OSS Detachment 101

Detachment 101 of the Office of Strategic Services (formed under the Office of the Coordinator of Information just weeks before it evolved into the OSS) operated in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II. On 17 January 1956, it was awarded a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation by President Dwight Eisenhower, who wrote: "The courage and fighting spirit displayed by its officers and men in offensive action against overwhelming enemy strength reflect the highest tradition of the armed forces of the United States."[1]

Detachment 101 training camp at Nazira.
Squad of Kachin Rangers.
Celebrating Eifler's promotion to colonel in the field.
Merrill and Stilwell meet near Naubum, Burma.
OSS Detachment 101 officers
Left to right: Jingpaw Rangers, Headquarters, and Kachin Rangers shoulder sleeve insignia.

History

"On April 14, 1942, William Donovan, as Coordinator of Information (which evolved into the Office of Strategic Services that June), activated Detachment 101 for action behind enemy lines in Burma. The first unit of its kind, the Detachment was charged with gathering intelligence, harassing the Japanese through guerrilla actions, identifying targets for the Army Air Force to bomb, and rescuing downed Allied airmen. Because Detachment 101 was never larger than a few hundred Americans, it relied on support from various tribal groups in Burma. In particular, the vigorously anti-Japanese Kachin people were vital to the unit's success. By the time of its deactivation on July 12, 1945, Detachment 101 had scored impressive results. According to official statistics, with a loss of some 22 Americans, Detachment 101 killed 5,428 Japanese and rescued 574 Allied personnel."[2] 101's efforts opened the way for Stilwell's Chinese forces, Wingate's Raiders, Merrill's Marauders, and the great counter-attack against the Japanese Imperial life-line."[3]

During most of the unit's existence, it funded and coordinated various resistance groups made up of the Kachin people of northern Burma. The best known resistance force was known as the Kachin Rangers and was under the command of Carl F. Eifler, though often the term Kachin Rangers has been used to describe all Kachin Forces raised during the war by the Americans in Northern Burma.[4]

In July 1942, twenty OSS men moved in and set up headquarters at Nazira in the northeastern Indian province of Assam. No operations of any significance occurred until the end of 1942. Starting in 1943, small groups or individuals were parachuted behind Japanese lines to remote Kachin villages, followed by a parachute supply drop. The Americans then began to create independent guerrilla groups of the Kachin people, calling in weapons and equipment drops. In December 1943 Stilwell issued a directive that Detachment 101 increase its strength to 3,000 guerillas. They were recruited from within Burma, many of them "fierce Kachins".[5]

Once established, the groups undertook a variety of unconventional missions. They ambushed Japanese patrols, rescued downed American pilots, and cleared small landing strips in the jungle. They also screened the advances of larger Allied forces, including Merrill's Marauders.[6]

Eifler held the rank of colonel when he was relieved because of serious head injuries, Lt. Col. William R. Peers taking over command. At the end of the war, each Kachin Ranger received the CMA (Citation for Military Assistance) Award.[Note 1] Actually, the medal was the result of a mistake. An OSS officer, reading a radio message that advised him how to reward heroic Kachin action, misinterpreted the abbreviation for "comma" ("CMA") as signifying some sort of a medal. Reluctant to leave the Kachins empty handed, the OSS quickly created the medal and presented it to them.[7]

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to OSS Detachment 101.

Notes
  1. Rangers were given a "Certificate of Military Assistance" and a medal known as a "Citation for Military Assistance." An illustration of an actual certificate and medal presented to a Kachin Ranger may be viewed here.

References
  1. Peers, William R. and Dean Brelis. Behind the Burma Road:The Story of America’s Most Successful Guerrilla Force. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1963, p. 243-244.
  2. Central Intelligence Agency. Behind Japanese Lines in Burma: The Stuff of Intelligence Legend (2001). Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  3. Peers, back cover.
  4. Hogan, David W. Jr. U.S. Army Special Operations in World War II. CMH pub ; 70-42, 1958, ch. 5.
  5. Hogan.
  6. Hogan.
  7. Hughes, Les. www.insigne.org/OSS-101.htm. Retrieved 2 June 2012

Further reading
  • Ward, James R. "Detachment 101 Office of Strategic Services: Burma – April 14, 1942 to July 12, 1945 "The American-Kachin Rangers"". Archived from the original on 24 July 2001.
  • "Secrets and Spies: Behind-the-Scenes Stories of World War II". Reader's Digest. Pleasantville, NY. 1963.
  • Latimer, John; Murray, John (2004). Burma: The Forgotten War. ISBN 978-0-7195-6576-2.
  • Dunlop, Richard (1979). Behind Japanese Lines: With the OSS in Burma. ISBN 0-528-81823-6.
  • Peers, William R. and Dean Brelis (1963). Behind the Burma Road. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
  • Central Intelligence Agency. Intelligence Operations of OSS Detachment 101. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
  • Central Intelligence Agency. Behind Japanese Lines in Burma: The Stuff of Intelligence Legend (2001). Retrieved 2012-05-30.
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