The Lost Ranger: A Soldier's Story

by Mehlo, Noel

  The first infantry division to train at Camp Rucker was the 81st Infantry Division known as the “Wildcats” in

  1942. Three other infantry divisions would train at the Camp including the 66th 98th and 35th Infantry Divisions in

  1943. The regiment is the traditional Army unit that most history and heritage follows. An infantry regiment had a headquarters company and consisted of three rifle battalions, the 1st, 2d and 3d. Each rifle battalion consisted of four companies. The first three companies were rifle companies. The fourth company in each battalion consisted of a heavy weapons company. Companies A, B & C were the rifle companies in the 1st Battalion, while company D was the weapons company. Companies E, F & G were the rifle companies in the 2d Battalion, while company H was its Weapons Company. Likewise in the 3rd Battalion, companies I, K & L were the rifle companies, with company M being the weapons company. The letter J was purposefully unused due to the potential for mistakes in communications between the use if it and the letter I. Attached to each regimental headquarters unit were attached a service company, cannon company, anti-tank company and a medical company that included chaplains. An Army photo of Camp Rucker is shown in Figure 38.

  Figure 38: Camp Rucker in 1942. Between 1943 and 1945, a U.S. Army infantry battalion was allocated 871 men. Each company had 187 men.14 The company served as the basic standard administrative unit in the Army. Most companies were commanded by a Captain (O3). Each rifle company had a headquarters company, three rifle platoons and a weapons platoon. The rifle platoon consisted of a platoon headquarters element, and three rifle squads, consisting of 12 men each. The weapons platoon consisted of a headquarters element, a machine gun section and a mortar section.

  The infantry heavy weapons company was different than a rifle company. They included six 81 mm mortars, seven bazookas, and eight heavy machine guns to offer greater firepower as needed to the unit at large. They consisted of a company headquarters, two machine gun platoons, and a mortar platoon. Each machine gun platoon consisted of a headquarters element, and two machine gun sections of 15 men. The mortar platoon consisted of a headquarters element and three mortar sections.15 Each of the Machine Gun Platoons was assigned four .30 cal Browning M1917 heavy machine guns. Each of the four squads had a ¾-ton truck for weapons transport. The second and fourth Squads were armed with Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR)s, although more would typically be procured during combat.

  Heavy Weapons Company (5 Officers, 178 men), comprised of;

  Company HQ (2 Officers, 29 men)

  Two Machine Gun Platoons, each (1 Officer, 44 men)

  Mortar Platoon (1 Officer, 61 men)16

  To understand the importance of a heavy weapons company, the Army Field Manual (FM) 7-15, Infantry Field Manual, Heavy Weapons Company, Rifle Regiment, dated May 19, 1942 is the single best source of information.17 Per the Army, the heavy weapons company consisted of a company headquarters, two .30 caliber machine-gun platoons and one 81 mm mortar platoon. The Army provided details of organization in a separate document called Table of Organization and Equipment (T/O & E 7-18). A copy of this is in Appendix B. The organizational structure of a Heavy Weapons Company is shown in Figure 39.

  Figure 39: Heavy Weapons Company organization FM 7-15 The .30 caliber heavy machine gun is a crew-served weapon that can deliver a large volume of continuous fire, and if fired at a medium rate of fire (125 rounds per minute), could be kept up indefinitely. If the weapon is employed in rapid fire (250 rounds per minute), it can be fired for several minutes at a time between breaks. It is a fixed mount weapon that has the capability of firing overhead fire, or firing at night at predetermined ranges. The weapon is not as mobile as an infantry rifle, due to size and weight, but makes up for it in firepower, as it has an effective range of up to 2000 yards. The Army employed multiple versions of this weapon including in most basic terms the water-cooled version as a heavy machine gun and a lighter air-cooled version. It was limited mainly by observation when used for direct fire and both by maximum effective range and the availability of accurate fire information when used for indirect fire. A well placed machine gun could halt an advance while in defense, or provide overwhelming fire support to attackers. The two variants of the machine gun are shown in Figure 40.

  Figure 40: M1917 Water-cooled heavy machine gun (left) and M1919A Air cooled light machine gun (right) – Public Domain Individual soldiers in the weapons company would also carry pistols, carbines, rifles and hand grenades dependant on their mission and their particular job duties in the unit for protection in close quarters. The weapons companies also employed a number of Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR)s. The early primary tactical use of the BAR was for antiaircraft defense or as local protection of the company transport against ground attack. Later on in the war the antiaircraft role was replaced with the M2 .50 caliber air cooled heavy machine gun known as “Ma Deuce”, but the BAR was still an integral weapon to the unit. Also employed by the units was the M9 antitank rifle grenade.

