GermanySpecial Forces by Avi Heiligman

Forgotten Her es Special Forces Units

By Avi Heiligman

A U.S. flag on a destroyed bunker two days after Pointe du Hoc was captured by U.S. Army Rangers in World War II Members of Merrill’s Marauders Members of the First Special Service Force

Some of the most secretive units in the American military are the special forces. They came into being during the 20th century, although there were some specialized units during earlier conflicts and in particular the Civil War. As technology and weapons advanced,

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the need for unconventional warfare units arose, and today these capabilities have grown so much that there is a special operations command in addition to specialized units that each branch of the military maintains. As many of the operations performed by special operation units are declassified, they don’t usually make frontpage news. Here are some of the lesser-known units from World War II that give a glimpse of the scope of missions of special forces operators. Several special forces units were formed during World War II, but it was the First Special Service Force to have the unique distinction of having soldiers from two countries. Both Americans and Canadians served with the force during its years of operations from 1942-1944. The idea behind the unit was to create a large unit capable of fighting in harsh winter conditions. Their first mission was to the inhospitable island of Kiska in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska. The Japanese had vacated the island without the Americans noticing, so the force didn’t see action there so they were sent to Italy. Known by the enemy as the Devil’s Brigade, they were very active in the mountainous regions of Italy in a campaign that saw them capture several key objectives. They were used to secure objectives like bridges behind enemy lines that would lead the way for the regular army. Later, they were sent to southern France during Operation Dragoon and captured five ports. In December 1944, the First Special Service Force was disbanded, and the members were sent to other units.

While the First Special Service Force was fighting the enemy in harsh winter conditions, another special forces unit was battling the Japanese in the unrelenting jungle conditions of Burma. About 3,000 American soldiers were selected and trained for the unit called the 5307 th Composite Unit (Provisional). The mission was codenamed Galahad, and the soldiers affectionately called themselves Merrill’s Marauders. In February 1944, 2,750 Marauders began a 1,000mile trek behind Japanese lines to begin operations in Burma. Kachin Scouts were attached to the units to lead them through the dense jungle. During the trek, the Marauders engaged the Japanese in several minor engagements and five larger battles. In most of the battles, the Allies were outnumbered but managed to inflict more casualties than they sustained themselves. Disease and battlefield casualties dwindled down their numbers to a third of their full strength, but that didn’t stop the Marauders from reaching their target. Myitkyina Airfield in Northern Burma was needed to land supply airplanes for units in China.

The Kachin Scouts were Burmese

troops trained by American officers with the OSS, the American spy agency during the war. The American unit was called Detachment 101, and they were to perform several missions including guiding Merrill’s Marauders. Among their many duties, they were to gather intelligence, disrupt Japanese supply and communication lines, identify targets for the air corps, and rescue downed pilots. Since the terrain was difficult for vehicles to pass, Allied troops had to pass through on foot. Together with local and Chinese forces, they inflicted severe casualties on the Japanese and forced them out of Burma.

The U.S. Navy had several special forces units operating during the war including the Underwater Demolition Teams which eventually morphed into the Navy SEALs. The Beach Jumpers were another tactical unit that saw a lot of action in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Beach Jumpers were tasked with deception and diversion during amphibious landings to divert the enemy’s attention from the actual landings. The members were experts in small boat handling and could operate sophisticated equipment. Just a small number of Beach Jumpers an entire division away from the real landing zone due to the ruse created by the Beach Jumpers who sustained no casualties in the mission.

Several other special forces groups operated during the war, in-

Together with local and Chinese forces, they inflicted severe casualties on the Japanese and forced them out of Burma.

could make it appear that a huge amphibious operation was taking place. During Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, over 100 miles from the actual landings they utilized sound boats as well as a smokescreen, a searchlight, rockets and small arms fire to appear that a landing was imminent. The German defenders kept cluding the well-known Rangers. The Navy had their own scouts and raiders that provided reconnaissance and raiding capabilities. They went on many missions and saw action in North Africa, Normandy, the Pacific, and China. The Alamo Scouts were a special reconnaissance unit of the 6th Army and saw action in New Guinea and the Philippines. In over 100 missions they didn’t lose a man and provided vital reconnaissance in the raid to free the Allied prisoners of the Cabanatuan prison camp.

Some missions require specialized units that are trained in specific types of operation to execute successfully. Many countries worldwide have special forces units and learn from previous special operations units on how to operate. The American units during World War II learned quickly from other units like the British Commandos, and they themselves were able to pass on the legacy. While many of these units are now defunct, their stories live on. Their operators are forgotten heroes for the danger they faced while in combat.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.