View source for William Orlando Darby

{{short description|United States Army general}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= William Orlando Darby
|image= William Darby.jpg
|alt= 
|caption= 
|nickname= 
|birth_date= {{birth date|1911|02|08}}
|birth_place= [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]], United States
|death_date= {{death date and age|1945|04|30|1911|02|08}}
|death_place= [[Nago-Torbole|Torbole]], Italy
|placeofburial= [[Fort Smith National Cemetery]], Arkansas, United States
|allegiance= United States
|branch= [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears= 1933–1945
|rank= [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]]
|servicenumber= 0-19133
|unit= 
|commands= [[179th Infantry Regiment (United States)|179th Infantry Regiment]]<br/>[[6615th Ranger Force]]<br/>[[1st Ranger Battalion (United States)|1st Ranger Battalion]]
|battles= [[World War II]]{{KIA}}
|awards= [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] (2)<br/>[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]]<br/>[[Silver Star]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]]<br/>[[Bronze Star Medal]]<br/>[[Purple Heart]] (3)<br/>[[Croix de guerre 1939–1945|Croix de Guerre]] (France)<br/>[[Order of Kutuzov|Order of Kutuzov Third Class]] (USSR)<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order]] (United Kingdom)
|relations= 
|laterwork= 
}}
'''William O. Darby''' (February 8, 1911 – April 30, 1945) was a career [[United States Army]] officer who fought in [[World War II]], where he was [[killed in action]] at age 34 in Italy. He was posthumously promoted to brigadier general. Darby was the founding commander of the [[1st Ranger Battalion|First Ranger Battalion]], which evolved into the [[75th Ranger Regiment|United States Army Rangers]]. He was subsequently portrayed by [[James Garner]] in the 1958 theatrical film about Darby's career titled ''[[Darby's Rangers]]'', which was also the title of his memoir, the source for many of his exploits.

==Early military career==
[[File:William O. Darby USMA 1933.png|thumb|upright|William O. Darby [[List of United States Military Academy graduates from the class of 1933|USMA class of 1933]]{{upscaled inline|date=November 2025}}]]
William O. Darby graduated from the [[List of United States Military Academy graduates from the class of 1933|United States Military Academy class of 1933]]. where he was the cadet captain of "I" Company. His fellow classmate, [[William Henry Baumer Jr.|William H Baumer]]''',''' would later co-author the book ''Darby's Rangers, We Led the Way'' with Darby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Page 121 - Military Yearbooks |url=https://www.fold3.com/image/705479954/1933-page-121-military-yearbooks |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Fold3 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Darby |first1=William Orlando |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-UWrPAAACAAJ |title=We Led the Way: Darby's Rangers |last2=Baumer |first2=William Henry |date=1987 |publisher=Penguin Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-515-09511-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=William Orlando Darby (1911–1945) |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/william-orlando-darby-2414/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Brig. Gen. William O. Darby :: Fort Drum |url=https://home.army.mil/drum/about/news/around-and-about-fort-drum-1/brig-gen-william-o-darby |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241103193233/https://home.army.mil/drum/about/news/around-and-about-fort-drum-1/brig-gen-william-o-darby |archive-date=November 3, 2024 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=home.army.mil |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

Darby's first assignment was as assistant executive and supply officer with the [[82nd Field Artillery Regiment|82nd Field Artillery]] at [[Fort Bliss]], [[Texas]]. In July 1934, he transferred to [[Cloudcroft, New Mexico]], where he commanded the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]] detachment. He received intensive artillery training from September 1937 to June 1938 while attending [[Field Artillery School]] at [[Fort Sill]], [[Oklahoma]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Orlando Darby (1911–1945) |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/william-orlando-darby-2414/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

