Alamo scouts

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Alamo Scouts, 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit


caption=
countryUSA
allegiance= Federal
type=Regiment
branch=Regular Army
dates= November 28, 1943 - November 1945
specialization= Reconnaissance and Raider work
command_structure=
size= 138
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= World War II
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The Alamo Scouts (US 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit) was a reconnaissance unit for the U.S. Sixth Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. The unit is most well-known for their participation in liberating American prisoners of war (POWs) from the Japanese Cabanatuan POW camp near Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines in January 1945.

Origins

They were organized on Fergusson Island, New Guinea, on November 28, 1943. The purpose of the unit's existence was to conduct reconnaissance and raider work in the Southwest Pacific Theater. They were under direct and personal command of then Lt. General Walter Krueger, Commanding General of the Sixth U.S. Army.

Kreuger sought to create an all volunteer elite unit consisting of small teams which could operate deep behind enemy lines. Their mission was to gather intelligence and reconnaissance for the Sixth U.S. Army. The unit was so named because of Kreuger's association with San Antonio, Texas and because of his admiration for the defenders of the Alamo.

Accomplishments and Legacy

In its first two years of operation they were credited with the liberation of 197 Allied prisoners in New Guinea. In January 1945 they provided tactical support for the 6th Ranger Battalion during their raid of the Cabanatuan Prison Camp. They were also credited with the capture of 84 Japanese prisoners of war.

The Alamo Scouts performed 106 known missions behind enemy lines in the Pacific, mainly in New Guinea and in the Philippines without losing a single man and thus having one of the finest records of any elite unit in World War II.

They were disbanded at Kyoto, Japan, in November 1945. In 1988, the Alamo Scouts were individually awarded the "Special Forces" Shoulder Tab in recognition for their services in WWII and are included in the lineage of the current United States Special Forces.

ee also

*Alamo Scouts Training Center
*Former United States special operations units

External links

* [http://www.alamoscouts.org Official Home Page of the Alamo Scouts]
* [http://www.specialforcesroh.com/browse.php?mode=viewc&catid=48 Alamo scouts roll of honour]