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General Darby's Influence

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Great success comes from great leaders. One of the greatest military leaders in history, was a local Fort Smith native named William O. Darby. Brigadier General William O. Darby’s life and leadership substantially influenced the United States Army in many ways. General Darby’s creation of the United States Army, Army Rangers was perhaps one of the greatest attributes to the United States military. William Darby’s militaristic creation became incredibly substantial with the aid of the following influences: the world at war, new and elite soldiers, operational invasions, and a ceaseless legacy.
An extreme turmoil had been taking place during the early 1940’s. The world was at war. Many young soldiers had grown anxious during this upheaval since …show more content…

Specially trained British Commandos assisted the newly found Ranger Battalion, in both testing and training. A commando can be defined as“a small group of soldiers trained to make quick and often dangerous attacks inside enemy areas, or a member of such a group” . British Commandos training the United States Army Rangers were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Vaughn. Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn and his special forces sought out the character of the Rangers to see what type of men they were. They welcomed Darby and his Rangers to Achnacarry Castle with the battle call of Scottish bagpipes. Once establishing a bond of approval, the British commandos went to the full extent of their capabilities to provide support that ensured that the Rangers were ready for battle. With this proper training, obligation fell to Darby and his officers to be the first to strike all new training obstacles, despite the level of difficulty. The sensuosity of Ranger training first took place with miles of long ruck marches to Achnacarry Castle, in which their packs grew heavier with every step, and sweat fell with every mile. Blisters began to muster on the soles of their feet, but they dare not fall out for they were the elite. They were indeed the United States First Ranger Battalion among the 1st Armored and 34th Infantry Division. The …show more content…

Efforts to inhibit the advancement of German troops led the North African invasion. Major efforts took place in halting German troops from occupying North African seaports. Spearheading the invasion in the Port of Arzew, Algeria were Darby’s First Ranger Battalion. “This was accomplished by executing a surprise night landing, silencing two-gun batteries, and opening the way for the capture of Oran.” A night raid was conducted in Tunisia in 1943. The execution of the night raid took place behind enemy lines in Sened Station. The purpose of this mission was to collect military intelligence in order to terrorize the enemy. While American troops tried to pass through a crucial mountain pass located in Djbel Ank, many soldiers were shot down. The First Ranger Battalion rucked twelve-miles under night fall to the height of Djbel Ank through rugged terrain in order to surprise the enemy at dawn. Under the stealth of night, the Rangers were able to attack from the rear while successfully capturing two-hundred prisoners, now leading the way for American troops to pass through to conquer in North

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