D-DAY - UNITS

5th Ranger Battalion (Omaha Beach)


Leonard T. Gerow

Max F. Schneider

Richard P. Sullivan

John C. Raen, Jr

Francis W. Dawson

George P. Whittington
 
The 5th Ranger Battalion was activated on 1 September 1943 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. By this time, while in maneuvers on the United States, they were commanded by the Major Owen CARTER. Later, when they moved to England, they were commanded by Major Max SCHNEIDER, who led the 5th Rangers as part of the Provisional Ranger Assault Force commanded by Colonel James Earl RUDDER.
The battalion landed on Omaha Beach along with companies A, B and C of the 2nd Rangers, where elements of the 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division were pinned down by murderous machinegun fire and mortars from the heights above. It was there that the situation was so critical that General Omar BRADLEY was seriously considering abandoning the beachhead, instead of sending more men to die. And it was then and there that General Norman COTA, Assistant Division Commander of the 29th Infantry Division, gave the now famous order: "Rangers, Lead The Way!"
 
      
 
Commanding Officer: Lt. Colonel Max F. Schneider  [view folder]
Executive Officer: Major Richard P. Sullivan  [view folder]
S-1 : Captain Edmund J. Butler  [view folder]
S-2: Captain William P. Byrne, Jr  [view folder]
S-3: Captain Hugo W. Heelfffinger  [view folder]
S-4: Captain William F. Murray  [view folder]
Surgeon: Captain Thomas G. Petrick  [view folder]
Chaplain: 1st Lieutenant Joseph Lacy  [view folder]
Sergeant Major: Master Sergeant Minor C. Dean  [view folder]
 
  Headquarters Company: Captain John C. Raaen, Jr  [view folder]
    Executive Officer: 1st Lieutenant Howard E. Van Riper  [view folder]
    Communication Officer: 1st Lieutenant Louis J. Gombosi  [view folder]
    Operation Officer (Asst): 1st Lieutenant Stanley L. Askin  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Quentin L. Knollenberg  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Richard J. Nee  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Jack A. Snyder  [view folder]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Russell Woodhill  [view folder]
  Company A: 1st Lieutenant Charles H. Parker, Jr  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Aloysius Wybroski  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Stanley D. Zlesky  [view folder]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Morris E. Mooberry  [view folder]
  Company B: Captain George P. Whittington, Jr  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Bernard M. Pepper  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Gregory  [view folder]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Avery J. Thornhill  [view folder]
  Company C: Captain Wilmer K. Wise  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant John J. Reville  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Jay H. Mehaffey  [view folder]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Thomas T. Sloboda  [view folder]
  Company D: Captain George R. Miller  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Francis W. Dawson  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Philip V. Thomas  [view folder]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Raymond M. Herlihy  [view folder]
  Company E: Captain Edward S. Luther  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Rayford E. Dendy  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Dee C. Anderson  [view folder]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Sandy Martin, Jr  [view folder]
  Company F: Captain William M. Runge  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Frank E. Zidjuna  [view folder]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant William J. Mulligan  [view folder]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Howard A. Mc Donald  [view folder]