The Organizational Evolution of Oss Detachment 101 In
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THE ORGANIZATIONAL EVOLUTION OF OSS DETACHMENT 101 IN BURMA, 1942-1945 A Dissertation by TROY JAMES SACQUETY Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2008 Major Subject: History THE ORGANIZATIONAL EVOLUTION OF OSS DETACHMENT 101 IN BURMA, 1942-1945 A Dissertation by TROY JAMES SACQUETY Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Brian McAllister Linn Committee Members, James C. Bradford H.W. Brands Richard M. Crooks Arnold Krammer Head of Department, Walter L. Buenger May 2008 Major Subject: History iii ABSTRACT The Organizational Evolution of OSS Detachment 101 in Burma, 1942-1945. (May 2008) Troy James Sacquety, B.A., Mary Washington College; M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Brian McAllister Linn The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), was created during the Second World War to be a central collector, producer, and disseminator of foreign intelligence. Its secondary role of clandestine warfare did not come easily. One OSS unit, Detachment 101, surmounted numerous problems to become a model clandestine and special operations unit able to create its own indigenous army that waged war behind Japanese lines in Burma. This study uses previously unexplored primary source materials from the OSS records held by the U.S. National Archives to examine the unit and its organizational changes from 1942 to 1945. Detachment 101 succeeded in the China-Burma-India Theater (CBI) for the simple reason that it was able to function independent of immediate control from either the U.S. Army or OSS main headquarters. Source documents reveal that the unit’s commander was left on his own to decide how the unit would operate, and how to incorporate various OSS branches and capabilities into its operational matrix. The CBI’s lack of resources dictated that the Detachment 101 had to streamline its efforts to be iv successful. Its officers needed to get acquainted with the entire operation and then integrate their disparate elements into where they best fit as the whole. An exploration of the documents reveals that each of the unit’s two commanders molded the unit into an organization that reflected their personalities. Colonel Carl F. Eifler, was bold and impetuous and modeled the group to accomplish any task—even if it could not. Colonel William R. Peers, focused the group’s efforts on assisting the north Burma campaign. Under his direction, the unit rapidly became a much more cohesive unit able to help the Allies win control of north Burma. His direction was instrumental in Detachment 101’s first real test; the Myitkyina Campaign. Examination of the primary documents uncovers that by the end of the war, the unit had become so successful and so flexible that it was the only ground combat unit fighting in north Burma, and was able to adopt a variety of dissimilar missions. Although other OSS combat operations gave exceptional service, none was as central to the conduct of an entire campaign as was Detachment 101. v DEDICATION To my wife. Thank you for your patience as I refought the Burma Campaign. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Linn, and my committee members, Dr. Brands, Dr. Bradford, Dr. Krammer, and Dr. Crooks, for their guidance and support throughout the course of this research. Thank you for sticking by me as I slowly plodded through the research. Thanks also go to my colleagues in the United States Army Special Operations Command History Office. Without your help and support, I would not have finished. In particular, I want to extend my thanks to Dr. Charles Briscoe and Dr. Kenneth Finlayson. Thank you to Mr. Daniel Telles for the map on page 291. I would be remiss if I did not thank all the veterans and family members of OSS Detachment 101. Your support and help has been instrumental. In particular, I want to thank Dr. Samuel Spector and Mrs. Marje Luce. Without you, I would not have known about Detachment 101. I extend a warm thank you to my family. Although pacifists, my parents encouraged me in my studies of military history. For this I am forever grateful. Finally, I want to come to closure with my grandfather, Chester R. Wilson. Your stories of the 100 th Infantry Division, 399 th Infantry Regiment in France/Germany in WWII and 1 st Cavalry Division, 8 th Cavalry Regiment in Korea kept me spellbound. You are the reason why I developed an unshakable interest in WWII, and what has led me here. Thank you and may you rest in peace. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1 Organization of the Dissertation..................................................... 4 A Note on Sources........................................................................... 7 II A PRIMER ON BURMA, OSS ORGANIZATION, AND OSS DETACHMENT 101 ........................................................................... 13 Donovan’s Vision............................................................................ 13 Detachment 101; 1942-1945........................................................... 16 Burma: A Country Study................................................................ 23 III LAYING THE GROUNDWORK: MID 1942-JANUARY 1943....... 33 An Undefined Problem.................................................................... 34 Deconfliction................................................................................... 38 OSS and SOE.................................................................................. 44 Finding a Location .......................................................................... 47 Detachment 101 Sets Up the Jungle School.................................... 48 Communications.............................................................................. 52 Moving Toward the First Operations.............................................. 54 IV THE FIRST FORAYS INTO JAPANESE OCCUPIED BURMA: MIXED RESULTS.............................................................................. 56 The First Short Range Effort: Operation FORWARD................... 57 Long-Range Penetration Operations............................................... 64 “A” Group....................................................................................... 65 viii CHAPTER Page “B” Group ....................................................................................... 70 “W” Group...................................................................................... 72 The Aftermath................................................................................. 75 The Evaluations............................................................................... 77 V RETHINKING OPERATIONS: THE DETACHMENT EVOLVES: FEBRUARY 1943-JANUARY 1944................................................... 82 The Detachment Reevaluates Its Personnel Situation..................... 86 Finances........................................................................................... 89 Communications and Coding.......................................................... 91 Developing Liaison......................................................................... 94 Supplies Remain a Problem............................................................ 99 New Additions to Detachment 101................................................. 103 VI PEERS TAKES OVER: DETACHMENT 101 COMES OF AGE: JANUARY-MAY 1944........................................................................ 109 Existing Force Structure.................................................................. 114 New OSS Branches Arrive.............................................................. 127 Conclusion....................................................................................... 135 VII PEERS CONTINUES HIS REFORMS: JUNE-AUGUST 1944........ 137 Existing Force Structure.................................................................. 138 New OSS Branches Arrive.............................................................. 150 Conclusion....................................................................................... 156 VIII DETACHMENT 101 AND THE CAMPAIGN FOR MYITKYINA: FEBRUARY-AUGUST 1944.............................................................. 157 Conclusion....................................................................................... 185 IX REORGANIZING AFTER MYITKYINA: SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1944....................................................... 189 Existing Force Structure.................................................................. 192 A New Organization … of Sorts..................................................... 209 Conclusion....................................................................................... 210 ix CHAPTER Page X THE LAST OSS BRANCHES ARRIVE: JANUARY-MARCH 1945.................................................................