Guido's Web - Military - Ranger Info/History

Shortly after the United States entered the WWII, the army saw a need for small specialized units.Six Ranger battalions were raised, all composed of volunteers. The 2nd and 5th Battalion fought heroic at the beaches in Normandy on D-Day. The 2nd battalion scaled the sheer cliffs at Pointe du Hoc, were they destroyed the heavy gun emplacements, dug into the cliffs. The 5th battalion landed on Omaha Beach and let a breakthrough the German lines. The 6th battalion was deployed in the Pacific., were they performed Ranger mission of recon and raiding behind enemy lines.

At the end of WWII, the Ranger battalions disbanded. But when the war in Korea broke out, the skills of the Rangers were once again needed. Instead of operating as battalions, were they organized as companies assigned to a infantry division. Eight companies were raised. The new rangers were volunteers, mostly from the 82nd Airborne. For the first time airborne skills were include in their training. The Rangers performed raiding and reconnaissance behind enemy lines.

Veterans from the Rangers in Korea helped with the creations of Special Forces in the late 1950s. During the Vietnam War Rangers were assigned to Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP). The Vietnam era Ranger companies were active until 1974, when the US Army formed two permanent Ranger Battalions, 1st and 2nd Battalion of the 75th Infantry. The two Ranger battalions was placed on standby alert during the failed attempt to rescue the hostages in the US Embassy in Tehran in 1980. The Rangers didn't see action until the invasion of Grenada in 1983, where they performed a dangerous low-level combat drop on the airfield at Port Salines. In 1984 a battalion was added, bringing the rangers up to full regimental strength. The Rangers were again in action, when were deployed in Panama during Operation Just Cause. They were in Panama from the December 20th 1989 to January 7th 1990.

From August 26 1993 to October 21 1993, were B company 3rd Ranger Battalion deployed in Somalia to assist the UN. The Rangers took part in seven missions to capture Mohammed Aidid, in order to end the war. On one of the missions the Rangers along with members of Delta Force, were involved in firefight with Aidid's men. Six Rangers were killed and so were over 300 of Aidid's men.

Stationed: HQ and 3rd Bat.: Fort Benning, Georgia, 1st Bat. at Hunter Army Airfield Georgia, 2nd bat. Fort Lewis Washington. There are also four Ranger Training Battalions.
Weapons: 84mm RAWS, 60mm Mortars, M240G Machine Guns, M249 SAW, M16A2 assault rifles
Picture: Rangers paddle ashore.

The actions of Ranger Units and individual Rangers have contributed many courageous and daring exploits to the pages of American history. The story is a recurring one, depicting outstanding leadership coupled with the highest application of the skills used in the art of warfare.

Throughout the military history of the United States, Ranger units have been formed when needed and have accomplished their purpose with great distinction. Rangers of the past have provided a firm foundation upon which the Rangers of today have continued to build. The present day Ranger is a man who is a graduate of the most demanding training program in the United States Army today the U.S. Army Ranger Course.

This page addresses the Ranger Course, a course of instruction which develops tough, capable and highly confident combat soldiers. The current approach to the Ranger Course, that of training individuals rather than units, was initiated in January 1952, when the United States Army Infantry School conducted the first Ranger Course at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The Ranger Course affords soldiers the opportunity, by practical application, to develop and to prove themselves under rugged conditions. The course is stress oriented and develops within the Ranger student the ability to function under heavy mental and physical stress. Emphasis is placed on realistic, strenuous field exercises. The Infantry rifle squad and rifle platoon conducting patrolling operations is the training vehicle used to accomplish individual development.

The Ranger Course is taught using the most current tactical doctrine. Additionally, emphasis is placed on developing military skills in the planning and conduct of dismounted, airborne, air assault and waterborne squad and platoon sized combat operations.

This page has been designed to acquaint the prospective Ranger student with the history of the American Ranger and the requirements of the Ranger Course. It has been designed to familiarize the commander with the final product of the Ranger Course and how the commander can profit when his soldiers properly prepare for the course and then earn the coveted United States Army Ranger tab.

The history of the American Ranger is a long and colorful saga of courage, daring and outstanding leadership. It is a story of men whose skills in the art of fighting have seldom been surpassed. Only the highlights of their numerous exploits are told here.

Rangers were first organized in 1756 by Major Robert Rogers, a native of New Hampshire, who recruited nine companies of American colonists to fight for the British during the French and Indian Wars. Ranger techniques and methods of operation were an inherent characteristic of the American frontiersmen. However, Major Rogers was the first to capitalize on them and incorporate them into the fighting doctrine of a permanently organized fighting force.

