Military Review English Edition January-February 2017 | Page 146
Corps doctrine, force structure, and training evolutions
in the 1930s, and the technological and tactical innovations employed by the Corps (specifically, the 4th Marine
Division) in the Pacific during World War II. Examples
include massive, sustained air and naval bombardment
to weaken dug-in enemy emplacements, fighter planes
with air-to-ground rockets against dug-in positions, and
underwater demolition teams to reconnoiter defenses
and destroy underwater barriers. Readers discover that
“in 63 days of combat, the 4th Marine Division (including
its subordinate 1/24th Marine Battalion commanded by
LTC Jimmie Dyess) saw more close-combat action than
any of the six Marine Divisions fighting in the Pacific
Theater in WWII, proving the viability of amphibious
attack against defended beaches.”
Only one American citizen has earned Eagle Scout
status, received the Carnegie Medal for civilian heroism, and been awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor—Aquilla James “Jimmie” Dyess. A U.S. Navy
destroyer and a Georgia highway bear his name, and an
award symposium held annually in his honor salutes
Americans who, over a lifetime, have made significant
contributions to nation, community, and fellow citizens.
Courage, Compassion, Marine: The Unique Story of Jimmie
Dyess belongs on bookshelves alongside more recognizable
biographies. I highly recommend this story of a unique
and original American with remarkable achievements.
James D. Sharpe Jr., Fort Gordon, Georgia
THE SPEARHEADERS
A Personal History of Darby’s Rangers
James J. Altieri, Naval Institute Press,
Annapolis, Maryland, 2014, 318 pages
T
he Spearheaders: A Personal History of Darby’s
Rangers by James J. Altieri depicts the exceptional soldiers, tough training, and the attrition
of sustained combat operations by Maj. William O.
Darby’s Rangers, America’s first commando unit of
World War II. The book is an account from Altieri’s
personal memoirs and written from an enlisted man’s
perspective. Altieri would rise through the ranks as an
original member with the 1st Ranger Battalion and
would eventually become a first sergeant and company
commander of Fox Company, 4th Ranger Battalion.
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Altieri enlisted on 8 October 1941 and joined the
68th Field Artillery of the First Armored Division. While
serving with the First Armored Division in Carrickfergus,
Northern Ireland, he volunteered for the 1st Ranger
Battalion, which had been activated on 19 June 1942.
Altieri was among many soldiers selected from several U.S. units in England who were willing to take the
challenge posed by this new unit. He details the rigorous
selection process
and the realistic
commando training
received from their
British Commando
counterparts. The
Rangers’ realistic
combat training in
Ireland and Scotland
in 1942 resulted
in success and the
development of new
tactics. Altieri sheds
detailed light on
the Rangers’ training in amphibious
operations, weapons
familiarization, and grueling foot marches—all of which
honed them into a fighting force that would achieve success on the battlefields in Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy.
Throughout the book looms the personality of
William Orlando Darby. An artill eryman, Darby was the
first commander of the 1st Ranger Battalion and put his
stamp on the unit through his personal involvement in
all facets of their training. Always at the front of the most
grueling movements, Darby pioneered night raid tactics
that brought the Rangers their early and dramatic successes. Darby was ferociously loyal to his Rangers. Alteri
relates with pride that Darby twice turned down promotions to remain as the 1st Rangers commander.
The Spearheaders highlights Darby’s gift and what
distinguished him from other combat leaders of this
era—his ability to recruit, organize, and train future
Ranger battalions. After the North African Campaign,
Darby and his officers and noncommissioned officers
chose to seek out prospective Rangers rather than rely
on other units to provide volunteers. He and his battalion leadership avoided existing combat units, most of
which were either at the front or likely to see combat
January-February 2017 MILITARY REVIEW