▁with ▁organ izing ▁an ▁American ▁version ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁Command os , ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁small ▁" hit ▁and ▁run " ▁forces , ▁and ▁promoted ▁his ▁a ide - de - camp , ▁Captain ▁William ▁Or lando ▁Dar by ▁to ▁lead ▁the ▁new ▁unit . ▁Dar by ▁assemble d ▁volunte ers , ▁and ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁ 5 0 0 ▁U . S . ▁Army ▁R angers , ▁ 2 8 1 ▁came ▁from ▁the ▁ 3 4 th ▁Infantry ▁Division . ▁On ▁ 2 0 ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Hart le ▁was ▁designated ▁command ing ▁general ▁of ▁V ▁Corps ▁and ▁Major ▁General ▁Charles ▁Ry der , ▁a ▁distinguished ▁veter an ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I , ▁took ▁command ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 4 th ▁Division . ▁The ▁division ▁trained ▁in ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁until ▁it ▁board ed ▁ships ▁to ▁travel ▁to ▁North ▁Africa ▁for ▁Operation ▁Tor ch , ▁the ▁Al lied ▁invasion ▁of ▁North ▁Africa , ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁ ▁The ▁ 3 4 th , ▁under ▁command ▁of ▁Major ▁General ▁Ry der , ▁saw ▁its ▁first ▁combat ▁in ▁French ▁Al ger ia ▁on ▁ 8 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁As ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Eastern ▁Task ▁Force , ▁which ▁included ▁two ▁brig ades ▁of ▁the ▁British ▁ 7 8 th ▁Infantry ▁Division , ▁and ▁two ▁British ▁Comm ando ▁units , ▁they ▁land ed ▁at ▁Al gi ers ▁and ▁seized ▁the ▁port ▁and ▁out lying ▁air fields . ▁Element s ▁of ▁the ▁