On September 9, 1940, Darby was promoted to [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]] and subsequently served with the [[80th Infantry Division (United States)|80th Division]] at [[Camp Jackson, South Carolina]]; [[Fort Benning]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]; [[Camp Beauregard]], [[Louisiana]]; and [[Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School|Fort Des Moines]], [[Iowa]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=William O. Darby |url=https://wwiirangers.org/our-rangers/william-o-darby-2/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==World War II==
===Army Rangers===
As [[World War II]] progressed, Darby saw rapid promotion to the grade of [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]]. He was with the first United States combat troops sent to Europe after the United States entry into World War II, the [[34th Infantry Division (United States)|34th Infantry Division]], a National Guard unit known as the Red Bull. During its stay in [[Northern Ireland]] Darby became interested in the [[British Commandos]]. On June 19, 1942, the [[1st Ranger Battalion]] was sanctioned, and Darby was put in charge of their recruitment and training under the Commandos in [[Achnacarry]].  Many of these original  [[United States Army Ranger|Rangers]] were volunteers from the 34th.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ARSOF Icon: Brigadier General William O. Darby |url=https://arsof-history.org/icons/darby.html |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=arsof-history.org}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In November 1942, the 1st Ranger Battalion made its [[Operation Torch#Oran|first assault]] at [[Arzew]], Algeria.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Colonel William O. Darby |url=https://gsof.org/hole-1-colonel-william-o-darby/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=gsof.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Darby was awarded the [[Silver Star]] for his actions in Tunisia on February 12, 1943:<ref name=":3" />

{{blockquote|Without regard for his personal safety, the day previous to a raid, he reconnoitred enemy positions and planned the attack which he led the following morning. The thorough organization and successful attack led by Lt. Col. Darby revealed his initiative, courage, and devotion to duty which is a credit to the Armed Forces of the United States.}}

Darby was subsequently awarded the [[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] for his actions  on March 21–25. The citation stated:<ref name=":3" />

{{blockquote|Lt. Col. Darby struck with his force with complete surprise at dawn in the rear of a strongly fortified enemy position. Always conspicuously at the head of his troops, he personally led assaults against the enemy line in the face of heavy machine gun and artillery fire, establishing the fury of the Ranger attack by his skilful employment of hand grenades in close quarter fighting. On March 22, Lt. Col. Darby directed his battalion in advance on Bon Hamean, capturing prisoners and destroying a battery of self propelled artillery.}}
[[File:William Orlando Darby 2.jpg|thumb|William Orlando Darby]]
"Darby's Rangers" saw further action during the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] kicking off the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]. Darby received an [[oak leaf cluster]] to his Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in July 1943 in Sicily:<ref name=":3" />

{{blockquote|Lt. Col. Darby, with the use of one [[37mm Gun M3|37mm gun]], which he personally manned, managed not only to repulse an enemy attack but succeeded with this weapon in destroying one tank, while two others were accounted for by well-directed hand grenade fire.}}

[[File:William Orlando Darby 1.jpg|thumbnail|Darby in 1944 as a full colonel]]

Darby took part in the [[Allied invasion of Italy|Allied invasion of the Italian mainland]] in September 1943, and was promoted to full [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] on December 11. Donald Downes of [[Office of Strategic Services|the OSS]], who met with him to provide intelligence support for the invasion, described him:<ref>{{cite book|last1=Downes|first1=Donald|title=The Scarlet Thread: Adventures in Wartime Espionage|date= 1953|publisher=Wildside Press|page=145}}</ref>

{{blockquote|This spit-and-polish dandy with three battalions of men who looked like hobos in mismatched uniforms was more beloved by his men than any leader, military of otherwise, whom I have ever known. He was alternately as kind as an indulgent mother, and as a tough as a [[Prussian Army|Prussian]] drillmaster. I have seen him cry when a soldier went in for an amputation, and cry publicly and unashamed. I have heard him tongue-lash a soldier in a really brutal manner for a small forgetfulness.}}

The three existing Ranger battalions were effectively wiped out - killed or captured - in the disastrous [[Battle of Cisterna]] during the [[Battle of Anzio|Anzio campaign]] in early February 1944, after which they were disbanded.<ref name=":1" />

===179th Infantry command===
Darby was then put in command of the [[179th Infantry Regiment (United States)|179th Infantry Regiment]], still fighting the [[battle of Anzio]]. He served with it from February 18 to April 2, 1944, before being called back to the US ahead of the Allied breakthrough in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]].

===Reassignment stateside===
Darby was ordered to [[Washington, D.C.]] for duty with the [[Army Ground Forces]] and later with the [[United States Department of War|War Department]] General Staff at [[The Pentagon]].

