Raiders or Elite Infantry?

How have the U.S. Army Rangers acted as special operations forces in military operations since 1942? Hogan's study examines the nature and purpose of the Rangers over the past fifty years and shows how they have served as scouts, raiders, assault troops, and elite infantry. They have spearheaded amphibious landings, raided enemy prison camps, patrolled behind enemy lines in Korea, served alongside Green Berets in Vietnam, and carried out special missions in Grenada. Professional officers, military historians, students, and general readers will find this a fascinating history.This analytical account opens with a short description of the origins of the Ranger legend in America and then moves to a discussion of their use in World War II, as commandos in 1942, then as spearheaders in 1943 and 1944, as line infantry in Europe and as special operations forces in the Pacific. This provocative assessment also traces the development of Ranger raider units in Korea, the special training and use of Green Berets as Rangers in Vietnam, and the shifting of Ranger roles into more complex and varied types of operations in Vietnam and Grenada and in a world of increasing terrorism and changing combat situations. Illustrations, maps, and a lengthy bibliography add to the usefulness of the study.

?. . . is an admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. . . . Hogan's bibliographic essay is an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers.?-Armed Forces Journal, ?an admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. . . an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers.?-Armed Forces Journal INTERNATIONAL, ?An admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. Rather than focusing exclusively on battles, Hogan directs his attention to the larger issues of the Army's Rangers. . . . Many readers will be surprised at just how dramatic the shift in attitudes toward, and roles for, the Rangers have been. . . . Hogan's bibliographic essay is an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers.?-Armed Forces Journal International, ?The book is an excellent read and provides the SOF professional with perspective on developing and maintaining our forces.?-Special Warfare, ?The great strength of the book is its comprehensive nature. It actually spans the Ranger experience from the eighteenth century all the way to the Gulf War . . . the after part of the volume contains an outstanding bibliographic essay and the most complete, helpful index this reviewer has seen in recent times.?-Journal of Military History

DAVID W. HOGAN, JR. is Historian, Contingency Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Branch, Histories Division, U.S. Army Center of Military History.