Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 27 April 2017
DUI Symbolism
The colors blue, white, red and green represent four of the original six combat teams of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly referred to as Merrill’s Marauders, which were identified by color. To avoid confusion, the other two colors, khaki and orange, were not represented in the design, however, khaki was represented by the color of the uniform worn by US forces in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. The unit’s close cooperation with the Chinese forces in the China-Burma-India Theater is represented by the sun symbol from the Chinese flag. The white star represents the Star of Burma, the country in which the Marauders campaigned during World War II. The lightning bolt is symbolic of the strike characteristics of the Marauders’ behind-the-line activities.
DUI Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 75th Infantry Regiment on 18 March 1969. It was redesignated for the 75th Ranger Regiment on 3 February 1986.
Organized 3 October 1943 in the Army of the United States in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations as the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)
Consolidated 10 August 1944 with the 475th Infantry (constituted 25 May 1944 in the Army of the United States) and consolidated unit designated as the 475th Infantry
Inactivated 1 July 1945 in China
Redesignated 21 June 1954 as the 75th Infantry
Allotted 26 October 1954 to the Regular Army
Activated 20 November 1954 on Okinawa
Inactivated 21 March 1956 on Okinawa
Reorganized 1 January 1969 as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Reorganized 1 July 1984 with Headquarters at Fort Benning, Georgia
Consolidated 3 February 1986 with the former 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion, 2d Infantry Battalion, and 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th Ranger Infantry Battalions (see ANNEXES 1-6) and consolidated unit redesignated as the 75th Ranger Regiment; concurrently withdrawn from the Combat Arms Regimental System and reorganized under the United States Army Regimental System
ANNEX 1
Constituted 27 May 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 1st Ranger Battalion
Activated 19 June 1942 in Northern Ireland
Redesignated 1 August 1943 as the 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion
Disbanded 15 August 1944
Reconstituted 1 September 1948 in the Army of the United States as the 1st Infantry Battalion and activated in the Panama Canal Zone
Inactivated 4 January 1950 in the Panama Canal Zone
After 4 January 1950 organic elements underwent changes as follows:
- Company A redesignated 25 October 1950 as the 1st Ranger Infantry Company and allotted to the Regular Army; activated 28 October 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 1 August 1951 in Korea
- Company B redesignated 2 November 1950 as the 5th Ranger Infantry Company and allotted to the Regular Army; activated 20 November 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 1 August 1951 in Korea
Battalion redesignated 24 November 1952 as the 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion and allotted to the Regular Army (former organic elements concurrently redesignated)
Consolidated 15 April 1960 with the 1st Special Service Force (activated 9 July 1942), the 2d Infantry Battalion (see ANNEX 2), and the 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th Ranger Infantry Battalions (see ANNEXES 3, 4, 5, and 6) to form the 1st Special Forces, a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System
Former 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion, 2d Infantry Battalion, and 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th Ranger Infantry Battalions withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with the 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit redesignated as the 75th Ranger Regiment (remainder of the 1st Special Forces--hereafter separate lineage)
ANNEX 2
Constituted 11 March 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 2d Ranger Battalion
Activated 1 April 1943 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee
Redesignated 1 August 1943 as the 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion
Inactivated 23 October 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
Redesignated 29 July 1949 as the 2d Infantry Battalion (Companies E and F concurrently disbanded)
Activated 15 September 1949 in the Panama Canal Zone
Inactivated 4 January 1950 in the Panama Canal Zone
After 4 January 1950 organic elements underwent changes as follows:
- Company A redesignated 25 October 1950 as the 2d Ranger Infantry Company and allotted to the Regular Army; activated 28 October 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 1 August 1951 in Korea
- Company B redesignated 2 November 1950 as the 6th Ranger Infantry Company and allotted to the Regular Army; activated 20 November 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 1 December 1951 in Germany
- Company C redesignated 27 February 1951 as the 14th Ranger Infantry Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 27 October 1951 at Camp Carson, Colorado
- Company D redesignated 27 February 1951 as the 15th Ranger Infantry Company, allotted to the Regular Army, and activated at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 5 November 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia
- Company E reconstituted 15 December 1950 in the Regular Army as the 9th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 5 January 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 5 November 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia
- Company F reconstituted 15 December 1950 in the Regular Army as the 10th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 5 January 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 15 September 1951 in Japan
Battalion redesignated 24 November 1952 as the 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion and allotted to the Regular Army (former organic elements concurrently redesignated)
Redesignated 14 June 1955 as the 2d Infantry Battalion
Activated 1 July 1955 in Iceland
Inactivated 11 March 1960 at Fort Hamilton, New York
ANNEX 3
Constituted 21 July 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 3d Ranger Battalion; concurrently consolidated with the 3d Ranger Battalion (Provisional) (organized 21 May 1943 in North Africa) and consolidated unit designated as the 3d Ranger Battalion
Redesignated 1 August 1943 as the 3d Ranger Infantry Battalion
Disbanded 15 August 1944
