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.
Constituted 3 October 1943 in the Army of the United States in the China-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
Inactivated 1 July 1945 in China
Redesignated 21 June 1954 as Company H, 75th Infantry
Allotted 26 October 1954 to the Regular Army
Activated 20 November 1954 on Okinawa
Inactivated 21 March 1956 on Okinawa
Activated 1 February 1969 in Vietnam
Inactivated 15 August 1972 in Vietnam
Redesignated 1 October 1974 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 75th Infantry, and activated at Fort 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
ANNEX
Constituted 11 March 1943 in the Army of the United States as Company A, 2d Ranger Battalion
Activated 1 April 1943 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee
Redesignated 1 August 1943 as Company A, 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion
Inactivated 23 October 1945 at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia
Redesignated 29 July 1949 as Company A, 2d Infantry Battalion
Activated 15 September 1949 in the Panama Canal Zone
Inactivated 4 January 1950 in the Panama Canal Zone
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
Redesignated 24 November 195 as Company A, 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion
Redesignated 14 June 1955 as Company A, 2d Infantry Battalion
Activated 1 July 1955 in Iceland
Inactivated 11 March 1960 at Fort Hamilton, New York
Consolidated 15 April 1960 with the 4th Company, 2d Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Special Service Force (activated 9 July 1942), and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces
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)
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
Korean War
- *CCF Intervention
- *First UN Counteroffensive (with arrowhead)
- *CCF Spring Offensive
- *UN Summer-Fall Offensive
Vietnam
- *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)
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
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SALERNO
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered POINTE DU HOE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered NORMANDY BEACHHEAD
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SAAR RIVER AREA
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered MYITKYINA
*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered III CORPS AREA 1969
*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered FISH HOOK
*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered III CORPS AREA 1971
*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered GRENADA
*Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN 2011
*French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, World War II, Streamer embroidered POINTE DU HOE
*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969
*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970-1971
*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971-1972
*Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
Company A additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered IRAQ JUN 2005
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered KUNAR AND NANGARHAR PROVINCES 2010
Company B additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered IRAQ MAR-APR 2003
Company C additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN JUN-JUL 2005