  The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was an automatic rifle used as a light machine gun by the United States from 1917 until the Vietnam War era. It was designed to provide U.S. forces with a standard automatic rifle during WW I. Its military nomenclature during WW II was the M1918A2. Both the weapon and ammunition were designed by famed gun maker John Browning and used .30-06 caliber Springfield rifle cartridges. It used the same ammunition as the .30 caliber machine gun. The M1918A2 had a rate of fire of 300-450 or 500-650 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 2,822 feet per second. It had a an effective firing range of 100–1,500 yards with sight adjustments, and a maximum effective firing range of 4,500-5,000 yards. The weapon came standard with a twenty round magazine clip. The design allowed advancing infantrymen to fire from the shoulder, the hip or use a bipod mount. Soldiers could advance with the weapon while firing, and formed the basis for a tactic called “walking fire” or “marching fire.” The weapon was issued at the squad-level as a light machine gun for supporting or cover fire.18 The weapons of a Heavy Weapons Company included the weapons seen in Figure 41 beyond the basic infantry rifle and heavy machine gun.

  Figure 41: Browning Automatic Rifle - BAR (left) M1 Carbine (middle) and M1911 .45 caliber pistol (right) – Public Domain From a tactical perspective, the heavy weapons company was not capable of independent action. They could not take, or hold ground indefinitely without the rifle units. They were capable of strong fire concentrations at critical points. The mission of the heavy weapons company was to give continuous close support and protection to the rifle companies. The protection they offered included protection against air attack, protection of the flanks, protection of reorganizations and consolidations, and protection of assembly areas and bivouacs.

  Regarding the tactical employment of heavy weapons company FM 7-15 revealed every aspect of how this type of company was to be employed in the structure of an infantry regiment. The company would make reconnaissance at the direction of the battalion commander. With the proper intelligence and information, these companies would move to appropriate initial firing positions in order to provide adequate firepower as the mission dictated. They would anticipate the fire support needs of the rifle units. They would protect the flanks of the regiment. When they assessed the enemy, they realized that the enemy is the least certain factor to be concerned about. This was due to a lack of knowing the strength and exact dispositions of the forces. The terrain as it exists in the particular zone of action or defense area was to be evaluated in order to determine they best use of it for both attack and defense. At the same time they had to analyze how the enemy would us it to their advantage. The terrain was deemed critical as it afforded observation, concealment, and fields of fire to the enemy for use in firing against, or launching surprise attacks on, our attacking, or defending, troops. Likewise it afforded favorable approaches (wooded draws, ditches, cultivated fields, and so on) for the advance of friendly troops in the attack or for the movement of hostile troops in the defense. The Army taught
that considering the above items together, the unit leader must arrive at an answer to the following questions:

  What is the situation, friendly and hostile, as it exists on the ground and in the air?

  What can the enemy do on the ground?

  What must I do, on this ground, to use my weapons and men to best advantage in accomplishing my assigned mission?

  The answers to these questions served as the basis for action in any situation. The heavy weapons companies focused on the concept of fire control which includes all operations connected with the preparation and actual application of fire to a target. Any lack of proper fire control results in loss of surprise effect, premature disclosure of position, misapplication of fire on unimportant targets, and wastage of ammunition. Discipline and correct technical training are fundamental in assuring fire control. Per the Table of Organization and Equipment for a Heavy Weapons Company, as with any military unit, each soldier had a specified job or duty:

  “Basic privates are trained as replacements and as messengers. Until actually assigned as replacements, they are employed as messengers or ammunition bearers… All messengers are also trained as observers and may be used to man observation posts... Leaders who have become casualties are replaced; ammunition bearers or basic privates replace other casualties. Adjustments are made by reassignment of key men. Ammunition supply is replenished. By utilizing its individual as well as crew-served weapons, each platoon provides its own local protection while the reorganization is in progress.”17

  The caliber .30 machine-gun section consisted of a section leader and two squads. Each squad was comprised of a corporal (squad leader), a gunner, an assistant gunner, ammunition bearers, and a chauffeur. The squad leader leads the squad to its designated location. He was charged with the selection of the exact firing position, and its preparation and occupation: entrenchment; camouflage; observation and adjustment of fire; fire discipline: and the employment of his ammunition bearers to replenish the ammunition supply of his squad. As to how the squads operated or conducted their fire, the section was considered the basic fire unit. Both machine guns would engage the enemy target in order to provide greater density and effect of the fire. This provided better odds at effectively overcoming an enemy force.

  The weapons company had specific duties to perform in the event of any enemy attack from hostile air forces, mechanized or infantry forces. They had the basic weapons with which to meet any challenge. They trained in providing a flank guard to the remainder of the regiment while on the move as seen in Figure 42 below:

  Figure 42: Flank Guard, Heavy Weapons Company, Rifle Regiment FM 7-15

  During offensive combat on attack missions, the heavy weapons company had several general missions. These were to: 1. To give close support to leading rife companies- This was accomplished by using heavy machine guns and mortars to engage by fire hostile elements.

  2. To protect flanks of battalion.

  3. To protect battalion against hostile low-flying airplanes.

  4. To support attacks made in conjunction with tanks

  5. Cooperation and coordination with field artillery and cannon company

  The heavy weapons companies were also responsible for supporting night attacks, attacks in wooded areas, conducting of raids, and support of the attack of towns and villages and attacks along or across rivers. The companies were also responsible for creating dummy works which served to mislead the enemy and disperse his fire on Allied forces. The heavy machine guns were employed in order to establish what is referred to as an effective field of fire as noted in the following figures.