The type of fighting used by these first Rangers was further developed during the Revolutionary War by Colonel Daniel Morgan, who organized a unit known as Morgan's Riflemen. According to General Burgoyne, Morgan's men were "the most famous corps of the Continental Army, all of them crack shots."

Another famous Revolutionary War Ranger element was organized by Francis Marion, "the Swamp Fox". Marion's Partisans, numbering anywhere from a handful to several hundred, operated both with and independent of other elements of General Washington's Army. Based in the Carolina swamps, they disrupted British communications and prevented the organization of loyalists to support the British cause, thus substantially contributing to the American victory.

The Republic of Texas, shortly after the revolt of 1836, formed small companies of horsemen, to be known as the Texas Rangers. The Rangers were organized to travel swiftly with light arms, their mission to protect the Texas frontier against Indians, Mexican bandits, and occasionally Mexican soldiers. When the Mexican War began, Brigadier General Zachery Taylor had several Ranger companies formed into a cavalry regiment headed by Colonel John C. (Jack) Hayes. The Rangers attracted the roughest and toughest men on a rough frontier. Brigadier General Taylor soon learned to trust the Rangers as scouts and cavalrymen. The Texas Rangers kept the Ranger ethos alive by hard riding and straight shooting from 1846 to 1848.

The War Between the States was the next occasion that necessitated the formation of special units such as Rangers. John S. Mosby, a master of the prompt and skillful use of cavalry, was one of the most outstanding Confederate Rangers. He believed that by resorting to many aggressive, small unit actions he could compel his enemies to guard a hundred points. He would then mass and attack one of the weakest points and be assured numerical superiority.

With America's entry into the Second World War, Rangers again came forth to add to the pages of history. Major William O. Darby organized and activated the 1st Ranger Battalion on 19 June 1942 at Carrickfergus, North Ireland. The members were all hand picked volunteers; 50 participated in the gallant Dieppe raid on the northern coast of France with British and Canadian commandos. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th Ranger Battalions participated, with distinction, in the North African, Sicilian, and Italian campaigns. Darby's Ranger Battalions spearheaded the Seventh Army landing at Gela and Licata during the Sicilian invasion and played a key role in the subsequent campaign which culminated in the capture of Messina. They infiltrated German lines and mounted an attack against Cisterna, where they virtually annihilated an entire German parachute regiment during close in, night, bayonet and hand to hand fighting. The 2d and 5th Ranger Battalions participated in the D Day landings at Omaha Beach, Normandy. It was during the bitter fighting along the beach that the Rangers gained their official motto. As the situation became critical on Omaha Beach, the division commander of the 29th Infantry Division stated that the entire force must clear the beach and advance inland. He then turned to Lieutenant Colonel Max Schneider, commanding the 5th Ranger Battalion, and said, "Rangers, lead the way." The 5th Ranger Battalion spearheaded the breakthrough and thus enabled the allies to drive inland away from the invasion beaches.

The 6th Ranger Battalion, operating in the Pacific, conducted Ranger type missions behind enemy lines which involved reconnaissance and hard hitting, long range raids. They were the first American contingent to return to the Philippines, destroying key coastal installations prior to the invasion. A reinforced company from the 6th Ranger Battalion formed the rescue force which liberated American and allied prisoners of war from the Japanese prison camp at Cabanatuan.

Another Ranger type unit was the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) organized and trained as a long range penetration unit for employment behind enemy lines in Japanese occupied Burma. The official unit designation was later changed to the 475th Infantry commanded by Brigadier General (later Major General) Frank D. Merrill, Its 2,997 officers and men became popularly known as "Merrill's Marauders".

The men composing Merrill's Marauders were volunteers from the 5th, 14th, 154th, and 33d Infantry Regiments and from other Infantry regiments engaged in combat in the southwest and South Pacific. These men responded to a call from then Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall, for volunteers for a hazardous mission. These volunteers were to possess a high state of physical ruggedness and stamina and were to come from jungle trained and jungle tested units.

Prior to their entry into the Northern Burma Campaign, Merrill's Marauders trained in India under the overall supervision of Major General Orde C. Wingate, British Army. There, they were trained from February to June 1943 in long range penetration tactics and techniques of the type developed and first employed by General Wingate in the operations of the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade from Burma. From February to May 1944, the operations of the Marauders were closely coordinated with those of the Chinese 22d and 38th Divisions in a drive to recover northern Burma and clear the way for the construction of the Ledo Road, which was to link the Indian Railhead at Ledo with the old Burma Road to China. The Marauders marched and fought through jungle and over mountains from Hukwang Valley in northwestern Burma to Myitkyina and the Irrawaddy River. In 5 major and 30 minor engagements, they met and defeated the veteran soldiers of the Japanese 18th Division. Operating in the rear of the main forces of the Japanese, they prepared the way for the advance of the Chinese by disorganizing supply lines and communications. The climax of the Marauder's operations was the capture of Myitkyina Airfield, the only all weather strip in northern Burma. This was the final victory of "Merrill's Marauders" which was disbanded in August 1944. Of the 3,000 original volunteers, 2400 were either killed, wounded or succumbed to disease during this extremely intense and hazardous 90 day campaign.

