Customer Reviews

Rangers in World War II

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Writing of a purely American unit, whose combat experiences have been forged in three and a half centuries of fighting, Robert Black traces the history of the United States Army Rangers in World War II from their conception in Northern Ireland, to their last battle in the South Pacific. Unlike the modern day soldiers who bear the same name, the Rangers of World War II were not airborne commandos; rather, these men were highly motivated, all-volunteer soldiers comprised of mostly mechanized soldiers of varying duty assignments from Patton's First Armored Division. Despite their military lineage, these soldiers served as specialized infantry soldiers with the utmost gallantry, earning their baptism under fire at Dieppe and continuing to spearhead most of the American led assaults throughout the remainder of the war.

Black's style is frank and straightforward and one can quickly appreciate the candor with which he relates the story. As Black puts it, the book is "an account of men immersed in the outrage of war . . . there is comradeship, jealousy, compassion, and ruthlessness." (p. x) Black's own experiences as a Ranger in Korea with the 8th Airborne Ranger Company contributed to his successful revelation of this spirit and, at times, the book reads like a personal account rather than the well researched composition that it is.

The book begins with the activation of the 1st Ranger Battalion on 19 June 1942. Black explains the unit's composition in detail, listing the "charter" members by name, position, and weapon system. (p. 19) Black then details the training that the unit undertook in the Scottish highlands. The forced marches and physical tests that the volunteers had to endure were laborious and grueling. (Even worse were the English rations that the Rangers were forced to consume while in Scotland.) At the first sign of fatigue or weakness, a volunteer was released from the battalion and returned to his original unit. Though exact numbers were not offered, the battalion's attrition rate was deplorable, but those who did make it were fit to call "Rangers." The 1st Ranger Battalion received the dubious honor of participating in America's first assault on European soil. During the Dieppe Raid, a detachment of fifty Rangers fought alongside British Commandos. It was during this assault that the first American ground soldier killed a Nazi. Corporal Franklin Koons took out a German machine gunner and was decorated by both the U.S. and the British military for this distinction. (p. 39) On the bloody beaches of Dieppe, ironically amidst a military debacle, the U.S. Army Ranger legend began and the valiance with which he fought was echoed in both the U.S. papers and across the services of every nation.

Due to their superior training, ability to overcome improbable odds, and fighting spirit, the Rangers would go on to spearhead nearly every American led assault throughout the rest of the war-both in the European and Pacific theaters. Black meticulously relates each major battle that involved U.S. Rangers, making every effort to list, by name, the key individuals involved in each action. Rangers were involved in the raid at Arzew, the defense at Kasserine Pass, the beach landings on Sicily and Italy, the attack at Anzio, and the D-Day invasion. They continued to fight across Europe at Brest and, in the Pacific, at both Cabanatuan and on the island hopping campaigns of the Philippines. Black doesn't miss a bullet and, in doing so, comprises a book that becomes a "down and dirty" on American military involvement in the Second World War.

Unfortunately, as the pendulum of war began to swing towards the Allies and the pace of battle picked up, the infantryman was unable to keep up with the sweeping mechanized forces. It soon became obvious that an Allied victory was nearing and the need for these hard fighting foot soldiers became less and less. The Rangers followed along as fast as they could-some soldiers rode on the back of Allied vehicles-but soon the Ranger units became more of a liability than an asset. Before the fall of Berlin, nearly half of the Rangers had been released from the battlefield. The 1st Ranger Battalion, the first to form in June of 1942, was first to be disband, in August of 1944. Of the six battalions that fought in the war, only the 6th Ranger Battalion would see the end of the war-its soldiers busy fighting the Japanese in South East Asia.

While a detailed account of all Ranger exploits in the Second World War would take up volumes, Black has successfully compressed this material, highlighting each of the battalion's "handiwork," and assembled a manageable book that possibly represents the single best exposition on the topic. Included in this book is an outstanding appendices that, among other things, lists the name of every known Ranger that served in World War II. Additionally, the book makes effective use of various maps, photographs, military documentation, and includes an informative definitional section that explains the various weapon systems used by the Rangers.

The Achilles Heel of Black's Rangers in World War II is its endnote section. The book stands alone as an authoritative piece, yet the historian will find tribulations in attempting to trace Black's path down memory lane. The many first person interviews conducted with ex-Rangers are scantily documented and this absence unnecessarily detracts from the thorough research that Black obviously undertook.

Nonetheless, Black has outdone all others and in true Ranger spirit has "Led the Way" with an outstanding monograph that should be a part of every World War II enthusiast's collection.

An excellent comprehensive account of all six Ranger Battalions. A highlight for Ranger relatives in Black's book is the composite listing of all Ranger's names under their designated Battalion.

