On 1 April 1943 the 2nd Ranger Battalion was formed atCamp Forrest, Tennessee, along with the5th Ranger Battalion. Both battalions were officially activated in September 1943 and shipped to Great Britain where they were prepared forOperation Overlord as part of six rangerbattalions of the Second World War.
On 6 June 1944, Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies, commanded by Lieutenant ColonelJames Rudder, landed atPointe du Hoc from LCAlanding craft and specially modifiedDUKW "Ducks" operated by theRoyal Navy. The 225 rangers had set off from Britain to launch an assault upon the cliffs overlooking the English Channel. In order to augment the strength of the 2nd Battalion, members of theProvisional Ranger Group were assigned as well. Several landing craft containing rangers and supplies capsized in the stormy waters and many rangers drowned due to heavy equipment, but others were saved and hoisted into other DUKWs to participate in the attack. The rangers had planned to land at the base of the cliffs at 0600 hours, however, because of a navigational error, they landed nearly an hour late. This cost the lives of more rangers as well as the element of surprise. During the attack, the 190 remaining rangers scaled the cliffs utilizing rope ladders, but only 90 rangers were still able to bear arms after two days of relentless fighting. During the assault, 2nd Battalion managed to achieve their primary objective, disabling a battery of155mm French artillery captured by the Germans. These guns were to be aimed atUtah Beach, however, the rangers prevented their use, saving American lives on the shores of Normandy.
The modern day 2nd Ranger Battalion also draws heritage from the 5307 Composite Unit, also known asMerrill's Marauders. This unit was consolidated with Company H, 475th Infantry before eventually being deactivated after the end of the war.[2]
In 1950, the 2nd Ranger Battalion was redesignated as the 2nd Ranger Infantry Company and activated to serve during the Korean War before being inactivated. Later, in 1960, while still deactivated, it was consolidated with 4th Company, 2d Battalion, 1st Regiment,1st Special Service Force and eventually was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company,10th Special Forces Group.[2]
In 1954, Company H, 475th Infantry was redesignated as Company H,75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) and was reactivated for a short time before being inactivated in Okinawa.[2]
During the Vietnam War,Company H, 75th Infantry was reactivated and served as aLRRP unit during the war, becoming the longest serving in LRP/Ranger history and the most decorated. It was deactivated for a short time in 1972.[2] Following the success of the 1st Battalion,75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) which was raised in 1974, the 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry was activated later that year, inheriting its colors and lineage from Company H, 75th Infantry.[3][4][2]
In 1984, the 2nd battalion, 75th Infantry was reorganized and consolidated with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th SFG (which was formerly Company A, 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion), thus inheriting its World War II 2nd Ranger Battalion heritage. It was concurrently redesignated as 2nd Battalion, of the newly formed75th Ranger Regiment.[2][5]
The modern ranger battalions are strategic assets, prepared to conduct missions on short-notice worldwide. The 2/75th participated inOperation Urgent Fury in October 1983. During the invasion of Grenada, the 2nd conducted a low-level parachute assault (500 feet), seized the airfield atPoint Salines, rescued American citizens at theTrue Blue Medical Campus, and conducted air assault operations to eliminate pockets of resistance.[6]
In December 1989 the battalion took part inOperation Just Cause. The 2nd and 3rd Ranger Battalions and a regimental command and control team, conducted aparachute assault onto the airfield atRio Hato, to neutralize thePanamanian Defense Force rifle companies and seize GeneralManuel Noriega's beach house. Following the successful completion of these assaults, Rangers conducted follow-on operations in support of Joint Task Force (JTF)-South. The Rangers captured 1,014 enemyprisoners of war (EPW), and over 18,000 arms of various types. The Rangers sustained 5 killed and 42 wounded.[6]
A Ranger from 2nd Ranger Battalion providing overwatch during combat operations in Iraq.Rangers from Delta Company, 2nd Battalion prepare to provide security and lay down suppressive fire during a live fire exercise atFort Hunter Liggett, California, Jan. 25, 2014. The Ranger's nosebleed was due to the dry climate and intense training.
