Scouts!

This is ccolbert:

Here with an elite American unit from the Second World War [WW2]. A unit compiling an outstanding record, perhaps unsurpassed!

Alamo Scouts. A unit organized specifically at the behest of General Walter Krueger.

Alamo Scouts - - a strategic reconnaissance and intelligence gathering unit. Operating in conjunction with the U.S. Sixth Army, Southwest Pacific Area [SWPA], WW2.

"The Alamo Scouts (US 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit) was a reconnaissance unit of the Sixth United States Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II."

"The Alamo Scouts performed 106 known missions behind enemy lines, mainly in New Guinea and the Philippines without losing a single man. Thus, the Scouts had one of the finest records of any elite unit in World War II."

This typical six-man Alamo Scout team carries the M1 carbine, wearing the camouflage uniform and the field cap with the up-turned brim. Wearing the field cap in that manner was a "trade-mark" of the Scouts?

Highly skilled at conducting behind-the-lines type special operations missions, to include a DIRECT ACTION capability - - killing or capturing enemy troops and liberating American prisoners-of-war [PoW] when the opportunity presented itself.

"The Scouts were credited with the capture of 84 Japanese prisoners of war, and only two Scouts were wounded in the mission."

But generally attempting to operate in as surreptitious a manner as possible. Unseen, avoiding and not making contact with the enemy. Read this particular entry from the Alamo Scout web site. An after-action report that details the type of mission the Scout were so adept at.

Make NO mistake about it either! This was VERY DANGEROUS DUTY in the extreme. To have been captured while on an Alamo Scout mission by the Japanese would have resulted in some very bad consequences!!

An area of operations for the Alamo Scouts to include:

* Bismarck Archipelago.

* New Guinea.

* Philippines.

* Japan! [two missions seemingly performed post-surrender!]

The Scouts - - during the selection process for inclusion into the unit, training in - - "eight major skill areas":

* Rubber Boat Handling.

* Intelligence Gathering.

* Scouting & Patrolling.

* Navigation.

* Communications.

* Weapons.

* Physical Conditioning.

A very large part of Scout training centering upon water skills, water survival, small boat handling, etc. Scouts operating in amphibious fashion, taken to the AO [area of operations] by MTB [motor-torpedo-boat], going ashore in a zodiac-style rubber boat.

[candidates for selection as a scout already were trained and experienced soldiers! Volunteers, these guys were not novices.]

As with almost all special operations units, the Scout training regimen was tough, designed to produce an individual troop that "could do"! A meticulous selection process, ONLY about one-third [1/3] of the volunteers finally incorporated into the ranks of the Scouts. [this is the type of military duty that most young men have in mind when they join the military - - but almost NONE ever get to do!]

"250 enlisted men and 75 officers, from 27 December 1943 to 2 September 1945. Only 117 enlisted men and 21 officers were retained. The remaining graduates returned to their units."

This is interesting. What is called the "Krueger Card". Alamo Scout officers during a mission would carry this card with them. Alamo Scout officers were given extraordinary authority to perform a mission. Having this card presented to you was more or less the same as having General Krueger standing in front of you in person, with all that meant!!

As for those landings on Japanese soil, the teams that set ashore did so AFTER Japanese surrender, surveying the beaches for the Sixth Army occupation force to land!

"Two teams of Alamo Scouts and advance elements of 6th Army Headquarters had visited the city [Nagasaki] on 19 September in preparation for the landing."

"ADKINS and GRIMES Teams conducted advance reconnaissance of the beach. The next day, DERR Team accompanied General Walter Krueger on an inspection tour of the city [Nagasaki]"

The Alamo Scouts, NOT RECEIVING PROPER RECOGNITION UNTIL 1988, OVER FORTY YEARS AFTER THE END OF WW2!! ONLY in 1988 being recognized as a Special Forces unit.

Alamo Scouts, a small unit from the era of WW2 that stood very tall!!

coolbert.