Standing Down

Abstract

At 10 o’clock in the morning of 8 January 1945, the commanders of PAIFORCE (Sir Arthur Smith) and PGC (Donald P. Booth) met to discuss the drawing down of British and American forces in Persia. Smith stated that, as soon as Lend-Lease functions ceased, only British security troops and a few disposal agencies would remain in Persia. Booth replied that the only US forces to remain would be certain supply troops, personnel to evaluate US property, and disposal personnel. The two men affirmed that British forces would not be required to provide security ‘within the fence’ of American installations. It would take until the end of the year to complete the withdrawal of all American forces from Persian soil, but finally, on 30 December, the USS General W.P. Richardson cleared the port of Khorramshahr, carrying the last GIs homeward.²

The PGC is melting away before our eyes like the snows of winter. Lewis Leary (OSS)¹