This Military Service Page was created/owned by
MAJ Mark E Cooper
to remember
Anderson, Babe Ruth (Big Tech), MSG.
If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Last Address Fayetteville, NC
Date of Passing Jan 02, 2012
Location of Interment Rockfish Memorial Park - Fayetteville, North Carolina
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Babe R. Anderson FAYETTEVILLE - Babe Ruth Anderson, 85, of Fayetteville, died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Fayetteville. Babe was born May 1, 1927, in Jefferson County, Fla. Raised by his grandfather, his primary aspiration was to join the military. He joined the Marines initially and then the Army, where he had a distinguished career for more than 20 years. Many of Babe's Army buddies affectionately called him "Big Tech." He walked fast and looked straight ahead. He was often asked the question, "Where are you going, Big Tech?" His reply would be, "Oh, man, I am just moving on." Babe's calling was to be a soldier. He wanted to be a great soldier and he lived up to that expectation. Babe loved his country and the Armed Forces. He also loved his wife Esther, to whom he was married for more than 50 years before her death, and his children and his grandchildren. Babe was a World War II veteran and served in Korea with the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), the only Black Ranger outfit in the history of the U.S. Army. He earned a Purple Heart while serving in Korea. Under President John F. Kennedy's administration, Babe joined an elite group of special soldiers called Green Berets. These soldiers are highly skilled and trained in areas few soldiers would ever be interested in pursuing. They were trained to endure the toughest of conditions and succeed. They are very highly regarded. The Green Berets became a very real distinction of excellence among Special Forces. Under the Kennedy administration, Babe was part of the first team of military advisers sent to Vietnam. The U.S. Special Forces team was sent to organize the Montagnards, the mountain people of Vietnam. Babe enjoyed and held a great fondness for the mountain people. He would often recount stories about them. His children enjoyed listening to these stories. Babe would soon return to Vietnam as a combat soldier. He completed several tours there and earned another Purple Heart while serving there. He retired from Special Forces in 1967. In 1968, the U.S. State Department hired Babe through its Agency for International Development. He returned to Vietnam and served until 1972. He subsequently worked for the U.S. Postal Service, from which he also retired. In later years, Babe was a patient at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Fayetteville, where he received excellent care from a dedicated staff. He was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife, Esther; and his daughter, Judge Linda Faye Anderson. Surviving to cherish his memory and legacy are his children, Jessina Gray (Jim) of Madison, Ala., James Carlton Arrington (Ruby) of Goldsboro, Catherine W. LeBlanc of Fayetteville, Richard A. Watson (Shirley) of Los Angeles, Queen Esther Harper (Roosevelt) of Philadelphia, and Lennie Jean Portis (Lewis) of Philadelphia; 15 grandchildren; sister-in-law, Gladys Whitley; and other relatives and friends. Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, in Rockfish Memorial Park, Fayetteville. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at New Stoney Hill United Holy Church, 1003 N. Poplar St., Goldsboro, with the family present from 6 to 7 p.m. The family will receive friends at other times at the residence of his son, James Arrington, 114 Friendswood Drive, Goldsboro. The funeral cortege will depart the Arrington residence at 9 a.m. Thursday morning. Services entrusted to Haskins Funeral Home of Goldsboro.
1950-1952, 1745, 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne)
The 2nd Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne) was a Ranger light infantry company of the United States Army active during the Korean War. As a small special forces unit, it specialized in irregular warfare. A segregated unit, all of its personnel, including its officers, were African-Americans.
Activated and trained as a successor organization to the 2nd Ranger Battalion from World War II, the 2nd Ranger Company was formed and trained extensively in airborne warfare. Deployed to South Korea in December 1950, the company quickly adopted the motto of "Buffalo Rangers" and worked extensively as a scouting force for the U.S. 7th Infantry Division. In this role, the company undertook several major operations against the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, including Operation Tomahawk in early 1951.
Even though racial politics often resulted in the company receiving untrained replacements, it performed well in many small-scale engagements during this time. In the summer of 1951, the company was employed along the front line as an advance force to push back Chinese attacks as the front lines became more static. The company was highly regarded for its actions capturing and holding Hill 581 during the Battle of the Soyang River, in which the company inflicted hundreds of casualties on the Chinese without a single Ranger being killed.
Disbanded in August 1951 along with all the other Ranger companies, the unit's soldiers accrued several awards in its 10-month existence. These included four campaign streamers, nine Silver Star Medals and over 100 Purple Heart Medals. Subsequent research has focused on the economy of force of how the Rangers were employed and how their performance was impacted by the racist policies of their time.
