JOUR-J - UNITES

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  [voir le dossier]
Executive Officer: Major Richard P. Sullivan  [voir le dossier]
S-1 : Captain Edmund J. Butler  [voir le dossier]
S-2: Captain William P. Byrne, Jr  [voir le dossier]
S-3: Captain Hugo W. Heelfffinger  [voir le dossier]
S-4: Captain William F. Murray  [voir le dossier]
Surgeon: Captain Thomas G. Petrick  [voir le dossier]
Chaplain: 1st Lieutenant Joseph Lacy  [voir le dossier]
Sergeant Major: Master Sergeant Minor C. Dean  [voir le dossier]
 
  Headquarters Company: Captain John C. Raaen, Jr  [voir le dossier]
    Executive Officer: 1st Lieutenant Howard E. Van Riper  [voir le dossier]
    Communication Officer: 1st Lieutenant Louis J. Gombosi  [voir le dossier]
    Operation Officer (Asst): 1st Lieutenant Stanley L. Askin  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Quentin L. Knollenberg  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Richard J. Nee  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Jack A. Snyder  [voir le dossier]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Russell Woodhill  [voir le dossier]
  Company A: 1st Lieutenant Charles H. Parker, Jr  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Aloysius Wybroski  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Stanley D. Zlesky  [voir le dossier]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Morris E. Mooberry  [voir le dossier]
  Company B: Captain George P. Whittington, Jr  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Bernard M. Pepper  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Gregory  [voir le dossier]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Avery J. Thornhill  [voir le dossier]
  Company C: Captain Wilmer K. Wise  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant John J. Reville  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Jay H. Mehaffey  [voir le dossier]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Thomas T. Sloboda  [voir le dossier]
  Company D: Captain George R. Miller  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Francis W. Dawson  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 2nd Lieutenant Philip V. Thomas  [voir le dossier]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Raymond M. Herlihy  [voir le dossier]
  Company E: Captain Edward S. Luther  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Rayford E. Dendy  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Dee C. Anderson  [voir le dossier]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Sandy Martin, Jr  [voir le dossier]
  Company F: Captain William M. Runge  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant Frank E. Zidjuna  [voir le dossier]
    Platoon Leader: 1st Lieutenant William J. Mulligan  [voir le dossier]
    First Sergeant: 1st Sergeant Howard A. Mc Donald  [voir le dossier]