Army Rangers History Until World War Ii Essay Example

Army Rangers History Until World War Ii Essay Example Army Rangers History Until World War Ii Paper Army Rangers History Until World War Ii Paper Essay Topic: Orlando 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. Armys Ranger School. [1] The term Ranger was first used in North America in the early 17th century; however, the first ranger company was not officially commissioned until King Philips War (1676) and then they were used in the four French and Indian Wars. Rangers also fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. It was not until World War II that the modern Ranger concept was conceived, authorized by General George C. Marshall in 1942. The six battalions of the modern Rangers have been deployed in wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and saw action in several conflicts, such as those in Panama and Grenada. Of the current active Ranger battalions, two- the 1st and the 2nd- have been in service since reactivation in 1974. [2] The 3rd Ranger Battalion and the headquarters of the 75th Ranger Regiment were reactivated in 1984. The 75th Ranger Regiment is now a special operations combat formation within the U. S. Army Special Operation Command (USASOC). The Ranger Regiment traces its lineage to three of six battalions raised in WWII, and to the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)- known as â€Å"Merrills Marauders,† and then reflagged as the 475th Infantry, then later as the 75th Infantry. The Ranger Training Brigade (RTB)- headquartered at Fort Benning, GA- is an organization under the U. S. Armys Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and is separate from the 75th Ranger Regiment. It has been in service under various names and Army departments since World War II. The Ranger Training Brigade administrates Ranger School. Successful completion of this 61-day course is required to become Ranger qualified and to wear the Ranger Tab. When the American Revolution began, Major Robert Rogers allegedly offered his services to General George Washington. Fearing that Rogers was a spy, Washington refused. An incensed Rogers instead joined forces with the Loyalists and fought for the crown. Not all of Rogers Rangers went with him, however, including such notable figures as Israel Putnam. Later on during the war, General Washington ordered Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton to select an elite group of men for reconnaissance missions. This unit was known as Knowltons Rangers, and is credited as the first official Ranger unit (by name) for the United States. This unit, however, carried out intelligence functions rather than combat functions in most cases, and as such are not generally considered the historical parent of the modern day Army Rangers. Instead, Knowltons Rangers gave rise to the modern Military Intelligence branch (although it was not a distinct branch until the 20th century). [ The most famous Rangers of the American Civil War fought for the Confederate States Army. In January 1863, John S. Mosby was given command of the 43rd Battalion, Partisan Ranger. Mosbys Rangers became infamous among Union soldiers due to their frequent raids on supply trains and couriers. Their reputation was heightened considerably when they performed a raid deep into Union territory and captured three high-ranking officers, including Brigadier General Edwin H. Stoughton. Weeks after the surrender of the Confederate Army Mosby disbanded his unit rather than formally surrender. Also a famous Confederate commander, Turner Ashby led a cavalry company known as the Mountain Rangers, who became known for their ability to harass Union soldiers. The most successful attacks against Mosbys Rangers were carried out by the Union Armys Means Rangers. Means Rangers became famous when they successfully captured General James Longstreets ammunition train. They later fought and captured a portion of Mosbys force. In January 1941, during World War II, Colonel Dudley Clarke met American Colonel William J. Donovan during a strategic tour of the Mediterranean. During the Second World War, Major General Lucian K. Truscott, the US Army Liaison, saw the capabilities of the British Army’s SAS (Special Air Service) Commandos. He immediately sent a proposal stating We undertake immediately an American unit along the lines of the British Commandos on 26 May 1942 to General George Marshall. The US Army then began a program to make a commando unit for the US Military. The telegram Truscott sent out was received by Major General Russell P. Hartle, the commander of all US Army forces in Northern Ireland. Now that the first battalion of commandos was authorized, a name for the new commando unit would be chosen. Truscott picked Rangers because â€Å"The name Commandos rightfully belonged to the British. † Rangers were a part of the earliest stages in colonizing America so it seemed to be an exceptional choice. [11] Now the General was tasked to find a commander worthy enough to lead the Ranger battalion. General Hartle decided that his own aid-de-camp, Captain William Orlando Darby, a graduate of West Point with amphibious training, was the ideal choice. This decision was highly approved by General Truscott who rated Darby as outstanding in appearance, possessed of a most attractive personality. and filled with enthusiasm†. [11] Thousands of applications poured in from the Army in Northern Ireland. Most came from units such as the 1st Armored Division and the 34th Infantry Division. The Officers would be hand picked by Darby to ensure maximum unit efficiency. He then brought in the applicants he chose. After a stressful and grueling weeding out of his new applicants at Carrick Fergus, NI, the first battalion officially activated on 19 June 1942. In May 1942, the 1st Ranger Battalion was sanctioned, recruited, and began training under the British Commandos in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Their courage is evident from the observation that of 500 volunteers who first formed the Rangers at Carrickfergus, only 87 were alive by the end of the war. [12] 80 percent of the original Rangers came from the 34th Infantry Division. Together with the ensuing 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions they fought in North Africa and Italy commanded by Colonel Darby until the Battle of Cisterna (29 January 1944) when most of the Rangers of the 1st and 3rd Battalions were captured. The remaining Rangers were absorbed into the Canadian-American First Special Service Force under Brigadier General Robert T. Frederick. They were then instrumental in operations in and around the Anzio beachhead. [13] all info on this paer is courtesy of http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/United_States_Army_Rangers#American_Revolution

