William Orlando Darby
Brigadier General, U.S. Army

William Orlando Darby was born on 9 February 1911 in Fort Smith, AR.

Darby graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery on 13 June 1933.

His first assignment was as Assistant Executive and Supply Officer with the 82nd Field Artillery at Fort Bliss, TX. In July 1934, he transferred to Cloudcroft, NM, where he commanded the 1st Cavalry Division detachment. He received intensive artillery training from September 1937 to June 1938 while attending Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, OK. On 9 September 1940, he was promoted to Captain and subsequently served with the 80th Division at Camp Jackson, SC; Fort Benning, GA; Camp Beauregard, LA, and Fort Des Moines, IA.

Beginning of the Rangers

As the Second World War progressed, Darby saw rapid promotion to the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. He was with the first U.S. troops sent to Northern Ireland at the outbreak of the war, and during his stay there, he became interested in the British Commandos. His interest was such that, when the U.S. Army decided to establish its Ranger units, he was assigned to direct their organization and training. Many of the original Rangers were volunteers from the Red Bull, the 34th Infantry Division.

"Darby's Rangers" trained with their British counterparts in Scotland and, in 1943, the 1st Ranger Battalion made its first assault at Arzew, North Africa. Darby was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his actions during that operation.

The 1st Ranger Battalion saw further action in the Italian Campaign. Darby received an Oak Leaf Cluster of the DSC in 1943 for his gallantry in Sicily. Darby was also awarded the Silver Star in 1943.

In April 1944, after being promoted to Colonel, he returned to Washington, DC, for duty with the Army Ground Forces and later with the War Department General Staff. In March 1945, he returned to Italy for an observation tour with General of the Army Henry H. "Hap" Arnold.

On 23 April 1945, Brigadier General Robinson E. Duff, Assistant Division Commander of the US 10th Mountain Division was wounded and Darby took over for Duff. "Task Force Darby" spearheaded the breakout of the 5th Army from the Po River valley bridgehead and reached Torbole at the head of Lake Garda.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal

Foreign Medals and Awards

Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (France)
Order of Kutuzov 3rd Degree (Russia)
Distinguished Service Order (Britain)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st of 2 Awards)

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) William Orlando Darby (ASN: 0-19133), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while Commanding the 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion, in action against enemy forces for the five days from 21 to 25 March 1943. Leading his command, the 1st Ranger Battalion, over ten miles, almost all on mountain ranges during the night 20 - 21 March 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Darby took with his force with complete surprise at dawn, a strongly fortified enemy position. Always conspicuously at the head of his troops, Lieutenant Colonel Darby personally led the assaults against the enemy in the face of machine gun and artillery fire, establishing the front by his skillful employment of hand grenades and close quarter fire. The success of this attack was largely due to the outstanding heroism of Lieutenant Colonel Darby, who, with complete disregard to his own safety, led the assault. On 22 March, again leading his Ranger Battalion in the face of enemy artillery fire, Lieutenant Colonel Darby bravely directed his battalion in an advance on the Bou Hamra, capturing prisoners and destroying a battery of self-propelled artillery. During the two succeeding days, while the Ranger Battalion was in a defensive position with the *** Infantry Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Darby again initiated the dogged resistance of his troops by circulating freely among his men in the face of the enemy artillery, mortar and machine gun fire, to establish positions and to encourage his troops and direct their fire. On the night of 25 March after five days of savage and almost uninterrupted fighting, while employing his Rangers in a successful full rear guard activity, Lieutenant Colonel Darby again displayed extraordinary heroism by remaining at the head of his covering force and directing the movement of his Rangers in the face of machine gun and artillery fire. The selfless courage displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Darby inspired his command to exceedingly greater efforts and proved an immeasurable important factor in the ultimate successes in the sector. Lieutenant Colonel Darby's gallant leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army-North African Theater of Operations, General Orders No. 50 (July 9, 1943)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (2nd of 2 Awards)

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Field Artillery) William Orlando Darby (ASN: 0-19133), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while commanding the 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion, in action against enemy forces in July 1943, in Sicily. On the morning of ** July 1943, the enemy, using both infantry and armored units, launched a counter attack on ****, Sicily, which had been captured by the Rangers under Colonel Darby's command. Colonel Darby personally led his men in repulsing the attack by the skillful employment of hand grenades, rifles and rocket launchers. Always in the forefront, inspiring and encouraging his men, Colonel Darby, with the use of one 37-mm. gun which he personally manned, managed not only to repulse the attack, but succeeded with this inadequate weapon in destroying one of the tanks while two others were accounted for by well-directed hand grenade fire. On the ** of July 1943, his outstanding leadership and fearlessness was again manifested when he led his Rangers in repelling three counter attacks, knocking out four Mark VI tanks and capturing over 3,000 prisoners. By his splendid leadership and bravery beyond the call of duty, Colonel Darby was in the greatest degree responsible for deflecting the most serious threat faced by our invading forces. His gallant leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Seventh U.S. Army, General Orders No. 23 (September 6, 1943)

Honors

● Darby's records, medals, military records, and uniforms are on display at the Old Fort Museum in Fort Smith, and his boyhood home is open for tours.
● Camp Darby, near Fort Benning, GA, which is home to the second part of the "Benning Phase" of Ranger School, is named after him.
● Two U.S. Army installations in Europe were named after Darby: W.O. Darby Kaserne, Fürth, Germany (closed in 1995); and the operational Camp Darby, near Livorno, Italy. The town of Cisterna, Italy, dedicated its high school to Darby.
● In 1955 the name of Fort Smith Junior High School was changed to William O. Darby Junior School in honor of General Darby who led troops in Africa and Italy during World War II. Darby was killed in action leading the Fifth Army spearhead in the Po Valley in 1945. In 1958 the name of the school's athletic teams was changed from Cubs to Rangers after the famous Darby Rangers.
● In 1958 the motion picture Darby's Rangers, starring James Garner, dramatized Darby's military exploits. Wayde Preston also played a character role based on Darby in the 1968 film Anzio.
● A book entitled Onward We Charge: The Heroic Story of Darby's Rangers in World War II by H. Paul Jeffers was published in 2007.

Trivia

Darby died on the same day as Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun.

Death and Burial

On 30 April 1945, while Darby was issuing orders for the attack on Trento to cut off a German retreat, an 88 mm shell burst in the middle of the assembled officers and NCOs, killing Darby and a sergeant and wounding several others. Relying on the inspiration of their late commander, "Task Force Darby" continued on with the mission. Two days later, on 2 May 1945, all German forces in Italy surrendered.

Darby, who was 34 at the time of his death, was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General as of the date of his death. He is buried at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, AR.

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