OSS Detachment 101

Detachment 101 of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) stands as a testament to unconventional warfare tactics during World War II, specifically in the China-Burma-India Theater. The origins of the OSS lie in the Office of the Coordinator of Information, which transitioned into the OSS shortly after its formation. Detachment 101's remarkable efforts were acknowledged by President Dwight Eisenhower when he awarded them a Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation on 17 January 1956, praising their courage and valor against significant enemy opposition.

The historical journey of Detachment 101 began on April 14, 1942. William Donovan, holding the title of Coordinator of Information, established the unit to carry out operations behind enemy lines in Burma. The group's responsibilities were vast - collecting intelligence, carrying out guerrilla attacks against the Japanese, marking targets for the Army Air Force, and rescuing Allied pilots who were downed. While the detachment was made up of just a few hundred Americans, they heavily depended on the tribal groups within Burma. The Kachin people, known for their strong opposition to the Japanese, played a crucial role in the success of the detachment. The results they achieved were significant. With only 22 American losses, they managed to kill 5,428 Japanese soldiers and rescue 574 Allied personnel. Their operations set the stage for the success of Stilwell's Chinese forces, Wingate's Raiders, Merrill's Marauders, and a counter-attack against the Japanese forces.

The unit's primary strategy was leveraging the local resistance, particularly the Kachin people of northern Burma. Among the various resistance groups, the Kachin Rangers stood out. Initially under the leadership of Carl F. Eifler, this term often encompassed all Kachin forces raised by Americans in Northern Burma during the war.

In July 1942, the detachment started setting up its base in Nazira, located in the northeastern Indian province of Assam. The end of 1942 saw minimal action, but 1943 was a turning point. The OSS began to parachute members into remote Kachin areas, subsequently supplying them through airdrops. The goal was to establish independent guerrilla groups from the Kachin population, backed by weapons and supplies dropped from the air. By December 1943, Stilwell's directive sought to expand Detachment 101's strength to 3,000 guerillas, many of whom were the fierce Kachins of Burma.

The guerrilla groups, once established, engaged in diverse missions. They launched ambushes on Japanese patrols, rescued stranded American pilots, cleared landing strips in the dense jungle, and also supported larger Allied troops like Merrill's Marauders.

Eifler, the initial commander with a colonel rank, was eventually replaced by Lt. Col. William R. Peers due to serious head injuries Eifler sustained. As World War II concluded, every Kachin Ranger was honored with the CMA (Citation for Military Assistance) Award. Interestingly, the inception of this medal was due to an OSS officer misinterpreting a radio message's abbreviation. However, to ensure the Kachins' bravery didn't go unnoticed, the OSS swiftly designed the medal and presented it to the deserving Kachins.