How the Harlem Hellfighters Became World War I Heroes

How the Harlem Hellfighters Became World War I Heroes The Harlem Hellfighters were an all-black combat unit whose heroic World War I service is once again earning recognition more than a century after the end of the war. About 200,000 African Americans served in Europe during WWI and, of those, about 42,000 were involved in combat. Those servicemen included the Harlem Hellfighters, whose bravery led the 369th Infantry Regiment, originally known as the 15th Regiment of the New York National Guard. The Harlem Hellfighters became one of the most decorated regiments in the war. In addition, they saw more combat and suffered more losses than other American units. Key Takeaways: Harlem Hellfighters The Harlem Hellfighters were an all-black military regiment that fought in World War I, during which the armed forces were segregated. The Hellfighters saw more continuous combat and suffered more casualties than any other U.S. military unit during World War I. The Harlem Hellfighters won a number of awards for their service, including the Croix de Guerre medal from France and the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor from the United States. Origins of the Harlem Hellfighters When World War I broke out in Europe, racial segregation was omnipresent in the United States. African Americans faced a series of statutes known as Jim Crow laws that prevented them from voting and codified discrimination in schools, housing, employment, and other sectors. In Southern states, more than one lynching of an African American took place per week. On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war against Germany and formally entered World War I. The first American troops arrived in Europe two months later. The U.S. military did not offer blacks respite from the racism and inhumane treatment they faced elsewhere in society. African Americans servicemen were segregated from whites, who balked at the idea of fighting alongside them. For this reason, the 369th Infantry Regiment was comprised solely of African Americans. Because of the persistent discrimination faced by black Americans, black newspapers and some black leaders thought it hypocritical for the U.S. government to ask blacks to enlist in the war. For example, President Woodrow Wilson had refused to sign an anti-lynching bill to protect African Americans. Other black leaders, such as W.E.B. Du Bois, argued for black participation in the conflict. â€Å"Let us, while this war lasts, forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our white fellow citizens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy,† Du Bois wrote in the NAACP’s Crisis magazine. (When it was revealed that Du Bois hoped to be named a military captain, readers questioned if his sentiments were really valid.) The mistreatment of African Americans during this time was highlighted by the fact that not all military branches even wanted to include them. The Marines would not accept black servicemen, and the Navy enlisted a small number in menial roles. The Army stood out for accepting the bulk of African American servicemen during World War I. But when the troops departed for Europe in 1918, the Harlem Hellfighters weren’t allowed to take part in a farewell parade because of their skin color. Harlem Hellfighters in Combat In Europe, where they served for six months, the Hellfighters fought under the French Army’s 16th Division. While racism was a global problem in the early 1900s (and remains so today), Jim Crow was not the law of the land in European countries such as France. For the Hellfighters, this meant the chance to show the world what skilled fighters they were. The nickname of the regiment is a direct reflection of how their combat abilities were perceived by their foes. Indeed, the Harlem Hellfighters proved masterful foes of the Germans. During one encounter with enemy forces, Private Henry Johnson and Private Needham Roberts, wounded and lacking ammunition, managed to thwart a German patrol. When Roberts could no longer fight, Johnson fought the Germans off with a knife. The Germans began to refer to members of the Harlem unit as â€Å"the hellfighters† because they were such fierce fighters. The French, on the other hand, had called the regiment â€Å"Men of Bronze.† The 369th Infantry Regiment was also described as the â€Å"Black Rattlers† because of the rattlesnake insignia on their uniforms. The Hellfighters stood out not only for their skin color and fighting prowess but also because of the sheer amount of time they spent fighting. They took part in more continuous combat, or combat without a break, than other U.S. unit of the same size. They saw 191 days on the front lines of battle. Seeing more continuous combat meant that the Harlem Hellfighters also experienced more casualties than other units. The 369th Infantry Regiment had more than 1,400 total casualties. These men sacrificed their lives for an America that had not given them the full benefits of citizenship. Hellfighters After the War Newspapers reported on their heroic efforts, and the Harlem Hellfighters bravery in combat resulted in international fame in the U.S. and abroad.  