The Lost Ranger: A Soldier's Story

by Mehlo, Noel

  Climbing should be considered and used when there is a possibility of nighttime landing, and surprise is important. If climbable, the cliff should be assaulted on as wide a front as is possible. Climbing requires a higher degree of individual and sub-unit training than does scaling with mechanical aids. The latter does mechanically much of what in climbing has to be done by the individual.

  Assault wave organization should provide for the following duties and personnel: climbing leaders, climbing seconds, covering fire party, main assault party, signal personnel from beach to ship, signal personnel from bridgehead to follow-up troops, liaison men from follow-up troops.

  Climbing leaders landed with a gripfast strapped around their waists. A 1½ inch alpine rope will already have been secured to the gripfast, the rest of the rope was hand-coiled in baskets on their backs. They wore climbing boots. If the cliff is not hard rock, they carried cut-down ice axes. If there is a lip, or a short patch of earth or gravel at the cliff top, they also carried hand grapnel and hand grapnel carriers which helped them over this. They were armed with pistols.

  Climbing seconds landed with a gripfast strapped around their waist and a 2 ½ inch rope coiled in baskets and secured to the gripfast ring. They wore climbing boots and carried side arms and machine carbine. The party providing covering fire wore climbing boots for speed and carried machine carbines and hand grenades. The main assault body carried their normal load and conducts their duties as assigned. The signalmen carried their respective equipment dependent upon their location:

  Signals on the bridgehead - Signal equipment required on the bridge head were:

  a) Wireless sets SCR 536.

  b) Light telephone Mark M or sound power telephone. Twisted cable on light rollers and W130. This will

  provide a telephone link between the bridge head and the beach. Signals on the beach - Signal equipment required on the beach were: a) Wireless sets No. 38 or No. 68.

  b) Beach marking, with lights for use at night.

  c) Morse torches.

  The liaison men carried rollers, gripfasts and coiled ropes to assist follow-up troops in their ascent. Heavily laden personnel such as mortar and machine gun personnel ascended with assistance from the hauling team at the cliff top. The hauling team went up as early as possible and erected a sheerlegs at the cliff top. This was a small human operated form of a simple crane.

  The troops were trained in day and night assault drills. Each follow-up unit contained climbers in the event the first wave had issues in the establishment of the bridgehead, or if not enough ropes were deployed during the initial assault. As the follow-up climbers reach the top with their climbing gear, they dropped it at the top of the cliff with the leaders at the top, who then in turn droped the new ropes down for additional lanes of ascent. As troops reached the top, they were designed to organize into small parties as per their objectives, and headed off to execute assignments. This confounded the Germans on D-Day. The Rangers were trained in dealing with cliff top casualties and with the possibility of an orderly cliff top withdrawal.

  The training of cliff assault troops was determined to be of high importance. This was the explanation for the amount of differing training locations and methods undertaken by the Rangers. The object of training for cliff assault was to be able to reduce a cliff to the status of an incidental obstacle, the act of scaling constantly subordinated to the tactical requirements necessary to capture the objective. The Combined Operations Command determined that eight weeks were required to train a unit for cliff assault. The Rangers trained for a year. The place chosen for training must resemble the scene of the operation and should, if possible, be more severe. A goal for training location was that the exact geological composition of the cliffs to be assaulted in the operation should be matched if possible. The training should be done according to a well thought out training plan and include ample safety precautions. The idea of training joint operations forces, such as the boat crews, signal personnel, airborne troops and others came into its own as part of this doctrine. It was decided that all officers should train as hard as the men with regard to cliff assaults. The officers also had the added responsibility of planning and executing operations. The study of up do date intelligence photos and information by the officers was an important component of their training.24, 25 The training of all the other positions was likewise laid out in detail by the Combined Operations Command. This training stressed speed, safety and repetition.

  “Climbing leaders require considerable training, both day and night. They should be picked NCOs and men, selected mainly from those sub-units which have been chosen to be assault wave sub-units. They should be trained by qualified instructors, first on easy boulders to gain confidence in using nailed boots, later on harder boulders to acquire technique, then on easy exposed climbs to overcome dislike of heights, and finally on difficult exposed cliffs. The standard aimed at should be "very difficult" according to peace-time rock climbing standard. Climbing problems and rock should be as varied as possible.