===Return to Europe===
In March 1945, Darby returned to Italy for an observation tour with five-star [[General of the Army (United States)|General of the Army]] [[Henry H. Arnold]]. On April 23, 1945, Brigadier General Robinson E. Duff, Assistant Division Commander of the [[10th Mountain Division]], was wounded; Darby took over for Duff. "Task Force Darby" spearheaded the breakout of the [[United States Army North|Fifth United States Army]] from the [[Po River]] valley bridgehead during the [[Spring 1945 offensive in Italy]] and reached [[Nago-Torbole|Torbole]] at the head of [[Lake Garda]].

== Death ==
[[File:USAT General William O. Darby builder plate.jpg|thumb|Builder plate from the US Army transport ''General William O. Darby'']]
On April 30, 1945, while Darby was issuing orders for the attack on [[Trento]] to cut off a German retreat, an artillery shell burst in the middle of the assembled officers and NCOs, killing Darby and a regimental Sergeant Major, John "Tim" Evans, and wounding several others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://digital.denverlibrary.org/digital/collection/p16079coll36/id/1219/rec/4|title=Five men on Chicago Ridge|date=1943|via=[[Denver Public Library]] Special Collections}}</ref> "Task Force Darby" continued with their mission. Two days later, on May 2, 1945, all German forces in Italy surrendered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Talley |first=Aaron |title=Remembering Brave Soldiers From WWII |url=https://www.army.mil/article/146908/Remembering_Brave_Soldiers_From_WWII/ |website=U.S. Army|date=April 19, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Froelicher |first=Sangree M |title=Profile of a Trooper – Sangree M. Froelicher |url=https://huts.org/sangree-m-froelicher-hut-history/ |website=10th Mountain Division Hut Association Hut}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

Darby, aged 34 at the time of his death, was posthumously promoted to brigadier general on May 15, 1945. He was buried in Cisterna, Italy. He was reinterred at [[Fort Smith National Cemetery]] in [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]] on March 11, 1949.<ref>{{Cite web |title=William O. Darby |url=http://www.arkansasties.com/People/DarbyWilliamO.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806102335/http://www.arkansasties.com/People/DarbyWilliamO.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=August 6, 2014 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |website=www.arkansasties.co}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Veteran Tributes |url=http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=359 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=veterantributes.org}}</ref>

[[File:Col Darby plaque.jpg|thumb|Plaque to Col. Darby and SGM Evans, [[Torbole]], Italy]]

==Legacy==
* Darby's medals, military records, and uniforms are on display at the Fort Smith Museum of History in Fort Smith, and his boyhood home is open for tours.
* Camp Darby, near [[Fort Benning]], which is home to the first 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 di Latina|Cisterna]], Italy, dedicated its [[high school]] to Darby.
* 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.
* An Admiral Benson Class transport ship, the [[USS Admiral W. S. Sims (AP-127)]], was renamed USAT General William O. Darby in the 1940s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Transport (AP) Photo Index |url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/09/22/22127.htm |website=NavSource}}</ref>
* In 1955, the name of Fort Smith Junior High School was changed to William O. Darby Junior High School. In 1958, the name of the school's athletic teams was changed from Cubs to Rangers after the famous Darby's Rangers.
* In 1958, the motion picture ''[[Darby's Rangers (1958 film)|Darby's Rangers]]'',{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} starring [[James Garner]] as Darby, dramatized Darby's military exploits. [[Wayde Preston]] also played a character role based on Darby in the 1968 film ''[[Anzio (film)|Anzio]]''.
* In 1992, Darby was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ranger Hall of Fame |url=http://www.ranger.org/page-578463 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |website=U.S. Army Ranger Association |archive-date=June 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610090457/http://www.ranger.org/page-578463 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Every year in Italy on April 30, there is the Col. Darby 40 Mile March from Peschiera del Garda to the Darby monument in Torbole sul Garda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Appleby |first=Ben |title=One thousand US military to appear at Col. Darby March |url=http://www.italianinsider.it/?q=node/8007 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=Italian Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Appleby |first=Ben |title=Col. Darby honoured in Ranger Challenge |url=http://www.italianinsider.it/?q=node/8007 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=Italian Insider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ex-Ranger's long march to honor WWII hero Col. William O. Darby |url=https://www.deseret.com/2015/4/26/20480665/ex-ranger-s-long-march-to-honor-wwii-hero-col-william-o-darby#col-william-o-darby-founder-of-the-american-rangers-is-pictured-in-uniform-in-britain-in-1942 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=Associated Press|date=April 26, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=col darby 40 mile 12 hour ranger road march challenge |url=https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/col-darby-40-mile-12-hour-ranger-road-march-challenge.html |website=Alamy |publisher=U.S. Army photo courtesy 10th Combat Aviation Brigade}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=James |title=40 Miles in 12 Hours: Walking to Honor World War II Valor of Col. William Darby and 10th Mountain D |url=https://www.army.mil/article/205433/40_miles_in_12_hours_walking_to_honor_world_war_ii_valor_of_col_william_darby_and_10th_mountain_d |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=U.S. Army|date=May 16, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ron |first=Hudnell |title=COL William O. Darby '40-Mile Ranger Challenge Hike |url=https://sallyport.westpointaog.org/news/172299 |website=West Point Association of Graduates}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Aaron |first=Talley |title=Remembering Brave Soldiers From WWII |url=https://www.army.mil/article/146908/Remembering_Brave_Soldiers_From_WWII/ |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=U.S. Army|date=April 19, 2016 }}</ref>

