442d RCT TO&E

[gi-rene]

I've been poking around trying to find the exact composition of the 442d. Mainly the Recon Co./Bn. or whatever they used. We're aquiring jeeps at an insane rate. Once they are operational (only 2 are running, and they all need varying degrees of work done on them) we will be fielding 5 jeeps and have decided to adopt the job of the Recon unit in the 442d/34th ID.

But I'm looking for:

1. Whether its a Recon Co/Bn for the RCT (any time period is fine btw)
2. The exact composition of the Recon unit as well as a TO&E including weapons if possible.
3. The designation for the Recon unit.

I'm scouring but diggin up nothing in my usual spots.

EDIT: Found a few places after a lot of searching and found out they have no Recon unit within the 442. But I was still wondering how a Division's Recon Troop is organized.

[Tom Houlihan]

It ain't free info, but this ought to be a good starting point. I don't know about the 442 in particular. Have you tried finding a book on them, and seeing if the information is in it?

U.S. Army in WWII Tables of Organization and Equipment Photocopy Index

[gi-rene]

I've found what battalions and companies they've contained and found there's no recon element.

Mainly I'm trying to find a reason to put the tactical symbols on the jeeps as "442" and wanted to do the recon element. I guess the 442 didn't have one. They probably piggy-backed off of the 34th's Recon Troop attached to the Division. I guess recon-wise they would have just used a group of infantry organized as a "recon platoon" which is what we can aim for. I just need to find where the jeeps belong to the battalion HQ, the support company or the Regimental HQ?

[Tom Houlihan]

IF the regiment or battalions had an ad-hoc recon element, (like STA Platoon?) it would have fallen under the -2 Shop, putting your jeep in the HQ element. A lot of the recon would have been done by company-level patrols, but that mostly would have been on foot.

[gi-rene]

Someone at my unit managed to point me in the right direction. But now we are thinking of making them the "Red Raiders". A select unit of volunteers in the 34th ID that did Commando styled missions.

[Tom Houlihan]

According to that, I&R Platoon would have three jeeps, the way I read it. That ought to fit the bill.

Those "Red Raiders" wouldn't necessarily be 442, though there could well be some Nisei in the outfit.

Then too, we're both approaching this from the "official" standpoint. What's to say someone at battalion or company level didn't "appropriate" an extra jeep or two, and use them for scouting purposes? There were enough of 'em floating around over there!

[gi-rene]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

According to that, I&R Platoon would have three jeeps, the way I read it. That ought to fit the bill.

Those "Red Raiders" wouldn't necessarily be 442, though there could well be some Nisei in the outfit.

Then too, we're both approaching this from the "official" standpoint. What's to say someone at battalion or company level didn't "appropriate" an extra jeep or two, and use them for scouting purposes? There were enough of 'em floating around over there!

Thats exactly what we were thinking Tom. These guys were something else from what we can dig up. There must be a book about them somewhere. "Appropriating" things seems to be up their alley as well.

Our unit is double sided. 100th Bn/442 RCT for the asians and 133d Inf Reg for everyone else. So we can go either way. And if we go with the Red Raiders, we can make our unit leader (we're officially recognized as the 442 within the CHG, regardless of our double unit thing) and the others a Liason group so to speak.

We all ready decided the excuse for the .50 and 2 .30s we have is simply weapons attached to us from the Regimental pool, or else we "found" them .

Anyways a short blurb:

"Red Raiders" Are Crack Unit

One of the proudest, fightingest organzations within the 133rd Inf. Regt. is the "Red Raider" platoon, a voluntary unit comprising 30 of the Regiment's most daring soldiers.

Though formed slightly more than a month ago by Col. Walden S. Lewis, 133rd Regimental commander, the "Red Raiders" already have earned the plaudits of fellow soldiers throughout the regiment for their successful reconnaissance missions and daring night raids into enemy territory.

Until wounded recently, 2nd Lt.Edward C. Crangle commanded the commando-patterned platoon. His successor was 1st Lt. Sidney Goldstein, recent recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest combat decoration. Like the enlisted men of his command, Lt. Goldstein volunteered to lead Ihe raiders.

TWO-FOLD MISSION

The "Red Raiders" have at all times a two-fold mission: to reconnoiter enemy positions and installations, then to strike back with lighting speed and thoroughness and disappear before the bewildered enemy has an opportunity to recover from the staggering blows.

Under the present set-up, the Raiders make their headquarters in a miniature tent city near the regimental reserve area. Here they undergo strenuous training for all impending missions, reconnaissance or combat. Under the guidance of their commanding officer, the men make a careful study of maps and aerial photographs of the sector of operation. Every maneuver is planned to the last detail and often rehearsed in advance in an area closely resembling the actual terrain.

The esprit de corps of the "Red Raiders" is remarkably high. The men take get pride in the own little army and have utmost confidence in themselves and in their leaders.

The men who make up the platoon are as follows: S-Sgts. Russell D.

Berstler and Foncie B. Oxendine; Sgts. James A. Sowards, Hersey E. Stover and Charles D. Dysert; Pfcs. Leonard F. Zigler, Harvey J. Leushen, Peter G. Hart, Marion E. May, Arthur F. Van Allen, Henry H. Thornton. David Strassfeld, Alfred H. Iverson, Velmer D. Kranson, Willie F.Brymer, Samuel L. Motter, Thomas J. Costello, and Houston S. Owens; Pvts. William H. Williamson, Louis W. Coty, Eugene F. Brown, Carmello G. Contreras, Joe C. Salvatorra, James F. Thompson, Richard L. Hite, Lee J. Cissell, Irvin H. Donner, and Edgar J. Ross.

From The 34th Infantry Division, 133rd Regiment , Company A in World War II