VietNam War

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goon175
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VietNam War

Post by goon175 »

Vietnam Era Ranger History

Rangers were again called to serve their country during the Vietnam War. The 75th Infantry was reorganized once more on Jan. 1, 1969, as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System. Fifteen separate Ranger companies were formed from this reorganization. Thirteen served proudly in Vietnam until inactivation on Aug. 15, 1972, which was the longest sustained Ranger Regiment in over 300 years:
• A (Alpha) co - Initially formed in Germany and attached to V Corps and VII Corps, later redeployed CONUS to act as a reserve should they be needed in Europe to fight Soviet aggression.
• B (Bravo) co - Initially formed in Germany and attached to V Corps and VII Corps, and later redeployed CONUS to act as a reserve should they be needed in Europe to fight Soviet aggression.
• C (Charlie) co - 1st Field Forces Vietnam
• D (Delta) co - attached to 3rd aero Squadron, 17th Cav. Formed of cadre from D co, 151st Infantry (a National Guard Unit)
• E (ECHO) co - 9th I.D.
• F (Foxtrot) co- 25th I.D.
• G (Golf) co - 196th Light Infantry Brigade
• H (Hotel) co - 1st Cavalry Division, Airmobile
• I (India) co - 1st I.D.
• K (Kilo) co - 4th I.D.
• L (Lima) co 101st Airborne Division
• M (Mike) co - 199th Light Infantry Brigade
• N (November) co - 173rd Airborne Brigade
• O (Oscar) co - Arctic Ranger at Ft Richard Alaska 1970-1972 under Gen Holingsworth
• O (Oscar) co - 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division
• P (Papa) co - 4th Brigade, 5th I.D. (Mech)
The 75th Infantry Regiment was activated in Okinawa in 1954, related to its predecessors in the 475th Infantry Regiment. They were rooted from the 5307th Composite Provisional Unit, known as Merrill’s Marauders. Historically, Company I (Ranger) 75th Infantry, and Company G (Ranger) 75th Infantry produced the first two US Army Rangers actively serving in combat to receive the Medal of Honor. Texas native Specialist-four Robert D. Law was awarded the first Medal of Honor on a long range patrol in Tinh Phoc Province, RVN serving with Company F, I/75th. Specialist Law, at the age of 24 died jumping on an enemy grenade, fully taking on the blast and saving his comrades. Minnesota native SSG Robert J. Pruden, at the age of 20 serving with company G I/75th in Quang Ngai Province was posthumously awarded the second Medal of Honor for his heroic actions while on a reconnaissance mission that came under heavy enemy fire. In addition to Specialist Law and SSG Pruden, Pennsylvania native SSG Laszlo Rabel, at the age of 31, was on a LRP (long range patrol) in the Binh Dinh Province, where he smothered an enemy grenade with his body to save the rest of his comrades in the 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP). The 74th LRP is a predecessor of Company N, (Ranger) 75th Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.
The change of the 20th,50th,51st,58th,71st,78th LRP Companies , the 79th Infantry Detachment and Company D of the 151st Infantry LPR Indiana National Guard to Ranger Companies of the 75th Infantry began on February 1st , 1969. Companies C and P of the 75th conducted Ranger missions in Vietnam every day for three years and seven months, just like the unit of Merrill’s Marauders where they came from. The 75th Rangers were made of Infantry, Artillery, Engineers, Signal, Medical, Military Police, Food Service, and Parachute riggers. They were joined by former enemies of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, who defected to fight against their former units alongside the Rangers. This was unlike traditional Rangers who trained stateside independent of friendly ally nations. The Rangers of Vietnam were selected and trained during war time, in-country. The training of selected “volunteers” involved the hardest test of men: combat. After a series of combat patrols, they were either accepted or returned to their respective units. Acceptance was based off of their Ranger peers, and upon acceptance they were allowed to proudly wear the black beret on their head and the Ranger Scroll on their shoulder which also showed what company they were from. All of the LRP’s and 75th Ranger companies were granted parachute pay for their active jump status. Modus Operandi for patrol insertion varied, but the helicopter was the main source of insertion and exfiltration from behind enemy lines. The other Modus Operandi was foot, wheeled, tracked vehicle, airboats, Navy Swift Boats and stay behind missions where the Rangers stayed behind as a large tactical unit and then withdrew from the area. False helicopter insertions were used to dissuade enemy trail watchers. The missions usually consisted of the location of enemy bases and lines of communication. Special missions were wiretap, prisoner snatch, Platoon and Company size Raid missions and Bomb Damage Assessments (BDA) after 52-Arc Light missions, which was the code name used for strategic B-52 bomber missions in South East Asia. It should be noted that the main mission of Vietnam Rangers was the Long Range Patrols.
Originally staffed by graduates of the US Army Ranger School and later, with the start of the war, with volunteers who consisted of Recondo School graduates, Line Company cadre, Paratroopers, and Special Forces Trained men. The main force was made up of men who had no chance to make it to the stateside US Army Ranger School.
The Rangers of Vietnam fought in some of the fiercest combat in Army History and frequently were up against enemy forces that greatly outweighed them after being compromised on missions, yet the Rangers overwhelmed the enemy time and time again. Army Chief of Staff Creighton Abrams, who followed the 75th Ranger operations closely, chose the 75th Rangers as his prime example for his training of the next generation of Rangers who were formed in peacetime. The prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers of Vietnam along with the previous Rangers before them gave Chief of Staff Abrams the perfect model to train the best fighting force known to the world, the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Last edited by goon175 on November 11th, 2011, 3:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Ranger Ron »

