2nd Ranger Battalion flash

2nd Battalion,
75th Ranger Regiment

Lineage & Honors

Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 27 April 2017

Distinctive Unit Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
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