When the Hellfighters returned to the U.S. in 1919, they were welcomed with a massive parade on February 17. Some estimates say up to five million spectators took part. New Yorkers from a variety of racial backgrounds greeted 3,000 Hellfighters  as they walked in the parade on Fifth Avenue, marking the first time African-American servicemen had received such a reception. It marked a drastic difference from the year before, when the regiment was excluded from the farewell parade before traveling to Europe. The parade wasn’t the only recognition the 369th Infantry Regiment received. When World War I ended, the French government presented 171 of the fighters with the prestigious Croix de Guerre medal. France honored the entire regiment with a Croix de Guerre citation. The United States gave some members of the Harlem Hellfighters a Distinguished Service Cross, among other honors. Remembering the Hellfighters Although the Hellfighters received praise for their service, they faced racism and segregation in a country in which racism and segregation was the law of the land. Moreover, their contributions to World War I largely faded from public memory in the years after the war. In recent years, however, these servicemen have been the subject of renewed interest. A famous photograph taken of nine Harlem Hellfighters before their 1919 homecoming parade intrigued National Archives archivist Barbara Lewis Burger, who decided to find out more about the men pictured. The following is a brief description of each man she researched. Pvt. Daniel W. Storms Jr. won an individual Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action. He worked as a janitor and elevator operator after his service, but died of tuberculosis three years after the victory parade.   Henry Davis Primas Sr. won an individual Croix de Guerre for bravery. He worked as a pharmacist and for the US Post Office after WWI. Pvt. Ed Williams’s combat skills stood out while battling the Germans at Sà ©chault, France. The Hellfighters endured machine gun fire, poison gas and hand-to-hand combat. Cpl. T. W. Taylor won a personal Croix de Guerre for heroism in battle. He worked as a steamship cook, dying in 1983 at age 86. Pvt. Alfred S. Manley worked as a driver for a laundry company after the war. He died in 1933. Pvt. Ralph Hawkins earned a Croix de Guerre that included a Bronze Star for extraordinary heroism. Following WWI, he worked as for the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration. He died in 1951. Pvt. Leon E. Fraiter worked as a jewelry store salesman after the war. He died in 1974. Pvt. Herbert Taylor worked as a laborer in New York City and reenlisted in the Army in 1941. He died in 1984. The Harlem Hellfighters also included Corporal Horace Pippin, who became a well known painter after the war. His arm was disabled due to a battle wound, so he painted by using his left arm to hold up his right arm. He credited the war with inspiring him as an artist: â€Å"I can never forget suffering, and I will never forget sun set,† he wrote in a letter featured at the Smithsonian. â€Å"That is when you could see it. So I came home with all of it in my mind. And I paint from it to day.† He painted his first oil painting, â€Å"The End of the War: Starting Home,† in 1930. It shows black soldiers storming German troops. Pippin died in 1946, but his letters have helped to describe what the war was like firsthand. In addition to Pippin, Henry Johnson has received significant recognition for his service as a Harlem Hellfighter. In 2015, he posthumously received a U.S. Medal of Honor for fending off a group of German soldiers with just a knife and the butt of his rifle. Legacy Today Museums, veterans’ groups, and individual artists have paid tribute to the Harlem Hellfighters.  The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016, has an exhibition called â€Å"Double Victory: The African American Military Experience,† which highlights the achievements of the Hellfighters and other black servicemen. The 369th Veterans’ Association was established to honor members of the 369th infantry, and the Hellfighters were the subject of a graphic novel called the Harlem Hellfighters. Sources â€Å"Remembering the Harlem Hellfighters.† National Museum of African American History and Culture.Gates, Jr., Henry Louis. â€Å"Who Were the Harlem Hellfighters?† PBS.org.Keilers, John. U.S. Declares War on Germany... U.S. Army Military History Institute, 13 March 2008. Ruane, Michael E. â€Å"The Harlem Hellfighters were captured in a famous photo. Now a retired archivist has uncovered their stories.† Washington Post, 11 November, 2017.Ruane, Michael E. â€Å"Harlem Hellfighters: In WWI, we were good enough to go anyplace.† Washington Post, 1 June, 2015.

Compare Chinese law and African laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Compare Chinese law and African laws - Essay Example However, there are those who believe that such marked similarities in terms of laws and norms are not only a product of contacts between races. Their argument is that there is a kind of universal bond borne out of humankind’s common understanding of what is right or wrong, which makes rewards and retributions a common scenario. I am inclined to take the side of those who feel that a universal understanding of what is right or wrong is behind the spirit of the laws that governs the human society. To illustrate this point, let us take into considerations the Chinese and the African setting, taking into specific considerations the origin and foundations of such laws. China and Africa are almost at the opposing poles if we talk about cultures, civilizations and the evolution of their legal systems. Since time immemorial, Chinese have been known as traders traversing the high seas to trade goods. In the olden times, Chinese dynasties were known to be one of the most organized structures of government and have codified their laws as early as the 221 BC (Gray. Gregor. 1878) By contrast, Africa was a mystery to the rest of the world up until now and most of its laws are still unwritten to this day. Unlike China where the codes are easy accessible to those who would care to read them, African laws, owing to its unwritten nature, are not readily accessible by outsiders. In order to gain knowledge of African law, one must closely observe and learn from experiential accounts of its subjects. However, what is interesting to note is that even though one laws is already codified and the other unwritten, by looking into the origins and the spirits of the law s of these countries, there are similarities in them that is worth looking into. By taking a closer look into the very foundations of these laws, one will find that both are more or less built on similar foundations. Studies conduct on Chinese and African laws noted that both laws are essentially based