Very nice project goon175! As my sig line shows, I was in I Co. We were attached to the Big Red One. We did LRRP work in 6 man teams (usually). The majority of our missions were three to four days in length, chopper insertion and extraction, recon work.
SUA SPONTE - "We few, we happy few, we BAND OF BROTHERS;
for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother!"
- Shakespeare

RLTW! - Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave

RS 3-70
SSG VN 69-70
I Co., 75th. Inf.
4/9 Inf., 25th ID

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Slowpoke
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Slowpoke »

Thanks for posting that Ranger goon175. I served in the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade from it's inception in June of 1966 until I went back to the US in May of '67. We were termed a "Provisional Detachment". The 173rd LRRPs later became November Company. While I was there, we operated in the III Corps and southern II Corps Areas.
I never wore a cape, but I still have my dog tags.

Experienced Peek Freak!!

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C/1/506 101st Abn
B/2/325 82nd Abn
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goon175
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Re: VietNam War

Post by goon175 »

Ok so one question I have here...I think I remember reading at some point that there were actually 15 Ranger Companies during the VN war, but only 13 of them ever deployed to RVN...is this true?

Also, what were the names of the companies, I don't think it goes in order of the alphabet? And what divisions were they attached to (I know it was one company of Rangers attached to each major war fighting division).

Based off of slowpoke and RangerRon so far-
I co. - 1st I.D.
N co. - 173rd Airborne
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
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Slowpoke
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Slowpoke »

goon175 wrote:Ok so one question I have here...I think I remember reading at some point that there were actually 15 Ranger Companies during the VN war, but only 13 of them ever deployed to RVN...is this true?

Also, what were the names of the companies, I don't think it goes in order of the alphabet? And what divisions were they attached to (I know it was one company of Rangers attached to each major war fighting division).

Based off of slowpoke and RangerRon so far-
I co. - 1st I.D.
N co. - 173rd Airborne
Ranger Bill and steadfast were with K co - 4th I.D. Cal, Garydolen, and 1FFV were with C co 1FFV

A co and B co were the original LRRP companys ('64ish) and were initially formed in Germany attached to V Corps and VII Corps, and later redeployed CONUS to act as a reserve should they be needed in Europe to fight Soviet aggresssion.

Also, there was no J co because of the phonetic alphabet......no one wanted to be Juliet Ranger. :D

C (Charlie) co - 1st Field Forces Vietnam
D (Delta) co - attached to 3rd aero Squadron, 17th Cav. Formed of cadre from D co, 151st Infantry (a National Guard Unit)
E (ECHO) co - 9th I.D.
F (Foxtrot) co- 25th I.D.
G (Golf) co - 196th Light Infantry Brigade
H (Hotel) co - 1st Cavalry Division, Airmobile
I (India) co - 1st I.D.
K (Kilo) co - 4th I.D.
L (Lima) co 101st Airborne Division
M (Mike) co - 199th Light Infantry Brigade
N (November) co - 173rd Airborne Brigade
O (Oscar) co - Arctic Ranger at Ft Richard Alaska 1970-1972 under Gen Holingsworth
O (Oscar) co - 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division
P (Papa) co - 4th Brigade, 5th I.D. (Mech)
F/51 (Fun fiftyone)- II Field Forces Vietnam
D/151 - Indiana National Guard

The lines between Delta Company and D/151 get a little blurry as does Oscar Companies, both iterations. And F/51 is a whole other story! Created to fill the void left in LRRP operations when the 173rd Airborne moved North to northern II Corps Area...no offence meant to the guys with 1st I.D., 25th I.D., 196th LIB, 199th LIB LRRPs (who worked the same area of III Corp as the 173rd) that's just the way the Commanders saw it! F/51 was deactivated when D/151 was deployed and concidered operational.

Anyone interested in the Unit History of any or all of the Companies can go to the 75th RRA web site and clic on "Units".
I never wore a cape, but I still have my dog tags.

Experienced Peek Freak!!

173rd Abn LRRP...'66/'67
C/1/506 101st Abn
B/2/325 82nd Abn
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CharlieRanger1FFV
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Re: VietNam War

Post by CharlieRanger1FFV »

Thanks for posting, Goon175.