Following theSeptember 11 attacks, the battalion has repeatedly fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. In March 2002, 2nd Battalion deployed toAfghanistan in support ofOperation Enduring Freedom and conducted numerousair assaults, raids, patrols, and ambushes against anti-coalition forces. In December 2002, elements of 2nd Battalion again deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, followed in February 2003 by the whole battalion. This period marked the first time in history of the modern ranger regiment that a ranger battalion was required to conduct long-duration and sustained combat operations.[7]
The battalion participated in the2003 invasion of Iraq at the start of theIraq War. On 26 March 2003, B company supportedNavy SEALs fromDEVGRU in theObjective Beaver mission. On 1 April 2003, 290 Rangers from 2/75th and 1/75th took part in the successfulrescue of PFC Jessica Lynch.[8] 2nd Battalion was also the first American force with boots on the ground inBaghdad so they could establish a base of operations for follow on units and later participated in operations to capture known and wanted terrorists operating within the country. From November to December 2003, the battalion deployed again to Afghanistan and Rangers pursued enemies in the most remote regions of the country. Despite extreme altitudes and bitter cold, the battalion conducted mountain patrols at altitudes upwards of 9,000 feet, mobile patrols through major population centers, and conductedair assaults anddirect action raids on heavily defended enemy objectives.[7]
On 7 June 2006, rangers from 2nd platoon of C company, accompaniedDelta Force operators to a farmhouse in the villageHibhib, northeast ofBaquba, Iraq, whereJSOC had tracked downAbu Musab al-Zarqawi (the leader ofAQI). AnF-16C airstrike was called in which destroyed the house. US forces recovered the severely wounded Zarqawi who succumbed to his wounds shortly thereafter.[8]: 216–217 [10]
On 24 November 2018, members of 2nd Battalion conducted a night raid against al-Qaida senior leaders inKash Rod district,Nimruz province, alongside the obscure Afghan Ktah Khas partner force. During the raid, Army ranger Sgt. Leandro Jasso was killed by friendly fire from a Ktah Khas operator. All Ktah Khas operators denied shooting Jasso. In total, 10 enemy fighters were reported killed that night. The rangers and Afghan troops destroyed a large enemy weapons cache, evacuated their casualties, and extracted back to base.[12][13]
As of 4 July 2022, 25 Rangers in (or previously in) 2nd Battalion have been killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (including in Pakistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom, 20 of them in combat.[a][14][15][16][17]
The 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment traces its lineage to two units; Company H, 475th Infantry Regiment (previously known as the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), or "Merrill's Marauders") and Company A, 2nd Ranger Battalion. The units originally had separate lineages, but were then consolidated in 1986.[18]
Constituted 3 October 1943 in the Army of the United States in theChina-Burma-India Theater of Operations as an element of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)
Consolidated 10 August 1944 with Company H, 475th Infantry (constituted 25 May 1944 in the Army of the United States), and consolidated unit designated as Company H, 475th Infantry
Redesignated 1 October 1974 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 75th Infantry, and activated atFort Lewis, Washington (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated)
Headquarters and Headquarters Company consolidated 3 February 1986 with former Company A, 2d Infantry Battalion (see ANNEX); 2d Battalion, 75th Infantry, concurrently redesignated as the 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Consolidated 30 September 1960 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group (activated 11 June 1952), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces (organic elements concurrently constituted and activated 20 March 1961)
Former Company A, 2d Infantry Battalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment (remainder of 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces—hereafter separate lineage)
CaptainRalph E. Goranson commanded Charlie Company of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, made up of 2 platoons (68 men), being the first of all the participants in the operation to touch land disembarking in the Charlie Sector of Omaha Beach during Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944 (D-Day), attacking Gambier House at the top of the Vierville Draw. He fulfilled the assigned mission, survived the war and died on November 14, 2012. He is portrayed in the movieSaving Private Ryan in the character of Captain John H. Miller, played by actorTom Hanks.[citation needed]
First LieutenantJohn P. Abizaid served as a platoon leader 1975–1976 in Alpha Company and later as the XO of Charlie Company from 1976 to 1977. He went on to commandCENTCOM during the second Gulf War. His change in intelligence methods led to the capture ofSaddam Hussein. He retired as a general.
Lieutenant GeneralDavid Barno, commanded 2nd Ranger Battalion from 1993 to 1994. Later became Commander, Military Operations-Afghanistan.
Brigadier General James Emory Mace, recipient ofDistinguished Service Cross (Vietnam), 2nd Ranger Battalion commander and the first commander of the Ranger Training Brigade; 15th Annual Ranger Hall of Fame inductee 2007.
Lieutenant ColonelWayne A. Downing was the third commander of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and eventually commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment, andSpecial Operations Command. He retired as a general.
CaptainRobert L. Howard was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times for his actions in Vietnam, receiving it once. Howard commanded Alpha Company from approximately 1975–1977. Howard was later inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame.
Second LieutenantLeonard Lomell, served as platoon leader during the D-Day landings. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
Sergeant First ClassLeroy Petry, Medal of Honor recipient in the War in Afghanistan[21]
ColonelJames Earl Rudder, commander of the 2nd Ranger Battalion during World War II, later major generalUSAR and president ofTexas A&M University, led the ranger assault on Pointe du Hoc on D-Day.
Sergeant First ClassRandy Shughart, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient; a sniper with Delta Force who was killed during theBattle of Mogadishu.
CorporalPat Tillman, an American football player who left his NFL career and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002 and was killed on 22 April 2004.
Sergeant Stephen Trujillo, awarded theSilver Star duringOperation Urgent Fury, the first Silver Star awarded since Vietnam, for rescuing fellow rangers from a downed aircraft while under direct enemy fire.
GeneralStanley McChrystal, commanded 2nd Ranger Battalion from 1994 to 1996, later went on to command US andISAF forces in Afghanistan.
Master SergeantJoshua Wheeler, Delta Force operator andSilver Star recipient, formerly with 2nd Battalion. He was the first American service member killed in action as a result of enemy firewhile fighting ISIS militants and the first American to be killed in action in Iraq since November 2011.
Specialist Ricardo Cerros, awarded thePurple Heart andSilver Star for his actions in combat during the globalwar on terrorism. SPC Cerros was killed in action on October 8, 2011.
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75th Ranger Regiment
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