Alamo Force

When Sixth Army became the major SWPA American ground element, on a level co-ordinate with USASOS, in February 1943, it assumed responsibility for tactical supply. Colonel C. L. Marriott, Sixth Army chemical officer, arrived in Australia with the second echelon of the army in April but remained only a short time before moving forward to Milne Bay with Alamo Force, a task force created in June 194 from Sixth Army troops, and in fact a forward echelon of the army. Marriott s office was thus separated by i,aoo air miles from Copthorne s. Marriott s assistant. Major McKinney, remained in the Sixth Army headquarters. The only expeditious means of communication was by radio, but with such heavy demands on the radio net, normal communication was by letter or informal memo. ... 

Responsibility for CWS operational supply projects rested with Marriott. Since he had very little assistance and since, after the move to Alamo Force at Milne Bay, even his own section was divided, most of the supply policy load fell directly upon his own shoulders. But even this was not difficulty enough in the difficult Pacific area. He lacked the logistic information and means of transportation, and his ability to improvise locally was practically nil, since there was no available civilian source of transportation and no substitute line of communication to Allied forces such as many field chemical officers had. New Guinea had no motor roads, no industry, and only a little unskilled manpower. Air transportation carried very high priority and water transportation was at a premium. Until 15 November 1943, he could deal with the Chemical Officer, Advance Section, USASOS, at Port Moresby. From 15 November until 31 March 1944 he dealt with chemical officers of Advance Section at Lae and Intermediate Section at Port Moresby. But miles of water or air lay between the USASOS sections and his office in Alamo Force headquarters, which was at Milne Bay until October, at Goodenough Island until December, and near Finschhafen until May 1944. ... 

Ltr, CmlO Alamo Force to CmlO Adv Echelon USASO > Oct 43, sub Stochage of CVS Class V Items. Sixth Army 475 Veapons for Jungle Varfare. 

I Dec 43, sub Routing of Requisitions. Sixth Army 400.3 ii Requisitions. (3) Ltr, CmlO Alamo Force to CWSO Backhander Task Force, 1 Dec 43, sub Routing of Requisitions. Sixth Army 400.311 Requisitions. (4) Memo, Marriott for Riegelman, CmlO I Corps, 13 Dec 43, no sub. Sixth Army AG 300.6 Memos—1 Corps. (5) Ltr, CCmIO USASOS to CmlO ADSOS, 30 Dec 43, sub Shipment of Sups by Alamo Force. Sixth Army AG 300.6 Memos—ADSOS. 

Army AG 3oo. Memos. (5) Ltr, CmlO Alamo Force to CO Det 93d Cml Composite Co, 8 Mar 44, sub Maintenance Factors. Sixth Army 470.7a Protective Equip. 

Memo, ACmlO Sixth Army for CmlO Alamo Force, 8 Oct 45. joo.6—Misc Memos and Lm, Sixth Army Reds. 

Ltr, CmlO U.S. Forces to CmlO Alamo Force, 19 Jul 44, sub Preliminary Tech Rpt 5, p. t. 3 o.o -Biak, Sixth Army Reds, ORB. 

CmlO 41st Tnf Div, Rpt, Cml Phase and Sec Hist Red of Horlicks Opn. C T 314.7 Portable Flame Thrower File. (2) CmlO 41st Inf Div to CmlO Alamo Force ii Aug 44 Preliminary Tech Rpt—Rpt No. 9. Sixth Army Reds 3Jo.oy Btak. 

CmlO Alamo Force to Cml SupO APO 323, 24 Jan 44, no sub. Sixth Army Reds, 470.71 FUme Throwers. 

CfflIO 41st Inf Div to CmlO Alamo Force, jo Jun 44, PrcGminary Tech Rpt-Ltr, Rpe No. z. 

Alamo Force Code for U.S. Sixth Army while operating as a special ground task force headquarters directly under GHQ S iTA. 

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