The OSS in Burma
Jungle War against the Japanese

Troy J. Sacquerty
University Press of Kansas – 2013.

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Synopsis:

Subversive war operations in Burma (Myanmar) during World War 2 (1942 – 1945) by Detachment 101 of the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the forerunner for the present day CIA.

Troy J. Sacquerty, writes a compelling history of Detachment 101 and provides extensive background research material that throws light on joint British / US clandestine operations in Burma’s Kachin State, Arakan Division and Tavoy during the early days of the war in Burma, when nothing went well with the Allied response to the Japanese invasion of Burma.

Remarkably, the early clandestine operation by Detachment 101, in Burma (by air, sea and land infiltration) were led and manned by local recruits who had been born and raised in Burma.

Not all operations were successful.

Many good men gave up their lives and are now forgotten.

My Objective:

I have used Troy J. Sacquerty book “The OSS in Burma – Jungle War against the Japanese” to document the names of local recruits and what became of them.

In my research, I was surprised that the men who gave up their lives in these subversive war operations by OSS Detachment 101, are not recorded on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission – Rangoon Memorial.

I have no explanation as to how these brave men have not been accorded the decency of a proper memorial.

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Vivian Rodrigues    8/16/2013

The OSS in Burma
Jungle War against the Japanese

Troy J. Sacquerty
University Press of Kansas – 2013.

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Clandestine Operation by OSS Detachment 101 (Early 1942 – 1943).

Below is a summary from Troy J. Sacquerty’s book.

A Group (Operations about 5 February 1943)
Objective 1: Destruction of railway bridges – Dagwin Bridge, Namkwin Bridge
Objective 2: Intelligence

Jack Barnard, MC	Returned via Fort Hertz	Survivor - post 1947
Oscar Milton, MC, ABRO 456	Returned via Fort Hertz	Survivor - post 1947
Pat (Red) Maddox, MC, ABRO	Returned via Fort Hertz	Survivor - post 1947
Patrick Quinn	Returned via Fort Hertz	Survivor - post 1947
John Beamish	Returned via Fort Hertz	Survivor - post 1947
Aram (Bunny) Aganoor	Captured and executed by Japanese	Rangoon Memorial Face 20, Lt. General Service Branch, GHQ India Army. Attached Burma Scouts, 23/2/1943, son of K Aganor, Dera Dun India
Dennis Francis	Returned via Fort Hertz	Survivor - post 1947
Saw Judson	Unknown	Unknown
Ah Khi	Unknown	Unknown
Ahdi Yaw Yin	Unknown	Unknown
?? Timothy	Unknown	Unknown

B Group (Operations about 4 February 1943)
Objective 1: Lawhsawk, Northern Shan States
Objective 2: Intelligence

Harry Ballard	Team Leader	Executed
John Clarke		Executed
Vicrap Pillay		Executed
Lionel Cornelius		Executed
Kenneth Murray		Executed
Cyril Goodwin		Executed

Group B met disaster and all were captured by the enemy.
3 were tortured then executed by the Japanese at Tounggyi, Northern Shan States, (Ballard, Goodwin and one other).
3 were sent to Rangoon, but never arrived. (suggested is that their guards executed them on or about 15 March 1943)

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Vivian Rodrigues    8/16/2013

The OSS in Burma
Jungle War against the Japanese

Troy J. Sacquerty
University Press of Kansas – 2013.

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ADDITIONAL

My research suggests:

1. These men were all Anglo Burmese / Anglo Indian residents of Burma that were recruited by OSS Detachment 101 from evacuee camps in India for their linguistic skills and understanding of the terrain.
2.None are mentioned in awards for exceptional valor by the British Government.
3. None are mentioned on the Rangoon Memorial for those that died in service.

W Group (Operations about 8 Mach 1943)
Objective 1: Kyaukphu, Arakan
Objective 2: Intelligence

Charles Morell	Team Leader	Killed in Action
John Sheridan		Killed in Action
John Aikman		Executed, 24/3/1943
Alex D’Attadies		Executed, April 1943
Geoffery Wilson		Executed, April 1943

Group W met disaster and all were captured by the enemy.
Inserted by boat
On 19/3/1943 – near Dawmyn; Morell and Sheridan were killed in action.
On 24/3/1943 – Aikman was captured and killed by the headman of the village of Natmaw. Three weeks later D’Attadies and Wilson were captured at Toungup, tortured and be-headed by Japanese.

ADDITIONAL
My research suggests:
1. These men were all Anglo Burmese / Anglo Indian residents of Burma that were recruited by OSS Detachment 101 from evacuee camps in India for their linguistic skills and understanding of the terrain.
2. None are mentioned in awards for exceptional valor by the British Government.
3. None are mentioned on the Rangoon Memorial for those that died in service.

Operation BALLS and BALLS 1 (Operations about 24 February 1943)
Objective 1: Tavoy, Southern Burma
Objective 2: Intelligence

Joseph Rodrigues	Code name - Mellie (BALLS)	Captured – Executed about Mar 1945
Maung Ba Tu	Code name – Sabu (BALLS)	Captured – Executed about Mar 1945
Sonny Peters	Code name – Sunny (BALLS)	Captured – Executed about Mar 1945
Un known	Code name – Ryk (BALLS)	Captured – Executed about Mar 1945
Vincent Darlington	BALLS 1	Captured – Executed about Mar 1945
Saw Wallace	BALLS 1	Captured – Executed about Mar 1945

Operation BALLS: Parachuted into the Tavoy area on 24 August 1943, captured sometime inFebruary 1944 and presumably executed sometime before March 1945.

Operation BALL 1: Inserted by submarine“TRESPESSER”on 1/1/1944 and made contact withJoseph Rodrigues, but later all were captured and executed by Japanese.

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Vivian Rodrigues    8/16/2013

The OSS in Burma
Jungle War against the Japanese

Troy J. Sacquerty
University Press of Kansas – 2013.

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ADDITIONAL
My research suggests:

1. These men were all Anglo Burmese / Anglo Indian / Karen residents of Burma that were recruited by OSS Detachment 101 from evacuee camps in India for their linguistic skills and understanding of the terrain.
2. None are mentioned in awards for exceptional valor by the British Government.
3. None are mentioned on the Rangoon Memorial for those that died in service.

Operation REX & RIP (Operations about 13 November 1943)
Objective 1: Rangoon
Objective 2: Intelligence

Un-known	Code name – Rex	Unknown
Un-known	Code name – Rip	Unknown

Rangoon Memorial:

The Rangoon Memorial is located at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Rangoon. On the frieze inside the rotunda are inscribed in English these words:-

1939 - 1945

HERE ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND
SOLDIERS OF MANY RACES UNITED IN SERVICE TO THE BRITISH CROWN
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN BURMA AND ASSAM BUT TO WHOM THE
FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE CUSTOMARY RITES ACCORDED
TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

I am appalled that these brave men of OSS – Detachment 101, remain:

Un-recorded by the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Were not awarded for valor by the British and the United States Governments.

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Vivian Rodrigues    8/16/2013