The Alamo Scouts had been in existence for 34 days when the calendar rolled over to 1944. In that first full year, Alamo Scouts Training Centers (ASTC) were established on Ferguson Island, New Guinea and at Finschaven and Hollandia in Dutch Guinea. Another was erected after the successful landing on Leyte Island in the Philippines. ASTCs trained six classes, graduated approximately 225 trained Alamo Scouts, and retained 13 teams consisting of various compositions of men. The 6-7 man teams conducted a known 43 missions from February-December 1944, and are credited for providing deep reconnaissance, intelligence collection, conducting civilian rescue and civil affairs operations, guerrilla coordination and resupply, pilot recovery, and more in the Bismarck Archipelago and New Guinea Campaigns and during the Leyte Operation without losing a man killed or captured. The tiny unit also earned 51 Silver Stars, 18 Bronze Stars, 4 Soldier’s Medals, and 8 Purple Hearts. By any measure, the Alamo Scouts had proven themselves, but they were getting started.