  Figure 43: Machine Gun Field of Fire, Heavy Weapons Company, Rifle Regiment FM 7-15 Figure 44: Machine Gun Emplacement, Heavy Weapons Company, Rifle Regiment FM 7-15 The .30 caliber machine gun had three soldiers assigned to it, a gunner, assistant gunner and ammunition bearer. It was largely inconsequential whether a particular soldier trained on a watercooled or air-cooled variant. The internal mechanism was largely the same for both weapons, and the only real difference was that the lighter air-cooled models were often closer to the front line. (Ed Gooding, Soldier, Texas Ranger)19

  Based on the surviving records of PVT Hull, it is known that he was a Rifleman while with the 320th Infantry Regiment. It is likely that as a PVT while in the 134th Infantry Regiment, Company M, he would have served in the capacity as described in the pages above based on Army procedures. As a result of the loss of his Soldier Qualification Card, WD AGO Form 20, detailed official knowledge of his service in this regiment is limited beyond what the Army procedures were. Based on Army procedure, he likely had qualified on some or all of the weapons previously discussed. By the time of his service with the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion, he had become a Squad Leader and Automatic Rifleman. According to the requirements of becoming a Ranger which will be discussed later, he would have had to have been qualified as an Expert Marksman in at least one of the weapons.

  One historian wrote “the men who trained with the Santa Fe at Camp Rucker will long remember those days.”20 The combat ranges and battle courses gave the men rigorous and thorough advanced training putting not just the regiment but the entire division in shape as a top-notch fighting team. The camp provided varied terrain that included tactical maneuvering ground for infantry units, and a lake to practice amphibious landings. There were large ranges for artillery training, smaller ranges for small arms and automatic weapons practice. The sweltering heat of summer was noteworthy to many soldiers.21, 13 The 134th Infantry Regiment participated in intensive training under excessive heat in what was referred to as the “the hot Alabama sun” in preparation for the upcoming Second Army Maneuvers in Tennessee from November 1943 to January 1944.

  The weather records for Ozark, Alabama indicated that although not a record-breaking year, 1943 was a hot year with temperatures exceeding the monthly averages between April and August. The daily high temperatures began to climb into the 90’s in late April and stayed there for the most part through the end of the five-month period. It appeared as if brief sporadic respites from the temperature arrived due to cold fronts every three to four weeks. For the months of June, July and August, the camp area had 27, 22 and 25 days over 90 degrees Fahrenheit respectively, with a monthly average of 11 days over 95 degrees Fahrenheit. After spending months in the cold wetness of California, the heat and humidity the men in full uniform experienced would have been a physical shock.

  Due to the massive reorganization efforts undertaken in both the Division and Regiment, at first the training seemed like basic training all over again at Camp Rucker in order to familiarize the newly forged men as an effective unit. Training of the 134th Infantry Regiment included:

  Scouting and patrolling

  First aid

  Military courtesy and discipline, including Saturday morning inspections

  Reviews of weapons training

  Realistic combat training

  Long marches over dusty roads

  Obstacle courses

  Platoon proficiency tests

  Battalion proficiency tests

  Regimental combat problems

  The Camp Rucker infiltration course and combat reaction course

  Attack of a mock Nazi village and fortified position

  A week long exacting regimental combat team exercise in the Conecuh National Forest, south of Andalusia, on the Alabama-Florida state line

  A severe test where the regiment was required to march 25 miles in eight hours with full field equipment

  o Some of the Regiment made this march at night in order to avoid the heat During a meeting in attendance by the entire Regiment, it was suggested that the famous remarks of General Hale would serve as a battle cry for the unit. Within one month’s time, the words "All Hell Can't Stop Us" appeared on doors and other places throughout the regimental area.5, 6, 7

  Figure 45: Alabama Department of Archives and History

  Figure 46: Alabama Department of Archives and History22 The training in
Figures 45 and 46 are typical of infantry training during World War II. They exemplify the type of activities undertaken by the men as they prepared for battle. The photo below is of the 134th Infantry Regiment, Company M. The source for the photo indicated that they were taken in 1943. It is unknown if PVT Hull is in of the photo. If nothing else, it provides some sense of the unit.

  Figure 47: 134th Infantry Regiment, Company M, 1943 (Roberta Russo)

  A picture of PVT Herbert Stanton Hull taken at Camp Rucker, dated July 22, 1943 is Figure 48 below:

  Figure 48: PVT Herbert Stanton Hull, July 22, 1943, Camp Rucker, Author’s collection To answer the question of what happened next, the story appears to be the same for many of the men who were approached, then selected to join the newly forming 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion. Herbert Hull was ultimately recruited for the newly formed 5th Ranger Battalion from the ranks of the 35th Infantry Division while stationed at Camp Rucker Alabama in the late summer of 1943. I have found a few accounts very similar to this one during my research, but this one says it well. The recruiting scouts for the unit would travel to various posts near the Rangers’ new home in Tennessee and would do the sort of thing described below.