With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea in June 1950, the need arose once again for Rangers. Seventeen Airborne Ranger companies were formed and trained between September 1950 and September 1951, at the Ranger Training Command, Fort Benning, Georgia. An 18th Ranger unit (the 8th Army Ranger Company) was formed and trained in Korea.

In October 1951, the Army Chief of Staff, General J. Lawton Collins, directed that "Ranger training be extended to all combat units in the Army." The Commandant of the Infantry School was directed to establish a Ranger Department for the purpose of conducting a Ranger course of instruction. The overall objective of Ranger training was to raise the standard of training in all combat units. This program was built upon what had been learned from the Ranger Battalions of World War II and the Airborne Ranger Companies of the Korean conflict.

During the Vietnam Conflict, fourteen Ranger companies consisting of highly motivated volunteers, served with distinction from the Mekong Delta to the DMZ. Assigned to independent Brigade, Division and Field Force units, they conducted long range reconnaissance and exploitation operations into enemy held and denied areas providing valuable combat intelligence. Initially designated as LRRP, then LRP companies, these units were later designated as C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O and P (Ranger) Companies, 75th Infantry.

Following Vietnam, General Abrams, the CSA, recognized the need for a highly trained and highly mobile reaction force and therefore directed the activation of the first battalion sized Ranger units since World War II, the lst and 2nd Battalions (Ranger), 75th Infantry. The lst Battalion was trained at Fort Benning, Georgia and was activated February 8, 1974 at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The 2d Battalion was activated on October 3, 1974. The lst Battalion is now located at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia and the 2nd Battalion is stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington.

The farsightedness of General Abrams' decision, as well as the combat effectiveness of the Ranger battalions, was proven during the United States' invasion of the island of Grenada in October 1983 to protect American citizens there and to restore democracy. As expected, Rangers led the way!

During this operation, code named "URGENT FURY," the Ranger battalions conducted a daring, low level airborne assault (from 500 feet) to seize the airfield at Point Salines, and then continued operations for several days to eliminate pockets of resistance, and rescue American medical students.

As a result of the demonstrated effectiveness of the Ranger battalions, the Department of Army announced in 1984 that it was increasing the strength of Ranger units to its highest level in 40 years by activating another Ranger battalion, as well as a Ranger Regimental Headquarters. These new units, the 3d Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry, and Headquarters Company (Ranger) 75th Infantry, have increased the Ranger strength of the Army to over 2,000 soldiers actually assigned to Ranger units. On February 3, 1986, the 75th Infantry was redesignated the 75th Ranger Regiment.

On 20 December 1989, the 75th Ranger Regiment was once again called upon to demonstrate its effectiveness in combat. For the first time since its reorganization in 1984, the Regimental Headquarters and all three Ranger battalions were deployed for Operation "JUST CAUSE" in Panama. During this operation, the 75th Ranger Regiment spearheaded the assault into Panama by conducting two simultaneous Battalion Task Force (+) airborne assaults at Torrijos/Tocumen Airport and Rio Hato Airfield to restore democracy in Panama and protect the lives of American citizens. Between 20 December 1989 and 7 January 1990, numerous follow on missions were performed in Panama by the Regiment.

Early in 1991, elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. The performance of these Rangers significantly contributed to the overall success of the operation, and upheld the proud Ranger traditions of the past. Most recently, elements of the 3d Ranger Battalion participated in a United Nations Operation in Somalia. Their tenacity and outstanding duty performance demonstrated again that "Rangers Lead the Way". The Regiment stands ready to execute its mission to conduct special operations in support of the United States' policies and objectives.

Though the recent actions of the Ranger Regiment have been the most visible evidence of the continued requirement and ability of U.S. Army Rangers, units which enjoy a high density of Ranger qualified soldiers such as the 7th, 10th, 24th, 25th, 82d and 101st Divisions, LRSU detachment and companies have accomplished equal feats with equal distinction through in large part to their Ranger qualified soldiers and leaders. As in the past, Rangers in units throughout the U. S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines are leading and setting the example for other to follow. "RANGERS LEAD THE WAY"

Copyright "Guido: The Destroyer of Men" 1997.
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Last updated: October 27, 1997.
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