75th Ranger Infantry Regiment (Airborne) - History

History

On 1 January 1969, as part of the U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), the U.S. Army Rangers were re-organized in Vietnam as the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger). Fifteen Ranger companies were recruited from long range reconnaissance units in Europe since the late 1950s, and in Vietnam since 1966, as long range patrol companies. The genealogy of the new Rangers descended directly from Merrill's Marauders, the 5307th Composite Unit, effective on 1 February 1969.

In Vietnam, the Rangers were converted from Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (or "Lurp") units recruited and trained in-country since 1966. The companies were designated C through I and K through P. There was no "J" Ranger Company; this is so there would be no confusion with the similar "I" (or India) designation on typed paperwork. Companies A and B were kept stateside as a strategic reserve in case they were needed overseas in Europe or the Americas.

Each independent company was attached to a Division or Separate Brigade. Rangers in Vietnam conducted long range reconnaissance behind enemy lines. They collected intelligence, planned and directed air strikes, acted as conventional operations force multipliers, assessed bombing damage of enemy territory, executed night and day ambushes, and sniper attacks.

Additionally, Rangers attempted recovering friendly prisoners of war, captured enemy soldiers for interrogation, tapped the wire communications of the North Vietnam Army and the Viet Cong on the Ho Chi Minh trail, and mined enemy trails and roads.