23/08/2026
After a long break, we are taking small steps to return to our albums featuring the stories of individual Rangers. This tribute album is created thanks to the kindness of families who choose to share the stories of their loved ones who served in the Ranger battalions.
Today, thanks to Julie, we would like to share the story of her uncle, John Foley, who served from the very beginning of the 1st Ranger Battalion.
We will do our best to share descriptions and posts that—for various reasons—have been quietly waiting for their turn.
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SSGT JOHN J FOLEY, 1st and 4th Ranger Bn., 1D/4HQ Co.
John Joseph Foley was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts 25 March 1917. His father Thomas Frederick Foley came to America from Wigan, England with his Irish parents at age 7. His mother Julia Anne Shea who also had Irish parents came to America from Swansea, South Wales to live with her older sister. John grew up in a household of 8 siblings. A 9th sibling, Dorothy May was struck and killed by a truck when she was 9 years old. John’s dad was a foreman carpenter that worked for John Donnelly and Sons that built advertising billboards in Boston. Julia stayed at home with the children. John attended grammar school and 2 years of high school. He and his 4 brothers worked outside the home to help support the family. All of the 5 Foley boys followed in their father, Thomas Foley’s footsteps and went into the Military to serve in WWII. Thomas volunteered and served as a Sergeant in the newly created 15th Cavalry F Troop in 1901 in the Philippine American War. He returned home and spent time at Fort Myers in 1903. he was honorably discharged in spring of 1904.
In 1940 John lived with his sister Mary Foley Junkins in Roxbury, MA. He was working in a restaurant as a chef. John joined the service 25 February 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts. After basic training John was assigned to the 209th Coast Artillery Regiment(Anti-Aircraft) which was a New York National Guard Unit. John did additional training when they moved to Camp Stewart, Georgia in 1941. John was trained as an antiaircraft expert. He was a Section Leader in a Locator Listener Squadron. On 23 April the unit moved to Fort Dix, NJ. The Regiment staged for overseas deployment and set sail from the New York Port of Entry on 11 May 1942. They arrived in Belfast, Ireland on 18 May 1942. An ad in the Belfast newspaper was making a call for volunteers to join and create a specially trained group of soldiers. John and 24 other 209th CA AA soldiers volunteered to join the new Unit which would become the 1st Ranger Battalion which trained with the British Commandos.
The unit started with about 1500 volunteers and after interviews and physical training trials they only took 500 men. These men became known as “Original Darby Rangers” because of their commander COL William Orlando Darby. The birth of the Ranger unit was 19 June 1942 at Sunnylands Camp near Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. The Rangers moved to Achnacarry in the Highlands of Scotland. John and his fellow soldiers trained with the British Commandos at Achnacarry Castle the ancestral home of the Camerons of Lochiel.
After grueling exercise, 30 mile speed marches, hand to hand combat, aquatic landings, mountain climbing and doing maneuvers under live ammo the Rangers were transported to North Africa on a British ship and it was their home until November of 1942. The Rangers were involved in Operation Torch. Their first combat in N. Africa was to take the Port of Arzew. D company was set up as a mortar division to give support to their fellow Rangers.
The special training paid off for the Rangers. They worked on the buddy system and also trained to step up into the next job. The Rangers were moved into Algeria and more training. There was a creation of two more Ranger units, the 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions. They attacked and captured Sened Station.
The 1st Rangers earned their first Presidential Unit Citation at El Guettar. In Sicily, they took the city of Gela and the mountain fortress of Butera(The Eagle’s Nest). They made the first landing in Italy at Maiori Beach. They held Chiunzi Pass to earn their second Presidential Unit Citation. defended the Winter-line in the mountains of Venafro where John was promoted to sergeant and took over a platoon after SGT Lester Harrington was killed. Another landing was done at the beaches of Anzio. The 1st Rangers along with the 3rd Rangers fought their last battle operation attempting to take the city of Cisterna. The Army did not know that the Germans had secretly fortified their troops and equipment. The 1st & 3rd Rangers lead the attack with 4th Rangers to be the backup. After hours of valiant fighting the Germans surrounded the 1st and 3rd Rangers. The Rangers fought until they ran out of am******on. They had no choice but surrender or be shot. Some died on the battle field, many became POWs and a few were wounded and brought back. There was also a number of men that escaped. The 4th Rangers tried to get thru the lines but were stopped by German Tanks and troops. There were many 4th Rangers that were killed and wounded trying to break thru.
