By Dr. Carl H. Marcoux
A small group of Americans, operating behind the Japanese lines in Burma from 1942 until mid-1945, played a major role in neutralizing a large enemy force. Ultimately, the Japanese had to give up control of Burma, ending Japan’s threat to invade India. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Detachment 101 consisted of a handful of Americans who trained and led a powerful guerrilla contingent that harassed the Japanese Army continuously as the Japanese sought to use Burma as a major base for their military domination of Southeast Asia.
Following the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, the Japanese invaded Malaya, Borneo, and Burma as well as the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. They also invaded a number of smaller islands in the South and Central Pacific, securing most of these targets with little opposition. After five months of war, the Japanese were poised to threaten both Australia and India.
The Japanese Occupation of Burma
The Japanese conquered Burma with little difficulty in the spring of 1942. The principal cities of Rangoon and Mandalay quickly fell to the invaders. Those British and Indian troops that could, escaped to India. A Chinese army, under the command of American General Joseph Stilwell, was also forced to retreat. Stilwell himself barely escaped capture by the rapidly advancing Japanese forces.
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My Father, William H. McClare was a liaison pilot assigned to OSS Detachment 101. For his actions he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal. After the war he went back to college, on to law school and then had a career with the newly formed Central Intelligence Agency. He was assigned With other CIA agents to Chiang Ke Shek. He later was involved in the Bay of Pigs operation.
He passed away in 1970.
Thanks for writing and sharing “Yankee Guerrillas in Burma: The story of OSS Detachment 101 in Burma“
Thanks for an interesting article. I’ve always been interested in the history of the CBI and OSS operations in Burma during WWII.
My Dad was a Marine in Detachment 101 of the OSS John Kniest(Jack)
Thanks Dad and Norm Abbott ,Bill Eubanks and ALL Those in 101 ???
Does anyone have any information on doctors that supported OSS 101 from Lido
forward? I have anecdotal information that my father humped the mountains getting
wounded flyers out. He was Dr. Walter Rowson, Captain, US Army.
Any information at all will be greatly appreciated.
thanks
Dave rowson
My neighbor, Kenneth Kegg from Santa Cruz, California was recruited for this Burma Operation, we talked at length back in the early 90’s. I presume he has passed on by now. But his CO knew many languages and threatened to kill my neighbor if he ever disobeyed an order. My neighbor had to kill an informant after his CO overheard conversations between some Chinese in their camp.