Office of Strategic Services Operational Groups

Summary of Lt. Col. Cox:

1.The 2nd Commando, with the mission of interdicting road and river traffic along the Paoching-Hangyang-Chansha lines of communication, was given the code name of “BLUEBERRY.” The team dropped safely on 27 July near the town of Chakiang.

2.The Commando, in conjunction with Chinese guerrillas attacked Jap positions at Taiyuanshih on 5 August. They fought extremely well but the operation was unsuccessful due to faulty coordination between the participating units

3.The Commando suffered three dead and nine wounded, including two Americans. A medical officer parachuted successfully in to this unit and the wounded Americans were evacuated by L-5. Over 50 casualties were inflicted on the Japs.

4.“BLUEBERRY” moved in and secured the Hengyang airport when news of the war’s end came. After the attachment of the unit to the 4th Command the Americans returned to Kunming.

Summary of the Unit report:

27 July. Commando #2 left Kunming airport in 14 C-47s at 0305 hours, rendevouxed with fighter cover two hours later, and parachuted at DZ near Hung Lo Miao in Hunan Province at 0745 hours. One American bruised his leg, another lacerated his head, three Chinese sprained ankles, and one Chinese lacerated an ear. Reception arranged by Capt. Rickerson of advance reconnaissance begun in June by Major Camp of SO team “ERMINE” was good. Morning was spent gathering equipment and moving to Buddhist temple at Li Tzu Shang 1 to 2 miles from DZ. Officers met Col. Wong, a representative of Gen. Wang, local guerrilla chief.

28 July. Maj. Cook and Capt. Rickerson conferred with Gen. Wang and other Chinese officers and chose first target, a 300-man garrison.

1 August. Discussions with Chinese defense of Hung Lo Miao, the base of guerrilla troops, and attack on Tai Yuan Tye, and general plan of activity northwest of Hengyang.

3 Aug. Continued preparations for attack on garrison. Adjustments made to heat and humidity.

4 Aug. Commando moved to position five miles from target. That night, guide misled them to ridges 3000 yds. from Japs when they should have been within 800 yards.

5 Aug. At 0530 hrs. signal was given for the attack. The move was delayed by the refusal of the colonel of one Commando Bn. to order his troops to move forward. Surprise element was lost. By 0900 the advancing Americans and the Chinese who were prodded on ran into sniper, mortar, and machine gun fire. This and the casualties it was causing stopped the assault and the entire group was forced to retire. A unit of the Chinese Army on one flank offered no help, and the guerrilla unit reached the town but retreated. A bullet struck Sgt. Miller’s chest and lodged in the upper abdominal wall. A bullet wounded Sgt. Gallant’s shoulder. Four Chinese were wounded and four were killed. 33 Japanese were observed dead and a later figure put the figure at 100. Excellent medical aid was provided by Sgt. Johnson, the OG medic, and Miller was further treated by Maj. LaMar, M.C., who parachuited in on the 7th.
Maps provided were completely inaccurate. Maj. Cook reported, “Chinese officers will not lead or command during enemy fire. Americans try to command, lead and browbeat soldiers to get up close for attack without much success. This position could have been taken easily with a forceful assault. --- Col. Chiang --- completely scared when nearing the enemy.”

15 Aug. News arrived of the Japanese surrender.

18 Aug. New base was established in the mountains 20 miles north of Hengyang. Japs were moving north and northeast.

20 Aug. Some Japs still not informed.

29 Aug. Chinese expected to move into Hengyang and to occupy the airport.

31 Aug. Airport secured by Maj. Cook.

		Personal recollections:
		James A. Gardner
		Ellsworth Johnson: from '97 reunion
		Ellsworth Johnson: manuscript "One Small Part"