Cold Response 16: A family legacy continues

Article by Sgt. Kirstin Merrimarahajara – II Marine Expeditionary Force

VǼRNES, Norway –Seventy-one years ago during World War II, Army Maj. William E. Colby led a group of over 30 men with the Office of Strategic Services on a highly important sabotage mission, called Operation Rype, in which they blew up bridges, ports and railroads in an effort to prevent German troops from traveling back to Germany.

The men, some Norwegian refugees and some of Norwegian ancestry, were specially selected for the mission from the 99th Infantry Battalion. They participated in cold-weather training, hand-to-hand combat, and ordnance training in the United States and Europe before parachuting into the snow-covered mountains in occupied Norway.

“The fact that American troops were able to air-land in high ground, during winter time in Norway, and get assembled, get the equipment, do the reconnaissance, and do the sabotage actions, was an achievement of great value,” said Col. Ebbe Deraas, commanding officer of Norwegian Home Guard District 12. “My land-task force is named after Operation Rype as a way of honoring the achievements and the lessons learned by the American troops.”