  At first these climbers should be allowed to gain confidence by being put only on hard firm rock such as granite, but later verifying rocks particularly loose poor rock should be introduced. Weapons and equipment should not be carried until the later stages, when the drills for sub-units are introduced. Leaders must be taught sound rope management and knots, as they will have to instruct the rest of their sub-units. They must be capable of climbing steep earth and grass, with the use of cut down ice-axes, and patches of vertical and overhanging gravel at the tops of cliffs, with the use of hand grapnels.

  Not less than a fortnight should be spent on this, on a scale of two or three students per instructor, and practicing on varied rock. Climbing leaders will gain further confidence in themselves by instructing their own sub-unit afterwards.”24 (Combined Operations Pamphlet No 24, Cliff Assaults).

  The British War Ministry captured film that is held at the Imperial War Museum containing footage of the Rangers as they practiced at Burton Bradstock. The film is reportedly from April 1944. The images on the following pages are from this film.23 Two Rangers lost there lives after falling during these exercises and are buried in the Burton Bradstock churchyard. The cliffs at Pointe du Hoc are a mirror image as those at Burton Bradstock. They are the same geologic formation on opposite sides of the English Channel and are 90 feet (30 meters high). The first assault wave approached the beach at the base of the cliff. The Operation commenced with a heavy air and sea bombardment to neutralize the enemy defenses and force enemy personnel to cover while the LSIs moved to the assembly area and the LCAs left them and began their run to shore. The bombardment was lifted as the LCAs neared the shore. The LCAs were fitted with six Modified PAC type J length 4’3” rocket projectors firing Standard 2 inch Type J rockets fitted with a five pronged, 15 inch diameter grapnel head capable of launching a 2 ½ inch rope up a 300 foot cliff at 80°. The launchers and rope/ladder storage boxes were mounted along the top sides of the LCAs, three per side. The grapnels/rockets were attached to an assortment of rope ladders, toggle ropes and plain ropes selected to provide alternative methods of overcoming the various types of cliff face. The rope ladders were 2 inch manila ropes with wooden rungs that were 1 inch in diameter by 9 inches in length, spaced every 18 inches for 200 feet of the ladder and weighed 48 pounds. The toggle ropes had 5 inch wooden toggles spaced every three feet for 220 feet and weighed 45 pounds. The landing craft fired their rockets in pairs as they touched down. The rockets reached a height of 200 feet and easily cleared this 90 foot cliff with the grapnels falling at least 100 feet beyond the cliff’s edge (Figures 203-205).

  Figure 203: Rangers training at Burton Bradstock. Note grapnels and rocket fire at cliff face (IWM) Figure 204: Ranger LCAs firing rocket propelled grapnels at cliff faces in Burton Bradstock. These same LCAs landed on D-Day (IWM)

  Figure 205: Landing craft firing ladders and toggle ropes at cliffs at Burton Bradstock (IWM) Figure 206: Critical point in landing operat
ions at base of cliff as assault had yet to commence, and men were bunched at base of cliff. (IWM) The next three minutes were the most critical time in the operation as shown in Figure 206. The bombardment had ceased and the beachhead on top of the cliff had not yet been established. The slack of the ladder and ropes must be taken up to make the grapnels grip. The leading men selected for their climbing ability raced to the top. Others held down the ends of the ladders to make the climb easier. Only two men could climb each ladder at the same time, which due to physics, made it easier to do. The first men went up and commenced the assault, and were followed by men more heavily equipped and established a small beachhead. Once the area in the immediate vicinity of the ascent was secure, the most critical time was over. There were now sufficient men on top to enable assistance to be given where required. The ropes and ladders flattened barbed wire obstacles even tore them away. The process of the ascent is illustrated in Figures 207-210.

