2nd Ranger Battalion (United States)

2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
2nd Ranger Battalion shoulder sleeve insignia
Active	1943–45, 1974–present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Specialized light infantry
Role	Special operations
Size	Battalion
Part of	75th Ranger Regiment
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base Lewis-McChord, U.S.
Nickname(s)	Army Rangers
Colors	Black and Gold
Engagements	World War II Operation Overlord Pointe du Hoc Battle for Brest Battle of Hurtgen Forest Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause War on Terror Operation Enduring Freedom Iraq War Operation Freedom's Sentinel[1]
Commanders
Notable commanders	James Earl Rudder Wayne A. Downing
Insignia
Distinctive unit insignia
Unit beret flash

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.

History

World War II

Rangers demonstrating the rope ladders used to assault Pointe du Hoc

On 1 April 1943 the 2nd Ranger Battalion was formed at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, along with the 5th Ranger Battalion. 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 6 June 1944, Dog, Easy, and Fox Companies, commanded by Lt. Colonel James Rudder, landed at Pointe du Hoc from LCA landing craft and specially modified DUKW "Ducks" operated by the Royal 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 what was formerly the 29th Rangers 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 disable a battery of 155mm French artillery captured by the Germans, which was their primary objective. These guns were to be aimed at Utah Beach, however, the Rangers prevented their use, saving American lives on the shores of Normandy.

Meanwhile, Able, Baker and Charlie Companies landed along with the 5th Rangers, the 1st Infantry Division and the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach. They suffered heavy casualties but were able to complete their D-Day objectives. The 2nd Rangers were later involved in the Battle for Brest and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest where they led the assault on Hill 400, Bergstein. The battalion was deactivated after the war together with the 5th and 6th Battalion.

Post-WWII

The 2nd Ranger Battalion was reactivated on 1 October 1974, as an elite combat unit eight months after the 1st Ranger Battalion. The 2nd Ranger Battalion's colors and lineage was passed from Company H, 75th Infantry Ranger, of the Vietnam War—the most decorated and longest-serving unit in LRP/Ranger history.^[2]

The modern Ranger battalions are strategic assets, prepared to conduct missions short-notice worldwide. In 1984 the battalion became part of the newly formed Special Operations Command, 75th Ranger Regiment. The 2/75th participated in Operation Urgent Fury in October 1983. During the invasion of Grenada, the 2nd conducted a low-level parachute assault (500 feet), seized the airfield at Point Salines, rescued American citizens at the True Blue Medical Campus, and conducted air assault operations to eliminate pockets of resistance.^[3]

In December 1989 the battalion took part in Operation Just Cause. The 2nd and 3rd Ranger Battalions and a regimental command and control team, conducted a parachute assault onto the airfield at Rio Hato, to neutralize the Panamanian Defense Force rifle companies and seize General Manuel 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 enemy prisoners of war (EPW), and over 18,000 arms of various types. The Rangers sustained 5 killed and 42 wounded.^[3]

War on Terror

A Ranger from the 2nd Ranger Battalion performing an over watch during combat operations in Iraq.

Following the September 11 attacks, the battalion has continuously deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism. In March 2002, 2nd Battalion deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and conducted numerous air 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.^[4]

The battalion participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq at the start of the Iraq War, on March 26 2003, B company supported Navy SEALs from DEVGRU in the Objective Beaver mission. On April 1 2003, 290 Rangers from the battalion and 1/75th took part in the successful rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch.^[5] 2nd Battalion was also first American force with boots on the ground in Baghdad so they could established 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, Rangers pursued enemies in the most remote regions of the country, unhindered by extreme altitudes and bitter cold, the battalion conducted mountain patrols at altitudes upwards of 9,000 feet, mobile patrols through major population centers, and conducted air assaults and direct action raids into heavily defended enemy objectives.^[6]

From March to May 2004 and July to October 2004, the Battalion deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan,^[7]

As of February 22, 2016, 16 Rangers from 2nd battalion have been killed in the War on Terror.^[8] Army Times reported that for actions during their October 2016 to January 2017 deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, 5 Rangers from the battalion received the Bronze Star with "V" device and 5 more received the Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V" device.^[9]

Primary tasks include: direct action, national and international emergency crisis response, airborne & air assault operations, special reconnaissance, intelligence & counter intelligence, combat search and rescue, personnel recovery & hostage rescue, joint special operations, and counter terrorism.

