Page 82 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Summer 2014

population. Over 100 carts were eventually included in jungle rot during the march toward the prison camp and
the column by some estimates, in addition to the food how this condition nearly prevented him from partici-
and water provided by sympathetic locals throughout pating in the raid. Despite a leader being affected, there
the march. Early on 31 January, the Ranger column was is no evidence that inspections of feet on the march as a
finally able to make radio contact with the 6th Army screening or preventive measure were ever conducted.
7
headquarters and make final coordination for link-up No mention is made in the records of any use of insect
with field ambulances from the 92nd EH. Just prior to repellant for the prevention of vector borne disease, al-
noon, the Rangers made link-up with these trucks and though it is listed in supply catalogs, and could have
ambulances near Talavera village, and within an hour been ordered through medical supply channels.
all prisoners and Rangers were consolidated with the
92nd EH and 6th Army headquarters near Guimba. 1
Closing
When the war in the Pacific ended in 1945, so did the 6th
Preventive Medicine
Ranger Infantry Battalion. The study of the 6th Rang-
Little mention is made in the battalion’s records of ers’ medical operations is particularly noteworthy as
any preventive measures taken to preserve the fighting the battalion’s operations frequently occurred without
strength of the 6th Rangers. However, Mary Condall- the significant direct support from conventional Army
Rall and Albert Cowdrey explain in Medical Service units. Of the six Ranger infantry battalions formed
in the War Against Japan that the 6th Army command during the Second World War, it has been recognized
made an effort to prevent the spread of disease in the that only the 6th Battalion consistently operated as an
Philippines. independent, unconventional force. All other Second
World War Ranger battalions were regularly supported
Discipline against disease was tight. The troops by collecting stations of medical battalions of divisional
were ordered to wear full clothing, impregnated units. 1,32 As such, the 6th Rangers’ history provides a
with miticide to protect them against scrub ty- unique look into the considerations for and execution of
phus. They also were instructed in measures to medical care for a special operations unit of the Second
control flies and avoid schistosomiasis, as well as World War.
given Atabrine to suppress malaria, salt tablets
to guard against heat exhaustion, and halazone
tablets to purify drinking water. The presence of Disclosure
a friendly civilian population of some 900,000 The author has nothing to disclose.
was duly noted. Prophylactic kits were issued
against venereal disease, and medical personnel
were ordered to care for civilian patients to the References
extent permitted by military needs. 19p322 1. King MJ. Leavenworth paper number 11, Rangers: selected
combat operations in World War II. Fort Leaven worth, KS:
As part of the 6th Army invasion force, it can be assumed U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Combat
that these preventive measures applied to the Rangers as Studies Institute; June 1985. http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/down
load/csipubs/king.pdf.
well, but there is no direct mention in the battalion’s 2. McRaven WH. Spec ops: case studies in special operations:
records of these actions being taken. The use of Ata- theory and practice. New York: Presidio Press; 1996.
brine and quinine sulfate as malaria suppressants was 3. FM 8-5 Medical Field Manual, Mobile Units of the Medical
™
recorded in the battalion’s radio transmission records Department, United States Army, 12 January 1942, Chap-
and supply records. The line companies requested ter 33, Paragraph a.
30
medicine for the treatment of parasitic worms at times, 4. NARA-CP. INBN 6-1.2 S-1 Journal, 10 January 1945 to 13
but it is unclear if this was being used as a preventive March 1945.
measure or, more likely, as treatment for a previously 5. NARA-CP. INBN 6-3.9 Field Orders, Company B Field Or-
acquired infection. An inspection of the Ranger mess der dated 6 October 1944.
was made by the 6th Army headquarters to ensure the 6. Johnson FB. Hour of redemption: the heroic WWII saga
sanitation of the cooking and eating areas for soldiers of America’s most daring POW rescue. New York: Warner
Books; 2002.
in the garrison environment, but this was done late in 7. Sides H. Ghost soldiers. New York: Doubleday Publishers;
the war after most combat operations had ended for the 2001.
battalion. The typical Ranger in the field would likely 8. NARA-CP. INBN-6-3.9 Field Orders dated 6 October
31
have still lived under the same unsanitary conditions as 1944 and 14 October 1944.
any other infantryman of the war. One account of the 9. NARA-CP. “Ranger Mission at the Pangatian Prison
Cabanatuan operation mentions the deteriorating con- Camp,” from HQ, 6th Ranger Battalion, to Sixth Army
dition of the Charlie Company commander’s feet due to G-3.

72 Journal of Special Operations Medicine Volume 14, Edition 2/Summer 2014