The Spearheaders: A Personal History of Darby's Rangers

by James Altieri, Mir Bahmanyar (Introduction)

The outlook for a victory by the Allied Powers was in doubt in 1942. When only two untested American divisions arrived in the European theatre, Gen. Lucien K. Truscott conceived the plan of organizing an American commando unit to be known as the "Rangers." Maj. William O. Darby was placed in command of the first Ranger Battalion and proved himself an officer of such extraordinary leadership that his unit became known as "Darby's Rangers." The Spearheaders is an account from an enlisted man's point of view of the intensely dramatic career of the Rangers.

Genres: World War II, War

318 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

Reviews

[James]

A very good book, fun read!

[Rick B.H. Ghost]

Great book History of the Rangers and William Darby from their commando training to the finish of their missions.

[Otis Campbell]

This is a true-blue, firsthand account of America's very first bunch of commando fellas in World War II. See, back in 1942, things was looking darker than a sack of black cats for the Allies. So the big brass decided they needed a pack of mean, rough-and-tumble boys to slip behind enemy lines and raise some serious cane. They put Major William O. Darby in charge, and they called 'em "Darby's Rangers". Old Altieri here was one of the original boys who signed up for the meat grinder. He tells the whole story from the dirt-level view of an enlisted man. He talks about how they went over to Ireland and Scotland and got thrashed within an inch of their lives doing brutal training with the British Commandos. Then he takes you right along into the shooting matches, doing night raids and storming beaches across North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. It shows the absolute bravery of them boys, but it don't sugarcoat the sadness neither, 'cause that outfit took a beating and lost a whole mess of good men along the way.

[George]

" 'The outfit that can choose the most inaccessible route of approach under cover of darkness; the outfit that can arrive on the scene of battle after a grueling march still fresh for battle; the outfit that can slip up on the enemy and stun him with shock and surprise--that is the outfit that will win battles--and that is the outfit I want,' Darby repeated to us again and again." (from chapter 33; page 157 in paperback edition)

[James E. Murphy]

A phenomenally inspiring read

Whether you served as a Ranger or not Altieri's account of the Rangers from their formation in Northern Ireland through the devastating losses at Cisterna will inspire. A tremendous tribute to men who sacrificed everything.

[Dan Downs]

A darn entertaining first-person narrative by James Altieri of the early history of "Darby's Rangers." Highly recommended for lovers of action-packed war accounts.

[Tom Wilson]

Read this in High School.

The thing I remember is what has come to be called "The Three Mile Run": three miles to the mountain, three miles up the mountain, three miles down the mountain, three miles home.

My memory is that is an oddly flat narrative. I probably need to read it again with the advantage of experience.

Camp Darby was the Country Phase of the Harmony Church Ranger Campus. One of my favorite memories of Ranger School was Thanksgiving at Camp Darby. They gave us the day off until about 1500 for turkey dinner. I took a shower on a concrete slab with maybe 20 shower heads in the middle of the woods. It was wonderful! The day was cloudy and somewhere around 50 degrees with no wind. We had turkey and then had some patrolling exercise until probably 2100 and then to sleeping bags on the ground for sleep.

About 0300, we were awaken by 5 or 6 M-60s chattering and our TAC officers yelling at us to low crawl around until the sun came up, when we could see to low crawl a little more before breakfast. I understand SEALs do a similar exercise on sand dunes, organized misery being a common dimension of the training.

I always thought Bill Darby enjoyed the sight of 300 worms squirming around his namesake camp.