The Alamo Scouts were organized on Fergusson Island, New Guinea, on 28 November 1943 to conduct reconnaissance and raider work in the Southwest Pacific Theater under the personal command of then Lt. General Walter Krueger, Commanding General, Sixth U.S. Army.
Named for his beloved association with San Antonio, Texas, and the Alamo, Krueger envisioned that the Alamo Scouts, consisting of small teams of highly trained volunteers, would operate deep behind enemy lines to provide intelligence-gathering and tactical reconnaissance in advance of Sixth U.S. Army landing operations.
During these two years the Alamo Scouts liberated 197 Allied prisoners in New Guinea, and provided forward reconnaissance and tactical support of the Sixth Ranger Battalion in the liberation of the Cabanatuan Prisoner of War Camp on Luzon, in February 1945, freeing 511 Allied prisoners. In addition, the Alamo Scouts captured 84 Japanese prisoners of war.
The Alamo Scouts evolved from a simple reconnaissance unit in New Guinea to a sophisticated intelligence collection group which supplied and coordinated large-scale guerrilla operations on Leyte and Luzon.
In July 1945, the Alamo Scouts were training to conduct pre-invasion reconnaissance of Kyushu in preparation for OPERATION OLYMPIC, the first step in the proposed Allied invasion of the Japanese homeland. Following the Japanese surrender, the Alamo Scouts landed in Wakayama and became part of the occupation army
They were unceremoniously disbanded at Kyoto, Japan, in November 1945, never to be reconstituted.
The Alamo Scouts have the finest record of any elite unit of World War II and, arguably, one of the finest in the history of the United States military.
In 1988, the Alamo Scouts were individually awarded the SPECIAL FORCES SHOULDER TAB for their services in World War II and included in the lineage of today’s U.S. Army Special Forces.
Cabanatuan Raid Story: When General Krueger began planning the raid on Cabanatuan, he sent for the Alamo Scouts.
Two teams of Scouts were chosen to work the mission. The Nellist and Roundsville teams undertook reconnaissance of Cabanatuan. They gathered useful information on Japanese movements in the camp’s vicinity. In fact, they confirmed USAFFE guerrilla leader Juan Pajota’s intelligence — Japanese activity in the area was tremendous. They concurred that the raid should be postponed for 24 hours.
Nevertheless, they were stymied. They needed better information on the movements within the camp and they couldn’t get near the camp — the surrounding fields were too flat. They were sure to be seen. Time was ticking past; the Scouts were getting frustrated. They needed more information. What could they do?
Lieutenant Bill Nellist hatched a plan. He reasoned that although it was impossible to get near the camp, they could spy on the camp from a higher outpost. He had spotted an abandoned shack that just might be able to provide the vantage. It was risky, but he decided that he and Rufo Vaquilar, a Filipino-American Alamo Scout, would dress up as Filipino villagers and attempt to gain access to the hut.
The plan worked. Nellist and Vaquilar donned straw hats and farmer costumes; they sallied for the shack. Nellist couldn’t have been more pleased. The view was extraordinary; they could see right into the compound. For two hours they made notes, detailing the major features of the camp and the best routes for the Rangers. Then they heard a strange noise — three more Alamo Scouts had come to join them. These daring young men had crawled on their bellies, approaching the shack from the rear. Nellist gave them his report and ordered them to get it to Ranger commander Henry Mucci, on the double.
The information was a godsend. The Rangers completed their plan. That evening the raid began. The Scouts helped evacuate the prisoners. Then they stayed behind, helping with casualties and surveying the area for any retaliatory movements. By February 2, they made their way back to base camp. According to the diary of Alamo Scout Gilbert Cox, they finally found themselves “enjoying life and waiting for the next job.”
Want to read another great Alamo Scout story? Try this link.
Posted for Veteran’s Day – Monday Nov. 11th 2013
Did veterans risk and sacrifice life and limb for this Progressive garbage?
1) Lying Left Wing Progressive Scum
“Think Progress”(Soros funded)used a specious propaganda piece from anti-2nd Amendment activists “Moms Demand Action” to smear gun owners —
http://www.norcalblogs.com/postscripts/2013/11/11/veterans-day-story-alamo-scouts/
What “Think Progress” is —
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7121
2) Liberal Academics Dirt Bags Put Students On Probation For Brandishing A Gun To Defend Themselves From An Intruder
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/11/2-gonzaga-students-on-probation-for-having-guns-pistol-display-drove-off/
The following links to the same story are provided for the adolescent whiner creeps frequenting these page who so vehemently hate Fox News (they also fill in some details) —
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/11/11/college_students_on_probation_pulling_gun_to_defend_against_intruder_.html
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gonzaga-students-face-expulsion-gun-20846915
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/gonzaga-students-hit-probation-pulling-gun-intruder-131313733–abc-news-topstories.html
No Pie, I don’t believe they did!
I hope and pray they don’t let the thought remain in their minds for more than a nano second…for life!
There are too many of us out here who do appreciate the contribution and sacrifice that American men and women make for our country. (Although your protest is commendable)
Here’s a tribute from a son to his father that I enjoyed today.
Here’s another.
And another.
I’ve been humming “Bless Them All” in my head all day.
There are never enough ways to say thank you to those who would put themselves in harms way if necessary for the sake of freedom and for the lives of their fellow citizens, friends, and loved ones.
One really good way to thank our vets is to care for the wounded. To that end there are numerous ways to contribute or volunteer. Here are a couple of favorites:
The Gary Sinise Foundation does amazing work with our veterans and those currently serving in the military:
Wounded Warrior Project:
(One of the nicest things we as a nation could do for our veterans would also help all young people…a better economy and jobs market. We need new leadership and education that supports us in picking better leaders. We have an election next year…hint hint)
As for tonight, let me simply say to all of you vets who regularly visit these pages…”Thank you and God bless you.”
Thank you warriors, this is your day.
Leon Cooper, Part 1: The Battle for Tarawa
http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=mpg&load=2149&mpid=174
America’s involvement in WWII lasted for only 18 months, because of the sacrifices people gave to win that war. They built every ship, tank, gun and ammo to support our troops and grew all the food to feed them. They even invented the A-bomb.
Wars and conflicts today last for decades because America is full of progressives now who believe in entitlement instead of sacrifice. It’s all about getting that “free” phone, car, (cash for clunkers)student loans, housing, food, and on and on.
Instead of contributing to keep America the home of the brave and land of the free its resources are going to feed couch potatoes three meals a day and our military in combat two cold meals.
Obama has cut our military budget while breaking records by raising the funds going to every couch potato. We’re now at the point every thing fought for during WWII will be lost by people who sit on their couches with their hands out instead of holding an arc welder.
Yes, Pie the progressives have taken over our country from within. People raised to believe they’re entitled don’t know what it is to sacrifice.
Did you hear the horrible Republicans are being vilified for wanting to cut the INCREASE to the food stamp program 57% while the Democrats wanted to INCREASE it by 65%, which is an 8% difference over 10 years?
Redirecting some of those food stamp funds to Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move program is met with acceptance and media silence.
It’s not the evil Republicans who took the food from the poor it’s Michelle and her pet project.