6th Ranger Battalion
Encyclopedia
The 6th Ranger Battalion was a United States Army
Ranger
Battalion
which saw action in the Pacific
during World War II
. The battalion is best known for its role in the Raid at Cabanatuan
in January 1945.
-drawn pack artillery unit, the 98th Field Artillery Battalion. The 98th Field Artillery was formed at Camp Carson, Colorado
in 1942 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Callicut. In December 1942, the battalion embarked for Brisbane
, Australia, but due to Australian animal importation laws, the Battalion was redirected to New Guinea
, arriving at Port Moresby
on 17 February 1943.
The Battalion spent the next 12 months in training, but saw no combat. In February 1943, US Sixth Army decided that the battalion was obsolete, and removed the unit's 800 mules, as well as its commander, who was transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division. The battalion's new commander was Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Mucci.
The task of conversion and training took over a year, but by July 1944 it was completed. The battalion was transferred to Finchhaven, New Guinea, where it was reorganised as a Ranger Battalion and redesignated as the 6th Ranger Battalion.
on 10 October 1944. It was to secure the islands of Dinagat
, Homonhon and Suluan, located in the entrance to the Leyte Gulf
. These islands had the potential to disrupt 6th Army's landing operations if they remained in Japanese
hands. After initial delays due to bad weather, the operation went ahead on 18 October, and was a success. The 6th Rangers on Dinagat raised the first American flag on Philippine soil as part of General Douglas MacArthur
's 'Return to the Philippines'.
After the success of this mission, the Invasion of Leyte
got underway on 20 October 1944. The 6th Rangers were moved to Tacloban on Leyte, where they were mostly used for patrolling actions. Late in the year, the order came through for the battalion to prepare to take part in the landings in Lingayen Gulf
, which were to form the invasion of Luzon. On 1 January 1945, the Rangers were transported by sea from Tacloban to Lingayen Gulf, and were landed on Lingayen Gulf Beach on 10 January 1945. Elements of the battalion were sent to Santiago Island to secure the entrance to the Gulf and prevent the enemy outflanking the landing area.
. An incident at a camp on Palawan
led intelligence to believe that the POWs would be executed as the Imperial Japanese Army retreated. General Walter Krueger
, 6th Army commander, ordered 6th Rangers to bring the prisoners out alive.
C Company, under Capt. Robert Prince
, reinforced with a platoon from F Company and accompanied by Lt. Col. Mucci, was to undertake the mission. Alamo Scouts
and Filipino Guerillas accompanied the 6th Ranger force, and provided reconnaissance
and flank protection. The attack went ahead at dusk on 30 January. During the following battle, the Rangers rescued 511 POWs, and killed 523 enemy troops for the loss of two rangers Killed & 1 POW died and 21 Filipino Guerillas wounded. Both Mucci and Prince received the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
, all other officers involved in the raid the Silver Star
and all enlisted men the Bronze Star
. The operation is still classed as the most successful rescue operation in the history of the US military.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Ranger
United States Army Rangers
United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
which saw action in the Pacific
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The battalion is best known for its role in the Raid at Cabanatuan
Raid at Cabanatuan
The Raid at Cabanatuan was a rescue of Allied prisoners of war and civilians from a Japanese camp near Cabanatuan City, in the Philippines...
in January 1945.
98th Field Artillery Battalion
The 6th Rangers history begins with a muleMule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
-drawn pack artillery unit, the 98th Field Artillery Battalion. The 98th Field Artillery was formed at Camp Carson, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1942 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Callicut. In December 1942, the battalion embarked for Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Australia, but due to Australian animal importation laws, the Battalion was redirected to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, arriving at Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
on 17 February 1943.
The Battalion spent the next 12 months in training, but saw no combat. In February 1943, US Sixth Army decided that the battalion was obsolete, and removed the unit's 800 mules, as well as its commander, who was transferred to the 1st Cavalry Division. The battalion's new commander was Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Mucci.
Ranger Training
Mucci had led a training camp in Hawaii which used Ranger training techniques. He announced that the Battalion was being converted from Field Artillery to Rangers, and downsized from 1,000 men to only 500. Most of the artillery officers were transferred out and replaced by Infantry and Engineer officers. Later the training camp was moved to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida where the 6th Rangers currently train.The task of conversion and training took over a year, but by July 1944 it was completed. The battalion was transferred to Finchhaven, New Guinea, where it was reorganised as a Ranger Battalion and redesignated as the 6th Ranger Battalion.
Philippine Campaign
The 6th Rangers were to lead the invasion of the Philippines. The battalion left Finchhaven for Leyte in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on 10 October 1944. It was to secure the islands of Dinagat
Dinagat Island
' is a province in the Philippines, located on the south side of Leyte Gulf. Leyte is to its west, across Surigao Strait, and Mindanao is to its south...
, Homonhon and Suluan, located in the entrance to the Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf
Leyte Gulf is a body of water immediately east of the island of Leyte in the Philippines, adjoining the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, at . The Gulf is bounded on the north by the island of Samar, which is separated from Leyte on the west by the narrow San Juanico Strait, and on the south by...
. These islands had the potential to disrupt 6th Army's landing operations if they remained in Japanese
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
hands. After initial delays due to bad weather, the operation went ahead on 18 October, and was a success. The 6th Rangers on Dinagat raised the first American flag on Philippine soil as part of General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's 'Return to the Philippines'.
After the success of this mission, the Invasion of Leyte
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
got underway on 20 October 1944. The 6th Rangers were moved to Tacloban on Leyte, where they were mostly used for patrolling actions. Late in the year, the order came through for the battalion to prepare to take part in the landings in Lingayen Gulf
Lingayen Gulf
The Lingayen Gulf is an extension of the South China Sea on Luzon in the Philippines stretching . It is framed by the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union and sits between the Zambales Mountains and the Cordillera Central...
, which were to form the invasion of Luzon. On 1 January 1945, the Rangers were transported by sea from Tacloban to Lingayen Gulf, and were landed on Lingayen Gulf Beach on 10 January 1945. Elements of the battalion were sent to Santiago Island to secure the entrance to the Gulf and prevent the enemy outflanking the landing area.
Cabanatuan Raid
6th Army Intelligence indicated that the Japanese were holding a large number of American POWs in Cabanatuan, 60 miles north of ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. An incident at a camp on Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
led intelligence to believe that the POWs would be executed as the Imperial Japanese Army retreated. General Walter Krueger
Walter Krueger
Walter Krueger was an American soldier of German descent and General in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his command of the Sixth United States Army in the South West Pacific Area during World War II...
, 6th Army commander, ordered 6th Rangers to bring the prisoners out alive.
C Company, under Capt. Robert Prince
Robert Prince (Captain)
Robert Prince was a captain in the United States Army's elite 6th Ranger Battalion. In 1945 he was chosen personally by Lt. Col. Henry A. Mucci to plan the rescue at the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines.-Personal life:...
, reinforced with a platoon from F Company and accompanied by Lt. Col. Mucci, was to undertake the mission. Alamo Scouts
Alamo scouts
The Alamo Scouts was a reconnaissance unit of the Sixth United States Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II...
and Filipino Guerillas accompanied the 6th Ranger force, and provided reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
and flank protection. The attack went ahead at dusk on 30 January. During the following battle, the Rangers rescued 511 POWs, and killed 523 enemy troops for the loss of two rangers Killed & 1 POW died and 21 Filipino Guerillas wounded. Both Mucci and Prince received the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
, all other officers involved in the raid the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and all enlisted men the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. The operation is still classed as the most successful rescue operation in the history of the US military.