Rex Applegate
Encyclopedia
Rex Applegate was an American military officer who worked for the Office of Strategic Services
, where he trained Allied special forces
personnel in close-quarters combat during World War II
. He held the rank of colonel
.
. He was a descendant of Charles Applegate, who blazed the Oregon Trail
in 1843 with his brothers Jesse
and Lindsay
and founded the Applegate Trail
. Applegate began hunting and shooting at a young age and learned marksmanship from his uncle Gus Peret who was a famed exhibition shooter and professional hunter at the time. Applegate graduated from the University of Oregon
with a Business Degree in 1940 and went on to take a commission in the US Army as a Second Lieutenant
. His first billet was with the 209th Military Police Company as a lung ailment kept him from holding a combat position.
. Donovan had Applegate learn all that he could about armed and unarmed fighting to form a brutal and effective system. He was the close-combat coordinator for all clandestine missions and this role brought him into contact with other fighters and martial artists of the time period such as a Finnish soldier who killed 21 Russians with a knife and the founder of the British SAS: David Stirling
.
At one point during the war, he served as the personal bodyguard to President Franklin D Roosevelt.
who made him an "Honorary General".
Applegate was friends with actor John Wayne
and in addition to teaching Wayne how to shoot, Applegate served as a technical advisor on the set of The Alamo
. Applegate was said to be the source and inspiration for several of Ian Fleming
's characters in the James Bond
novels.
When not traveling to promote his pistol-shooting methods, Applegate spent his last years at the Applegate House in Yoncalla, Oregon
. Rex Applegate's daughter, historian Shannon Applegate
, who writes and lectures on Oregon and the Applegate family history, is the current occupant.
. The updated 1976 edition of Kill or Get Killed was published by the US Marine Corps
as Fleet Marine Force Reference Publication 12-80. From the foreword:
and
Applegate developed the techniques outlined in the book during his work with William E. Fairbairn
, who had previously developed his own techniques while working for the Shanghai Municipal Police from 1907 to 1940. Fairbairn drew heavily on Chinese martial arts
, which he simplified and tailored to the needs of police training in one of the world's most crime-ridden cities, due to its history of crime related to the opium
trade, the rebellion
, and the activities of Triad gangsters. His result was the development of Defendu
, widely considered the first of what became known as modern combatives
. Applegate's techniques are heavily based on Fairbairn's Defendu, enhanced with feedback from the OSS operatives who put his techniques into action during World War II.
system outlined in Kill or Get Killed, which is based on point shooting
with a strong emphasis on training for close-range, fast-response shooting. This system is somewhat at odds with another prominent system (developed and promoted by Jeff Cooper) called the "The Modern Technique of the Pistol". Both systems have many supporters, with variants of Cooper's system being more-commonly used. Supporters of Cooper's methods point to the near-universal use of his system in the International Practical Shooting Confederation
and other forms of action shooting
, while Applegate's supporters point to police incidents where officers trained in Cooper's methods discharge many rounds at close range (most measured in tens of feet (3 m) or less) with few (if any) disabling hits. The last years of Applegate's life were spent promoting his combat-pistol-shooting methods to police agencies. Applegate co-wrote The Close-Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate (with Chuck Melson), and was a founding member of the International Close Combat Instructors Association.
(an improved version of the World War II Fairbairn-Sykes knife. The new knife's design was a collaborative effort by Applegate and Fairbairn during World War II, eliminating the major weaknesses of the F-S knife (among them a weak blade point and the impossibility of determining the blade's orientation by grip alone). Boker Knives offers several versions of the A-F knife. A line of folding knives, produced by Gerber Legendary Blades
, were based by Applegate and Bill Harsey, Jr. on the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife.
In the late 1980s Applegate released an improved version of Fairbairn's Smatchet
, which had been used by the SAS and OSS during World War II. The development of this weapon began as a collaborative effort between Applegate and Fairbairn during the war. Applegate named his 10 inches (25.4 cm) double-edged knife the "Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Smatchet"; it was initially offered as a handmade knife by Bill Harsey, Jr., and later by Wells Creek Gun and Knife Works. After that, it was produced by Al Mar Knives
; following Mar's death, Boker Knives was licensed to produce it. Applegate later had Harsey design a "Mini-Smatchet" (with a 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) blade) which was produced by Boker. Applegate was inducted into the Blade Magazine
Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 1994 Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia
in recognition of the impact his designs have made upon the cutlery industry and for his writings on knife fighting.
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
, where he trained Allied special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
personnel in close-quarters combat 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...
. He held the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
.