This is an excellent account of the history of the US Army Rangers in WWII. The entire history of the Ranger organization and all the key battles are covered in great detail. I was particularly intrigued that most of the early rangers were in their mid 20s, compared to the 19 year olds who are common in the modern organization. The anecdotes are very moving. One can feel the bleak, almost hopeless despair of the brutal slogging match in Italy in 1943 and early 1944, and the heartwrenching loss at Cisterna. Equally powerful is the elation and pride one feels when reading about the heroic rescue of POWs from Cabanatuan by the 6th Rangers in early 1945. For more on that "Great Raid" see the superb Ghost Soliers.

Ranger Robert Black has filled a void in WWII literature by providing a comprehensive overview of US Army Rangers during the war. In one volume, he covers all the most important topics to include the founding, training and deployment of the Rangers into the war. Then he covers pretty much all the major battles which included Ranger units with a fair amount of detail. I was pretty familiar with the Ranger units and their reknown leaders such as Rudder, Merrill, and Darby to name a few. But, I had not read much about the actual battles and how much the Rangers influenced the outcomes. The performance of the Rangers ranks up there along side other great units of WWII like the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions. It was a great learning experience for me, and I really gained a greater appreciation for these elite group of men. As someone who has completed US Army Ranger School, I think I gained a much greater understanding of the lineage and tradition that the Rangers from WWII created and passed on to us today.

If you are interested in learning a lot about US Army Rangers in WWII, then you should read this book. It is well worth the read. I do have two small complaints about the book. First, it reads a little like a textbook at times, and can be somewhat dry if you are not familiar with the topic. Second, the maps and photos are somewhat lacking. Neither of these concerns is a major detractor from the quality of the book, but prevent me from giving 5 stars.

What a wonderful book! My grandfather was captured a prisoner of the Germans in Anzio. I sat down with him and read through the Anzio chapter. He was amazed at the detail accounted for in this book. After years of hearing his stories, this book provided a clearer picture of the surroundings and events that made up such a huge part of his life. My grandparents went out and purchased this book after they saw how great it was. A must-have for anyone connected to a WWII Ranger!

I got this book for my 69 year old veteran/father for Christmas last year. He is normally a fan of a good military book, but he said he had a very hard time plowing through this one. Tons of detail and descriptions that got in the way of carrying a cohesive story. I don't think he even finished it, or cared that he didn't. It was not one of his favorites.

Robert W. Black compiled an essential and important book in Rangers In World War II! He has documented all of the major battles as well as provided complete rosters of those who served, were wounded and killed in action. He also describes the Rangers Table of Organization and Equipment as well as every weapon a Ranger was trained to use.

Black eloquently traces the Ranger lineage back to pre-Revolutionary War days with the formation of Roger's Rangers. A truly uniquely American concept, the Rangers embody the spirit and ethos of America. Those who qualify to become Rangers are simply ordinary men who are superbly trained to a razor's edge. If the have one attribute missing in other men, it's their determination to endure the pain and struggle of the hard training. This spirit, which morphs into a tremendous pride on unit and country, carries them through the difficult times and horrendous experiences of war. They learned quickly that they could accomplish anything because "it is all in the heart and in the mind".

This book is fully indexed, well sourced and has adequate maps. A must read for World War II buffs and those interested in Special Operations.

John E. Nevola
Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II

A very well done book which depicts the history of the modern-day United States Army Rangers from their early formation in the beginning of World War II. Black manages to give personal precise details while maintaining the overall overview of the Rangers in WWII.

Not bad. I would like to find an account of the Rangers in World War 2 that would be on par to what is available for the US Airborne divisions.

My Uncle, John Elias Anderson of Monson, Massachusetts, was a member of 3rd Ranger Battalion. He volunteered, and trained in England, then fought in the invasion of Northern African, South Sicily, and North Sicily, where he was badly wounded. He later spent over a year in the hospital, most of which in a full body cast. I was dissappointed when I didn't find my Uncle's name among those that Colonel Black listed. I will speak for him now as a first hand witness to his words, and my Uncle's words can be counted as gospel. In his account, his unit of Rangers trained together, but were later separated out for use as Forward Observers for the tank divisions. He was rescued from the battlefield by Jehova's Witnesses, who carried the dead and wounded from the field while wearing red robes and possessing no protection other than their own faith. My Uncle had the deepest respect for their heroism.
I myself was a Supply Sergeant for Headquarters and Bravo Companies at 3rd Ranger Battalion at Fort Benning from 1990-1993. I worked in the position as an E-4 Specialist and Corporal. I was proud to have graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program and to stand among my fellow Rangers wearing the Black Beret. To my great dissappointment I was never allowed to attend Ranger School because of my position.
Nowadays I write as well, and I often capture my Army experiences in my fantasy works. My great Uncle, is himself a character in my second novel, "The Drums of Doom." He is "Sir John Anderson of Monson, Knight of Renown." Every Ranger from their dawning days in the Revolutionary War, until the present should be honored as the Knights of America, for that is what they are.
Colonel Black, I salute you!

Sincerely, Erik D.J. O'Brien, Author of "Kur's Rage," and "The Drums of Doom."
Kur's Rage: Part One of the Duaredheim Staff Saga