects the significant impact they had on military strategy and public perception during and after the war.
Army Rangers
Identification Elite U.S. Army commando unit
Date Formed in May, 1942
The Army Rangers were an important asset during World War II, conducting effective operations in every theater of operations with impacts that often exceeded the number of troops. The Rangers helped to provide a useful framework for later U.S. Special Operations forces.
The Rangers trace their lineage to Roger’s Rangers, who fought for the British in the French and Indian War. Following the successful operations of the British commando units in World War II, the United States moved toward forming a similar unit of commandos. The first Ranger unit was formed in May, 1942, and initial recruits were volunteers drawn largely from two divisions. The volunteers were trained by British commandos, and the dropout rate was relatively high. Many of the volunteers joined because they were enamored with the romantic view of being commandos.
There was initially some debate in the military regarding whether the new unit’s members would later be returned to their original units or remain a coherent force. William Darby was assigned to conduct the training of the new Army unit.
The Rangers operated in the European and Pacific theaters of operations. Shortly after the creation of the Rangers, a small number of American Rangers took part in the unsuccessful commando raid on the port of Dieppe in northern France in August, 1942. The unit saw action in North Africa in 1943, conducting a night landing at Arzew, Algeria, that opened up the ports to Allied landings. The Rangers also conducted behind-the-lines raids in Tunisia. During the Italian campaign, Rangers took part in actions at Salerno and Anzio. During fighting at Cisterna, the majority of the Ranger unit was captured or killed when the unit was surrounded.
The most famous Ranger operation during the war was during the D-day invasion in June, 1944. The Second Ranger Battalion was given the task of neutralizing high-caliber cannon emplaced at Pointe du Hoc. When the unit landed on D day, the guns on the cliff could not be located and neutralized, and the Rangers took heavy casualties during the operation. Around five hundred Rangers landed on Omaha Beach as well and helped to break the deadlock during the landing.
In the Pacific theater, the Rangers mounted a number of daring raids. The most famous was a raid by 121 handpicked volunteers to rescue American prisoners of war (POWs) in the Philippines. The POW camp was located thirty miles behind the lines at Cabanatuan. The United States was afraid that the Japanese would execute any remaining prisoners and used the raid to successfully bring out the majority of the POWs with the help of Filipino guerrillas.
Impact
The operations conducted by the Rangers significantly influenced a number of operations, particularly the D-day landings. On the home front, the Rangers were viewed, like the British commandos, as “super soldiers.” Following the war, the Ranger units were disbanded, but the successful operations during World War II served as a framework for the later formation of Ranger units in the Korean War.
Bibliography
DeFelice, James. Rangers at Dieppe: The First Combat Action of U.S. Army Rangers in World War II. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, 2008.
Jeffers, H. Paul. Onward We Charge: The Heroic Story of Darby’s Dangers in World War II. New York: New American Library, 2007.
Sides, Hampton. Ghost Soldiers: The Forgotten Epic Story of World War II’s Most Dramatic Mission. New York: Doubleday, 2001.