Assult DUKW's

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Mon May 23, 2005 8:30 am

When Lt. Colonel James Rudder , Ranger commander , was training his men for the assult at Point du Hoc on the Normandy coast, he worked with the fire brigade in London and they developed a turn-table extendable ladder that was mounted on two DUKW's to be used in helping scale the 100 foot cliffs.
They also equipped two DUKW's with some .50 caliber maching guns to act as assult vehicles to help protect the men and also carry additional supplies to the narrow beach.
The two supply vehicles swamped in the heavy seas and all was lost but the two ladder DUKS's made it to the beach under heavy German gunfire. They did not work out too well as they had to operate too far away from the cliffs, so most of the Rangers climbed the ropes to the top to destroy the German garrison.
The rest is all history. I knew General Rudder( he was later promoted to major general and was president of Texas A&M. His son Bud was in my class, class of ' 62 at A&M) One never thinks of DUKW's as assult vehicles, but in this case they were as in war time things are modified to fit the need. Even GMC's.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Mon May 23, 2005 9:53 am

My uncle Joe, who raised me, was Cadre during the forming of the 2nd Army Ranger School at Camp Forrest Tennessee, I have his Ranger handbook and diploma from that period, 1942/43. Not all Rangers were assigned to Ranger Battalions, some were spread worldwide throughout the WWII Army in order to provide training and leadership. Genuine Rangers have a lot to bragg about, but don't. I have met many over the past 50 years, and they all exhibit a "quiet competance", and are well adjusted. The same goes for most Eagle Boy Scouts I have met.
Joel

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:22 am

Joel, you are right on with that statement. I remember introducing Tex Hill at a gathering one time where he was the key note speaker. I introduced him as a true American Hero. He downplayed that with the statement that he did no more that any other of the members of the AVG. He said that they had a job to do and they did it. He gave credit to all of the guys and took no credit for himself. Accomplishments speak for themselves.