Early life
Applegate was born on June 21, 1914 in OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was a descendant of Charles Applegate, who blazed the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
in 1843 with his brothers Jesse
Jesse Applegate
Jesse Applegate was an American pioneer who led a large group of settlers along the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country. He took part in the early government of Oregon, and helped establish the Applegate Trail as an alternative route to the Oregon Trail.-Early life:Jesse Applegate was born in Henry...
and Lindsay
Lindsay Applegate
Lindsay Applegate was a pioneer known for blazing the Applegate Trail, an alternative end of Oregon Trail in the U.S. state of Oregon. The trail was blazed with his brothers Charles and Jesse in 1846.-Early life:...
and founded the Applegate Trail
Applegate Trail
The Applegate Trail was a wilderness trail through today's U.S. states of Idaho, Nevada, California, and Oregon, and was originally intended as a less dangerous route to the Oregon Territory.-Background:...
. Applegate began hunting and shooting at a young age and learned marksmanship from his uncle Gus Peret who was a famed exhibition shooter and professional hunter at the time. Applegate graduated from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
with a Business Degree in 1940 and went on to take a commission in the US Army as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. His first billet was with the 209th Military Police Company as a lung ailment kept him from holding a combat position.
World War II
In 1941 Applegate was developing armed and unarmed close quarter combat courses for the US Army when he was recruited by Wild Bill Donovan for the OSS, specifically to build and run what was called "The School for Spies and Assassins", the location of which is now Camp DavidCamp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
. Donovan had Applegate learn all that he could about armed and unarmed fighting to form a brutal and effective system. He was the close-combat coordinator for all clandestine missions and this role brought him into contact with other fighters and martial artists of the time period such as a Finnish soldier who killed 21 Russians with a knife and the founder of the British SAS: David Stirling
David Stirling
Colonel Sir Archibald David Stirling, DSO, DFC, OBE was a Scottish laird, mountaineer, World War II British Army officer, and the founder of the Special Air Service.-Life before the war:...
.
At one point during the war, he served as the personal bodyguard to President Franklin D Roosevelt.
Post war life
After the close of World War II, Applegate spent the next 15 years as an advisor to the government of MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
who made him an "Honorary General".
Applegate was friends with actor John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and in addition to teaching Wayne how to shoot, Applegate served as a technical advisor on the set of The Alamo
The Alamo (1960 film)
The Alamo is a 1960 American historical epic released by United Artists. The film was directed by John Wayne, who also starred as Davy Crockett. The cast also includes Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B...
. Applegate was said to be the source and inspiration for several of Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
's characters in the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
novels.
When not traveling to promote his pistol-shooting methods, Applegate spent his last years at the Applegate House in Yoncalla, Oregon
Yoncalla, Oregon
Yoncalla is a city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,052 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.61% is water.-Demographics:...
. Rex Applegate's daughter, historian Shannon Applegate
Shannon Applegate
Shannon Applegate is an American author, lecturer, and historian from the state of Oregon. Her works include Skookum: An Oregon Pioneer Family's History and Lore and Living Among Headstones: Life in a Country Cemetery...
, who writes and lectures on Oregon and the Applegate family history, is the current occupant.
Unarmed combat
In 1943 he wrote Kill or Get Killed, which is still considered a classic manual of Western-style hand-to-hand combatWestern Martial Arts
Western Martial Arts refers to formalized fighting techniques and skills of European or generally Western origin, as distinct from those originating in Asia....
. The updated 1976 edition of Kill or Get Killed was published by the US Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
as Fleet Marine Force Reference Publication 12-80. From the foreword:
- "Fleet Marine Force Reference Publication (FMFRP) 12-80, Kill or Get Killed, is published to ensure the retention and dissemination of useful information which is not intended to become doctrine or to be published in Fleet Marine Force manuals""
and
- "This reference publication was written in 1976 by Lieutenant Colonel Rex Applegate, USA (Ret), with the help of the Combat Section, Military Intelligence Training Center, Camp Ritchie, Maryland. At last there is one volume which speaks to the subjects of unarmed combat (offensive and defensive), combat use of weapons, disarming the enemy, handling of prisoners, the handle of mob/crowd disobedience, the use of chemicals in such situations, and how to establish a professional riot control unit".
Applegate developed the techniques outlined in the book during his work with William E. Fairbairn
William E. Fairbairn
William Ewart Fairbairn was a British soldier, police officer and exponent of hand-to-hand combat method, the close combat, for the Shanghai Police between the world wars, and allied special forces in World War II. He developed his own fighting system known as Defendu, as well as other weapons...
, who had previously developed his own techniques while working for the Shanghai Municipal Police from 1907 to 1940. Fairbairn drew heavily on Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
, which he simplified and tailored to the needs of police training in one of the world's most crime-ridden cities, due to its history of crime related to the opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
trade, the rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
, and the activities of Triad gangsters. His result was the development of Defendu
Defendu
Defendu is a modern martial art developed by William E. Fairbairn and Eric A. Sykes prior to World War II. It is a hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that was developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police, and was later taught in expanded form...
, widely considered the first of what became known as modern combatives
Combatives
Combatives is a United States Army term for hand-to-hand combat training and techniques.-History:Militaries have long taught unarmed combat, both as physical conditioning and as a supplement to armed combat. Among the samurai of Japan, such combatives were known as Bujutsu...