Unit awards and streamers

Memorial erected by the Battalion to mark their time spent in Bude, Cornwall during the Second World War

The 2nd Battalion has earned numerous unit awards and battle streamers.^[10] Among them are:

• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered EL GUETTAR
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SALERNO
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered POINTE DU HOC
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SAAR RIVER AREA
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered MYITKYINA
• Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966–68
• Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM – II CORPS AREA
• Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM – BINH DUONG PROVINCE
• Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM – CAMBODIA FISH HOOK 1970
• Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM – III CORPS AREA 1969
• Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM – III CORPS AREA 1971
• Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM – THUA THEIN-QUANG TRI PROVINCES 1968
• Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered GRENADA 1983
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969–70
• Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered PACIFIC AREA
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Stream embroidered PANAMA 1989
• Valorous Unit Award, IRAQ^[11]
• Valorous Unit Award, AFGHANISTAN^[11]

Notable 2nd Battalion alumni

• First Lieutenant John 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 command Central Command in the second Gulf War. His change in intelligence methods led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. He retired as a General.
• Lieutenant General David Barno, commanded 2nd Ranger Battalion from 1993 to 1994. Later became Commander, Military Operations-Afghanistan.
• Brigadier General James Emory Mace, recipient of Distinguished 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 Colonel Wayne A. Downing was the third Battalion Commander of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, and eventually commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment, and Special Operations Command. He retired as a General.
• Captain Gerald Heaney, World War II, landed at Normandy on the early hours of D-Day, Heaney was one of only three still on the front lines with the Rangers on VE Day. He served for nearly forty years as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
• Captain Robert 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.
• Sergeant First Class Matt Larsen, father of the Modern Army Combatives system, founder of the United States Army Combatives School.
• Second Lieutenant Leonard Lomell, served as platoon leader during the D-Day landings. Was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
• Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, Medal of Honor recipient in the War in Afghanistan^[12]
• Colonel James Earl Rudder, commander of the 2nd Ranger Battalion during World War II, later major general USAR and president of Texas A&M University, led the Ranger assault on Pointe du Hoc on D-Day.
• Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, Medal of Honor recipient sniper who was killed during the Battle of Mogadishu.
• Corporal Pat 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 the Silver Star during Operation Urgent Fury, the first Silver Star awarded since Vietnam, after rescuing fellow Rangers from a downed aircraft while under direct enemy fire.
• General Stanley McChrystal, commanded 2nd Ranger Bat from 94 to 96, later went on to Command US and ISAF forces in Afghanistan
• SFC Jason Everman, musician best known for playing in grunge bands Nirvana and Soundgarden before enlisting in 1994.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2nd Ranger Battalion (United States).

• H Company, 75th Infantry (Ranger) – 2nd Battalion's lineage
• Ranger Assault Group

References

External links

• Brief history since reactivation in 1974
• List of 2nd Battalion Rangers killed
• Photographic history of 1st Cav LRRP Rangers in Vietnam
• 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment – United States Army website

United States Army Rangers
Rangers of British America and the United States Army
British American Rangers	King Philip's War, King William's War, Queen Anne's War Church's Rangers King George's War, Father Le Loutre's War, French and Indian War Gorham's Rangers, French and Indian War Rogers' Rangers; Danks' Rangers, Burke's Rangers American Revolutionary War Butler's Rangers, Queen's Rangers
United States Army Rangers	American Revolutionary War 2nd Legionary Corps Armand's Legion Knowlton's Rangers Whitcomb's Rangers American Civil War 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry (Mosby's Rangers) 7th Virginia Cavalry Marion's Men Loudoun Rangers World War II 1st Ranger Battalion 2nd Ranger Battalion 3d Ranger Battalion 4th Ranger Battalion 5th Ranger Battalion 6th Ranger Battalion Merrill's Marauders 29th Ranger Battalion Modern Rangers Korean War Ranger Companies 75th Ranger Infantry Regiment (Airborne) 75th Ranger Regiment See also Ranger Creed Ranger Memorial Ranger Assessment and Selection Program Ranger School Ranger Tab Rangers Standing Orders RSLC

Further reading

• "Pointe Du Hoc 2nd Ranger Battalion". Small Unit Actions. American Forces in Action Series. United States Army Center of Military History. 1946. CMH Pub 100-14.