  A light “sheerlegs” and block tackle was rigged at the cliff edge. They consisted of a pair of 10-feet tubes shackled together at one end and fitted with spikes and plates at the other end weighing a total of 60 pounds. Sheer legs are supported by a wire backstay on to a screw picket. They were, and are used for hoisting stores and heavy equipment such as mortars, mortar ammunition and heavy machine guns. They provided a rapid and effective way at evacuating wounded.

  Once the bridgehead was established, a portable steel ladder could be erected. This light tubular steel ladder was manufactured in four foot sections which interlock. It was built up at the bottom, and then men hoisted it to the top. Each section had warp hooks for attachment to the cliff face. The ladder sections were connected together via S hooks, and the ladder was kept a few inches from the cliff face by steel supports. This type of ladder is easier to climb than rope ladders since it is held away from the face of the cliff by the short legs. A large number of these ladders were tactically sited and when in position, some were certain to provide a safe route between cliff top and beach, whatever fire the enemy might bring to bear.

  Figure 207: Rangers scaling cliffs at Burton Bradstock (IWM)

  Figure 208: Rangers lining up for cliff scaling (IWM)

  Figure 209: Rangers making a mock assault of cliffs at Burton Bradstock in spring 1944 (IWM)

  Figure 210: Ranger nearing top of cliff (IWM) The next special piece of equipment to arrive was called a Swan (Figures 211 and 212). It consisted of a 100 foot power operated ladder fitted to a DUKW. Its purpose was to provide an easy way up for the second wave of troops which is timed to arrive immediately when the Swans were in position. Stability was given by side jacks extended out while the ladder was being extended. The top of the ladder was armed with twin Vickers 303, GO No. 1 Mk. I,‘K’ machine guns (Figures 213-214). The gunner was in position while still afloat and was protected in later models by armor plate. The rate of fire of each gun was 900 rounds per minute, and an adequate supply of ammunition was carried behind the armor plate.23

  Figure 211: London fire-brigade ladders extended up cliff at Burton Bradstock (IWM)

  Figure 212: U.S. Army Ranger DUKW outfitted with London fire-brigade ladder training in England (IWM) Figure 213: 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion training with twin Vickers machine guns (IWM)

  Figure 214: Ranger posing, ready to fire Vickers machine guns. (IWM) The second wave arrived (Figure 215), and the troops got ashore as quickly as possible, assembling under cover at the foot of the cliff ready to advance up the Swans to join the troops already in the bridgehead. The second wave carried no special equipment and was a normally equipped field unit. The first men waited on the lower rungs of the ladder, until the order to climb is given by telephone by the gunner at the top. This telephone was fitted to all Swans and enabled the top gunner to control the tactical extension and elevation of the ladder. The gunner supported the bridgehead by fire, and extended the ladder still further than any intervening crests. As the tactical situation allowed, he called up the men of the second wave. At an average rate of climb a Swan working to full capacity could clear the beach at a rate of 500 men per hour.24

  Figure 215: Line of 2nd wave assault craft approaches beaches at Burton Bradstock (IWM) After completion of cliff assault training at Swanage, the men of the Provisional Ranger Group were finished with what the planners and leadership had prepared for them prior to D-Day. They were amongst the finest, highly trained soldiers in the United States Arsenal. They were ready. I imagine these guys wouldn’t take any crap, from anyone. On May 17, the Rangers boarded trains and travelled 28 miles back to Marshalling Camp D-5 near Dorchester.

  I asked JR Copeland a series of questions prepared by my children regarding D-Day. In response to a question to him from my son, “Did you want to do it, (land on D-Day) and why?” JR Copeland responded, “We wanted to knock off Hitler!” He went on to tell me to tell my son that “I wanted Christian to be able to go to school in a free country”. JR looked me square in the eye as a man does when rendering a fundamental truth to someone, and I knew that even in his nineties, he would do it again. There was a look of fierce determination in JR’s eyes when he looked me in the eye to respond to this question. He was deadly serious and I could see it written into his face. I was profoundly moved by it. My September 28, 2013 meeting with this remarkable veteran brought home my Grandpa in a way I never imagined when I began to study the Rangers and what he stood for to me became clear and transparent in that very moment.

