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. It was deactivated for a short time in 1972. Vietnam War ĭuring the Vietnam War, Company H, 75th Infantry was reactivated and served as a LRRP unit during the war, becoming the longest serving in LRP/Ranger history and the most decorated. 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. 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. 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. This unit was consolidated with Company H, 475th Infantry before eventually being deactivated after the end of the war. The modern day 2nd Ranger Battalion also draws heritage from the 5307 Composite Unit, also known as Merrill's Marauders. ![]() ![]() Reformation of the modern day 2nd Ranger Battalion The battalion was deactivated after the war, together with the 5th and 6th Battalion. The 2nd Rangers were later involved in the Battle for Brest and the Battle of Hürtgen Forest where they led the assault on Hill 400, Bergstein. Able suffered up to 96% casualties with just two men making it off the beaches. They suffered extremely heavy casualties but were able to complete their D-Day objectives. Meanwhile, Able, Baker, and Charlie Companies landed along with the 5th Rangers, the 1st Infantry Division, and the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach. These guns were to be aimed at Utah Beach, however, the Rangers prevented their use, saving American lives on the shores of Normandy. During the assault, 2nd Battalion managed to achieve their primary objective, disabling a battery of 155mm French artillery captured by the Germans. 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. This cost the lives of more Rangers as well as the element of surprise. 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. 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. In order to augment the strength of the 2nd Battalion, members of the Provisional Ranger Group were assigned as well. The 225 Rangers had set off from Britain to launch an assault upon the cliffs overlooking the English Channel. On 6 June 1944, Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder, landed at Pointe du Hoc from LCA landing craft and specially modified DUKW "Ducks" operated by the Royal Navy. Both battalions were officially activated in September 1943 and shipped to Great Britain where they were prepared for Operation Overlord as part of six Ranger battalions of the Second World War. On 1 April 1943 the 2nd Ranger Battalion was formed at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, along with the 5th Ranger Battalion. History World War II Rangers demonstrating the rope ladders used to assault Pointe du Hoc Formation of Ranger Battalions ![]() The 2nd Ranger Battalion, currently based at Joint Base Lewis–McChord south of Seattle, Washington, United States, is the second of three ranger battalions belonging to the United States Army's 75th Ranger Regiment.
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