On January 8, 1943, 2nd Army commenced an intensive training course to train Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. The 2nd Ranger Battalion was formed on April 1, 1943 by Lt. Col. W. C. Saffrans. Later these Rangers were trained and led by Major J. E. Rudder. The 5th Ranger Bn was activated September 1, 1943 under Lt. Col O. H. Carter. Later the unit was trained and led by Major Max Schneider. Both battalions were later trained at Fort Pierce, Fla, in New Jersey and Great Britain. On June 6th, 1944 the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions "Led the Way" at Omaha Beach, scaled the cliffs at Point du Hoc, and spearheaded the invasion across Europe.