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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.
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On the left is U.S. Army Maj. William Colby led a group of men from the
99th Infantry Battalion during Operation Rype in sabotage missions
aimed at preventing German troops from moving in Norway during World
War II. On the right is the 99th Infantry Battalion marching on
Allied Forces Day in Oslo, Norway, celebrating the victory and
honoring the brave soldiers that won the war. (Image created by USA
Patriotism! from courtesy photos provided by U.S. Marine Corps
Sgt. Kirstin Merrimarahajara)
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“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.”
The
operation was a catalyst in forging a long-lasting
relationship between Norway and the United States.
Today, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade is in Norway
alongside their Norwegian allies during Exercise Cold
Response 16. Among their ranks is 1st Lt. Arthur E. Colby,
William's grandson and an intelligence officer with 2d MEB.
“I walked into the main building and obviously knew
about my grandfather's connection to Norway and his efforts
during WWII, but then I saw a big display with a lot of
photos of him and the other men during the war. It's
impressive to see that legacy continue and to know that the
Norwegians are rightfully proud of their role during WWII
with the resistance,” said Colby. “It's great to work with
them now and to see that partnership continue.”
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March 27, 2016 - 1st Lt. Arthur Colby, a logistics officer with 2d Marine Expeditionary Force, stands next to a display in V�rnes commemorating the actions of the 99th Infantry Battalion during World War II in Norway. Maj. William Colby, Arthur's grandfather,
led a group of men from the battalion during Operation Rype in sabotage missions aimed at preventing German troops from moving in Norway during the war. (U.S.
Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kirstin Merrimarahajara)
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Participating in the exercise has allowed Colby a chance
to reconnect with is family history while contributing to
the future of that partnership.
“Arriving in the
country you can see the unbelievable fjords and mountains,
and I like to think that was one of the same views my
grandfather saw parachuting in, albeit under different
circumstances, but still with a mission and a goal of
working with the Norwegians and building a combined team
with them,” said Colby. “I think that idea of partnership
and working with the Norwegians is an extension of his work
in WWII with the resistance.”
Exercise Cold Response will continue until March 9. The exercise
enables 13 participating NATO allies and partner nations to work
side-by-side, training to respond to crises and uniting to form a
cohesive force.
By U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kirstin Merrimarahajara
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
The U.S. Marines
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