After 15 August 1944 organic elements underwent changes as follows:
- Company A reconstituted 25 October 1950 in the Regular Army as the 3d Ranger Infantry Company; activated 28 October 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 1 August 1951 in Korea
- Company B reconstituted 2 November 1950 in the Regular Army as the 7th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 20 November 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 5 November 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia
- Company C reconstituted 15 December 1950 in the Regular Army as the 11th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 5 January 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 21 September 1951 in Japan
- Company D reconstituted 15 December 1950 in the Regular Army as the 12th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 1 February 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 27 October 1951 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana
- Company E reconstituted 15 December 1950 in the Regular Army as the 13th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 1 February 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 15 October 1951 at Camp Pickett, Virginia
Battalion reconstituted 24 November 1952 in the Regular Army as the 3d Ranger Infantry Battalion (former organic elements concurrently redesignated)
ANNEX 4
Constituted 21 July 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 4th Ranger Battalion; concurrently consolidated with the 4th Ranger Battalion (Provisional) (organized 29 May 1943 in North Africa) and consolidated unit designated as the 4th Ranger Battalion
Redesignated 1 August 1943 as the 4th Ranger Infantry Battalion
Disbanded 24 October 1944 at Camp Butner, North Carolina
After 24 October 1944 organic elements underwent changes as follows:
- Company A reconstituted 25 October 1950 in the Regular Army as the 4th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 28 October 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 1 August 1951 in Korea
- Company B reconstituted 2 November 1950 in the Regular Army as the 8th Ranger Infantry Company; activated 20 November 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia; inactivated 1 August 1951 in Korea
Battalion reconstituted 24 November 1952 in the Regular Army as the 4th Ranger Infantry Battalion (former organic elements concurrently redesignated)
ANNEX 5
Constituted 21 July 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 5th Ranger Battalion
Redesignated 1 August 1943 as the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion
Activated 1 September 1943 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee
Inactivated 22 October 1945 at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts
ANNEX 6
Constituted 16 December 1940 in the Regular Army as the 98th Field Artillery Battalion
Activated 20 January 1941 at Fort Lewis, Washington
Converted and redesignated 26 September 1944 as the 6th Ranger Infantry Battalion
Inactivated 30 December 1945 in Japan
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II
- New Guinea
- Leyte (with arrowhead)
- Luzon
- India-Burma
- Central Burma
- Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead)
- Tunisia
- Sicily (with arrowhead)
- Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead)
- Anzio (with arrowhead)
- Rome-Arno
- Normandy (with arrowhead)
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes-Alsace
- Central Europe
Vietnam
- Advisory
- Defense
- Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase II
- Counteroffensive, Phase III
- Tet Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV
- Counteroffensive, Phase V
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- Summer-Fall 1969
- Winter-Spring 1970
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase VII
- Consolidation I
- Consolidation II
- Cease-Fire
Armed Forces Expeditions
- Grenada (with arrowhead)
- Panama (with arrowhead)
- Somalia
War on Terrorism
- Global War on Terrorism
Afghanistan
- Liberation of Afghanistan
- Consolidation I
Iraq
- Liberation of Iraq
- Transition of Iraq
- Iraqi Governance
- National Resolution
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered EL GUETTAR; (earned by 1st Ranger Battalion)
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SALERNO; (earned by 1st, 3d and 4th Ranger Battalions)
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered POINTE DU HOE; (earned by 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion)
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered NORMANDY BEACHHEAD; (earned by 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion)
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SAAR RIVER AREA; (earned by 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion)
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered MYITKYINA; (earned by 5307th Composite Unit)
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1968; (earned by 5th Special Forces Group)
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2010; (earned by 1st Battalion)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered BINH DUONG PROVINCE; (earned by Company F, 75th Infantry)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM - II CORPS AREA; (earned by Company C, 75th Infantry)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered III CORPS AREA 1969; (earned by Company H, 75th Infantry)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered THUA THIEN - QUANG TRI; (earned by Company L, 75th Infantry)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK; (earned by Company H, 75th Infantry)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered III CORPS AREA 1971; (earned by Company H, 75th Infantry)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered GRENADA; (earned by 1st and 2d Battalions, 75th Infantry)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered MOGADISHU; (earned by 3d Battalion)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2003; (earned by HHC; HHC, Co A and B, 1st Battalion; Co B, 2d Battalion)
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN 2011; (earned by 2d Battalion)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968; (earned by 5th Special Forces Group)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969; (earned by Company G, 75th Infantry)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970; (earned by Company M, 75th Infantry)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered PACIFIC AREA 1972-1973; (earned by 1st Special Forces Group)
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2011; (earned by 1st Battalion, less Co B)