NOTABLE ARKANSANS

EDITOR’S NOTE: Starting today, Notable Arkansans, a history quiz, will appear in Sunday Style.

He was born and raised in Fort Smith and graduated from West Point. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served in the First Battalion, Eighty-second Field Artillery of the First Cavalry, the only mounted artillery unit in the Army. Later, as a captain, he was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division as aidede-camp to Maj. Gen. Russell P. Hartle.

When the United States entered World War II he was asked by Maj. Gen. Hartle to form a Special Forces unit, consisting of carefully screened volunteers, which was to be modeled after the elite British Commandos. He was immediately promoted to major and became commander of the First United States Army Ranger Battalion. He and his men distinguished themselves during combat operations in North Africa. After two additional battalions were formed, they spearheaded the invasion of Sicily and were the first allied forces to land during the invasion of Italy.

He was promoted to colonel and returned to the United States for duty in the Pentagon. But he missed being with his troops and was reassigned to a combat zone as assistant commander of the legendary 10th Mountain Division in Europe. At 34 years of age, he was killed by an exploding shell just a few days before Germany surrendered. Two weeks later President Harry Truman posthumously promoted him to brigadier general. Actor James Garner had his first starring role portraying him in a movie titled Darby’s Rangers. Who was this Arkansas hero from Fort Smith who always led his men into battle?

Who was this Arkansas hero from Fort Smith who always led his men into battle?

Brig. Gen. William O. Darby