  15 DORCHESTER CAMP D5 AND WEYMOUTH

  The men of the Provisional Ranger Group arrived by rail at 1700 hours from Swanage, and were again taken to Camp D-5 where they had been before Exercise Fabius I. Invasion was in the air as they settled into their short stay at the camp. A mixture of U.S. MPs, British and Canadian guards worked in pairs and patrolled the area outside the double stranded barbed wire. The Rangers and other men were sequestered as the camp was sealed as all passes were stopped. The soldiers were not allowed to speak to anyone beyond the wire including the sentries. The guards were under orders to shoot to kill anyone attempting to exit or enter the camp unlawfully.1

  The Rangers now fully found they had joined the myriad of other soldiers in the marshalling phase and were brought to final readiness. Each soldier was issued anti-seasickness pills, emergency rations, vomit bags, lifebelt, impregnated clothing against chemical warfare, 200 francs in French currency, water purification pills, heating units, dusting powder, and extra first aid supplies.2 At some point near this time, all the Rangers had their respective battalion number (2 or 5) painted in black on an orange diamond on the backs of their helmets (Figure 216). Officers had a vertical white bar painted superimposed on the diamond, and NCOs had a horizontal white bar painted on their helmet to allow fellow Rangers easily identify their own men from behind. Ordnance patrols circulated through the areas, checking waterproofing, making minor repairs, and occasionally replacing vehicles or other equipment.

  Figure 216: Ranger re-enactor displaying orange diamond on rear of helmet (Photo courtesy of SSG Chase Adkins, 75th Ranger Regiment) Figure 217: Photo example of U.S. soldiers relaxing in marshalling camp prior to D-Day (NARA) It has been said that this time in Dorchester was the most relaxing time the Rangers had had since joining the outfit. Figure 217 shows a typical image of the relaxation enjoyed by many of the soldiers who were preparing to land on D-Day. The Rangers ate and were treated very well. The officers and men were more relaxed. They only had to do light PT and a few short road marches to stay active. They had daily movies available to watch with near first run Hollywood pictures. They could sunbathe or sit around and listen to music. If they chose to write letters home, they had to wait to have them sent home until after the invasion, and after they passed the censors.3 The men played touch football, softball, or boxed. Buffet style meals with offerings like steak and pork chops were the norm. Deserts featured lemon meringue pie and the like.4 Extraordinary efforts were also made to indulge the men's taste and appetite in these last few days in the United
Kingdom. Fresh meat and white bread were regular items on the menu in this period, and special precautions were taken to guard the diet against foods conducive to seasickness in the case of seaborne assault forces, and against gas-forming foods which might induce stomach cramps in the case of paratroops.5

  During the last week of May the Operation OVERLORD briefings were conducted and completed. PFC Prince wrote: “We were strong in every sense of the word. We had trained and worked hard.”6 The Rangers were briefed using models and aerial photographs. Each man and squad studied and memorized their assignment. “Each and every terrain feature was sharply imbued in our minds. Every man could have maneuvered over this land blindfolded. Each man got to know not only his part, but that of his buddies. We knew our company’s mission, our battalion’s mission and those operating alongside.”7

  Hathaway was assigned to the HQ detachment War Room because he was good with maps, aerial photo interpolation, and ability to plot info and intelligence information on maps. He was assigned the duty with Herbert Einstein, T-4.8 One of these men had to be present in the War Room at all times as the center was manned 24 hours a day. They alternated eating, and other things. The room was bolted closed from the inside for security. On the War Room floor was a large soft rubber model map of the Normandy Coast for the invasion sector and Point du Hoc. There was a large paper map on the wall. Neither the maps nor model had any names on it. The men updated intelligence information onto the maps from aerial photos as they arrived. The two Rangers briefed officers and enlisted men as the visited from the various companies and staff in order to prepare down to the squad and individual level for the invasion.7 General Raaen told me in an email, “We were severely confined to the camp since we had seen the invasion maps. There were no names on the maps, but who could miss a coastline running West by North. Had to be Normandy. Again, we weren’t there long”.