. Applegate's techniques are heavily based on Fairbairn's Defendu, enhanced with feedback from the OSS operatives who put his techniques into action during World War II.
Combat-handgun techniques
Applegate was a proponent of the combat pistol shootingCombat pistol shooting
Combat pistol shooting is a modern martial art that focuses on the use of the handgun as a defensive weapon for self defense, or for military and police use...
system outlined in Kill or Get Killed, which is based on point shooting
Point shooting
Point shooting, also called threat focused shooting, is a method of shooting a firearm that relies on a shooter's instinctive reactions, kinematics, and the use of biomechanics that can be employed effectively in life-threatening emergencies to quickly engage close targets.This method of shooting...
with a strong emphasis on training for close-range, fast-response shooting. This system is somewhat at odds with another prominent system (developed and promoted by Jeff Cooper) called the "The Modern Technique of the Pistol". Both systems have many supporters, with variants of Cooper's system being more-commonly used. Supporters of Cooper's methods point to the near-universal use of his system in the International Practical Shooting Confederation
International Practical Shooting Confederation
The International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
and other forms of action shooting
Action shooting
Action shooting is a term that encompasses target shooting events where the shooter's score is based on both the accuracy and elapsed time. Disciplines covered by the term include:*United States Practical Shooting Association...
, while Applegate's supporters point to police incidents where officers trained in Cooper's methods discharge many rounds at close range (most measured in tens of feet (3 m) or less) with few (if any) disabling hits. The last years of Applegate's life were spent promoting his combat-pistol-shooting methods to police agencies. Applegate co-wrote The Close-Combat Files of Colonel Rex Applegate (with Chuck Melson), and was a founding member of the International Close Combat Instructors Association.
Combat-knife innovations
In the early 1980s, Applegate released a design called the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knifeApplegate-Fairbairn fighting knife
The Applegate-Fairbairn Fighting Knife is a Combat knife that was designed by Colonel Rex Applegate and William E. Fairbairn as an improved version of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife...
(an improved version of the World War II Fairbairn-Sykes knife. The new knife's design was a collaborative effort by Applegate and Fairbairn during World War II, eliminating the major weaknesses of the F-S knife (among them a weak blade point and the impossibility of determining the blade's orientation by grip alone). Boker Knives offers several versions of the A-F knife. A line of folding knives, produced by Gerber Legendary Blades
Gerber Legendary Blades
Gerber Legendary Blades is a maker of consumer knives and multitools headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, United States, within the Portland metropolitan area. Currently Gerber is a sub-division of Fiskars Brands Inc, owned by the Fiskars company of Finland...
, were based by Applegate and Bill Harsey, Jr. on the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife.
In the late 1980s Applegate released an improved version of Fairbairn's Smatchet
Smatchet
A Smatchet is a short, heavy fighting knife/sword in overall length . It was designed by knife fighting expert and instructor Capt. William E...
, which had been used by the SAS and OSS during World War II. The development of this weapon began as a collaborative effort between Applegate and Fairbairn during the war. Applegate named his 10 inches (25.4 cm) double-edged knife the "Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Smatchet"; it was initially offered as a handmade knife by Bill Harsey, Jr., and later by Wells Creek Gun and Knife Works. After that, it was produced by Al Mar Knives
Al Mar Knives
Al Mar Knives is a production knife company headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, United States. Al Mar Knives was established in 1979 by Al Mar, and has a reputation for making tactical knives of innovative design. While headquartered in the United States, Al Mar Knives are made in Japan.-Al Mar:Al...
; following Mar's death, Boker Knives was licensed to produce it. Applegate later had Harsey design a "Mini-Smatchet" (with a 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) blade) which was produced by Boker. Applegate was inducted into the Blade Magazine
Blade (magazine)
Blade is a long-running consumer magazine about knife collecting.First published in 1973 under the title American Blade by Southern House Publishing Co. with Blackie Collins as the editor, the magazine's title was changed to Blade in 1982 after its purchase by Jim Parker and Bruce Voyles...
Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 1994 Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in recognition of the impact his designs have made upon the cutlery industry and for his writings on knife fighting.
Books by Applegate
- Kill Or Get Killed: A Manual of Hand-to-Hand Fighting (1943)
- Kill or get killed: riot control techniques, manhandling, and close combat(1976)
- Scouting and patrolling: ground reconnaissance principles and training(1980)
- Riot control: material and techniques(1981)
- Combat Use of the Double-Edged Fighting Knife(1993)
- The Close-Combat Files of Col. Rex Applegate(1998)
- Bullseyes don't shoot back: the complete textbook of point shooting(1998) (with Michael Janich)
External links
- "The Smatchet" from William E. Fairbairn's Get Tough!
- USMC source for doctrinal materials, including FMFRP 12-80
- The Applegate-Todd Connection
- Paladin Press Publisher of Colonel Applegate's books and videos.