[[File:Col Darby monument at Torbole sul Garda.jpg|thumb|Monument to the memory of General W.O. Darby in Torbole sul Garda, Italy]]

==Awards and decorations==
Darby's military awards include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biographical register of the officers and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., from its establishment, in 1802: Supplement, 1940-1950 |url=https://digital-library.usma.edu/digital/collection/p16919coll3/id/21363/rec/1 |access-date=August 4, 2024 |publisher=The Association of Graduates, U.S. Military Academy |page=768}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Military Times Hall of Valor, William Orlando Darby |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/23038 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |website=www.projects.militarytimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Empric |first=Bruce E. |title=Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Soviet Military Decorations in World War II |publisher=Teufelsberg Press |page=79 |year=2024 |isbn=979-8-3444-6807-5}}</ref>

'''Badges:'''
{|
|[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|200px]]
|[[Combat Infantryman Badge]]
|}
'''Awards:'''
{|
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Distinguished Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross]] with one bronze [[oak leaf cluster]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Silver Star]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Legion of Merit]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Bronze Star Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Purple Heart]] with two oak leaf clusters
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[American Defense Service Medal]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[American Campaign Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with five campaign stars
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[World War II Victory Medal]]
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=award-star|ribbon=Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Croix de guerre 1939–1945|Croix de Guerre]] with Silver Star (France)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=SU Order of Kutuzov 3rd class ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[Order of Kutuzov|Order of Kutuzov Third Class]] (Soviet Union)
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Dso-ribbon.png|width=106}}
|[[Distinguished Service Order]] (United Kingdom)
|}

==Dates of rank==
{|class="wikitable" style="background:white"
! Insignia !! Rank !! Component !! Date
|-
|align="center" |No insignia || Cadet || [[United States Military Academy]] || July 1, 1929<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O1 insignia.svg|14px]] || [[Second lieutenant#United States|Second lieutenant]] || Regular Army || June 13, 1933<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O2 insignia.svg|15px]] || [[First lieutenant#United States|First lieutenant]] || Regular Army || June 13, 1936<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|35px]] || [[Captain (United States O-3)|Captain]] || [[Army of the United States]]  || September 9 (accepted October 2) 1940<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|35px]] || [[Major (United States)|Major]] || Army of the United States || June 1, 1942<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|30px]] || [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|Lieutenant colonel]] || Army of the United States || August 6, 1942<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|35px]] || Captain || Regular Army  || June 13, 1943<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|55px]] || [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] || Army of the United States || December 11, 1943<ref name="1945_Register" />
|-
|align="center" |[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|35px]]  || [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier general]] || Army of the United States || May 15, 1945 (posthumous)
|-
|}
<ref name="1945_Register">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi1945unit/page/226/mode/2up |title=Official Army and Air Force Register |date=1945 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=226}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://generals.dk/general/Darby/William_Orlando/USA.html Generals of World War II]
*[https://wwiirangers.org/our-rangers/william-o-darby-2/ Ranger William O. Darby]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darby, William Orlando}}
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1945 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army generals]]
[[Category:Colonels of the 75th Ranger Regiment]]
[[Category:People from Fort Smith, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Kutuzov, 3rd class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:United States Army Rangers]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Burials at Fort Smith National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Arkansas]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel killed in World War II]]