title: The Battalion:  The Dramatic Story of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in World War II
author:  Robert W. Black 
description: "Black is the dean of Ranger history." -- <i>New York Times best-selling author Douglas Brinkley</i>
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  [Contents](0743488237_toc.htm)
  
  # **71**
  
  Gulthar Kro had settled into the Smoleni 3rd Ranger Battalion more comfortably
  than in any family or group he'd ever been part of. For a day and a half, the
  battalion had hiked the graveled road from Shelf Falls, where they'd been
  replaced by the 1st. Where there were fields along the road, the ground was
  mostly bare. In the forest, there was still a foot or so of granular snow.
  Flocks of spring birds wheeled and whirred. About midday the forest ended on
  their right, and some distance ahead, Kro could see the village of Burnt
  Woods, its houses flecks of color in the spring sun, red and blue, yellow and
  white.
  
  The battalion turned off the main road a mile or so before they reached the
  Almar, and hiked a half-mile east to the army encampment, halting in ranks on
  the drill field. There the battalion C.O. turned it over to its company
  commanders. Kro turned his company over to his 1st serge