John participated in all of the operations mentioned above except Cisterna. Days before Cisterna he had been hospitalized with Malaria. He returned to service and was put in the HQ Company to recover. He had contracted malaria in Sicily like many of the Rangers did.
Ranger Foley was one of 198 Rangers that had over 2 years in combat or were disabled. When the 1st and 3rd Rangers were disbanded he was transferred into the 4th Rangers and left Italy 6 April 1944 on the SS Edward Richardson. They arrived at Hampton Roads, VA Port of Entry on 3 May 1944. They were transported to Camp Patrick Henry in Virginia. They stayed there several days and moved to Camp Butner, North Carolina on 6 May 1944. The Rangers that were not hospitalized were granted furloughs. SSGT Foley was granted a 24 day furlough. He was given rostering out money to pay for the trip to Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts. On June 1st while he was on furlough, John was admitted to the Station Hospital at Fort Banks, Massachusetts. Many men were hospitalized after arriving home. They were recovering from wounds, diseases, malnutrition and PTSD. John was Honorably Discharged on 16 November 1944 while he was in the Lovell General & Convalescent Hospital, Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
John returned to civilian life and probably spent some time visiting his retired parents and his youngest sister, Geraldine up in Rome, Maine. He was home early and three of his brothers were still fighting in WWII. His oldest brother Thomas had enlisted but had a hand blown off caused by a defective gr***de the day before he was to ship out to the South Pacific Theater. William was with 342nd Engineers General Service Regiment. Edward was with the 385th Infantry moving across Europe. Francis was with the 1st Air Force in Puerto Rico running communication lines and working on the Roosevelt Roads Air Field.
John met Matilda Marie Cullerton(Cote) and they were married in 1950. “Hilda” was born in Wisconsin and her family moved to Fall River, Massachusetts. She was the widow of a decorated Boston Policeman, SGT James L. Culleton, who died in 1942. John and Hilda lived at 52 Courtney Road in West Roxbury, Massachusetts for many years with her 3 children. John worked as a landscaper at the time of his death in Mansfield, Massachusetts. He died at his home on 26 November 1962 when he was 45 years old. SSGT John J Foley was buried in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, Massachusetts, ironically in the same section as his father’s younger brother, John Joseph Foley. John was survived by his wife and 3 stepchildren. Original Darby Ranger Foley was honored with a full military funeral. His wife Hilda lived until 1984 and was buried alongside her first husband at Mount Benedict Cemetery in West Roxbury. Massachusetts.
John Joseph Foley
Born: 25 March 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts
Died: 26 November 1962 in Mansfield, Massachusetts
Army Serial Number: 31017758
Ranger Battalion/Company: 1/D & 4
Rank: SSGT
Enlisted: 25 February 1941 in Boston, Massachusetts
Battles/Campaigns/Significants: Arzew Landing in Algeria, Gafsa, Sened Station & El Guettar in Tunisia, Gela, Butera, Sicily, Salerno, Maiori, Chiunzi Pass, Venafro, Anzio Landing Italy
Medals/Awards: CIB, BSM, EAME Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, 2 Presidential Unit Citations-El Guettar (WD GO 56, 1944) & Salerno (WD GO 41, 1947) Bronze Arrowhead and 3 Bronze Service Stars.
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In memory of Ranger John Foley. May the Angels be by your side.
Many thanks to Julie Belanger for sharing her uncle story.
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!