RLTW!!!
Last edited by CharlieRanger1FFV on November 14th, 2011, 12:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Silencium Mortium

B /1/504 82nd Abn 69 - 70
C co (Ranger) 75th (Abn) Inf, II Corps Rangers, 70 - 71 Viet Nam
12th SFG (A) 76 - 78
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Slowpoke »

And we haven't mentioned the Biet Dong Quan who were American Ranger Advisors who were with Vietnamese Ranger units which more closely resembled American Ranger Battalions.

Rangers Jim and Lefty served with the Biet Dong Quan......which took large balls in my opinion!
I never wore a cape, but I still have my dog tags.

Experienced Peek Freak!!

173rd Abn LRRP...'66/'67
C/1/506 101st Abn
B/2/325 82nd Abn
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goon175
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Re: VietNam War

Post by goon175 »

Ok, edited. Standing by for further corrections.
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

1/75 2006 - 2010
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Steadfast
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Steadfast »

Nice work goon175, all.
RLTW
Steadfast

4/325 82d DIV 68-69
2nd Bde HHC (LRRP), 4 ID
K Co (Rgr), 75th Inf (Abn), 4 ID
69-70
I cooked with C- 4
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Ranger Ron »

Slowpokes post may cover all that you want, the 75thrra.com has a lot of history for EACH company. Might find something useful there.
SUA SPONTE - "We few, we happy few, we BAND OF BROTHERS;
for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother!"
- Shakespeare

RLTW! - Land of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave

RS 3-70
SSG VN 69-70
I Co., 75th. Inf.
4/9 Inf., 25th ID

Mentored Ranger kozzman555
http://www.75thrra.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 183
http://www.ranger.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - LM 3537
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Jim »

Slowpoke wrote:And we haven't mentioned the Biet Dong Quan who were American Ranger Advisors who were with Vietnamese Ranger units which more closely resembled American Ranger Battalions.

Rangers Jim and Lefty served with the Biet Dong Quan......which took large balls in my opinion!
Last friday, I and three of my Vietnamese brothers laid wreaths at The memorial to the Vietnamese Ranger and their American Ranger Advisors at Arlington National Cemetery. Photos later.
Ranger Class 13-71
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Kauai »

Aloha Rangers and Veterans

Aside from my introduction, this is my first posting. The nature of this post , and I attempted to use the search feature to see where I may direct my questions, I believe falls within the scope of this thread. I mean no disrespect to anyone so if I have misdirected respond accordingly, and of course apologize if it is to wordy.

My question and how it relates to this thread is as follows : My father and Uncle had both served with the 173rd ABN during the years 66 - 69, and were serving in Vietnam during those years. As told to me by them both, they had enlisted together, Basic and Jump school as well. They both served within the same company I believe while in country, and at some time were assigned to different companies.

My father after being injured for his second time I believe, was then released from active duty. My Uncle however stayed on for a bit longer. My father passed on some years ago, my Uncle there for pretty much raised me. It was not until many years later, while my youngest Uncle was in RIP, that I asked my Uncle if he or my father had ever attended Ranger School. My Uncle then told me that my father had not, yet he did. My Uncle did explained to me that he did not attend Ranger School at Fort Benning, rather that because he was currently in Vietnam at the time, there was an in country Ranger Program which had attended and had served with the LRRP teams while with the 173rd ABN.

This is not a witch hunt, nor attempting to 'Out' anyone, in this case my own family members. I do not think their were any two individuals which had such an impact upon me my entire life. Both damn good men and I have never heard anyone ever speak a bad word against these two. I know for a fact these two never filed a false claim through the VA to gain benefits which they were never entitled to.

My Uncle is getting up in years, and currently is having certain health issues, which may or may not call him earlier than expected. I guess what I am hoping for, is possibly to see if their are any members which can validate what my Uncle described to me and of course if there are any members which know them personally or had served with them. I have no reason to doubt my Uncle, like I said one the most squared away, hard charging and honorable individuals that I have met in my lifetime. I would be beyond happy if any legit members had served with them.

Again I respectfully present this post with the utmost respect and good intentions. If it is accepted, then hopefully I can run a few names down to you all for recognition, if so please advise me the format to do so.

Thank you and with respect for allowing me to register with this Forum and of course hear me out on my quest to continue to honor these two men.
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Jim »

Kauai wrote: while my youngest Uncle was in RIP, that I asked my Uncle if he or my father had ever attended Ranger School. My Uncle then told me that my father had not, yet he did. My Uncle did explained to me that he did not attend Ranger School at Fort Benning, rather that because he was currently in Vietnam at the time, there was an in country Ranger Program which had attended and had served with the LRRP teams while with the 173rd ABN.
Not uncommon, MAC-V RECONDO school was the in-country training course. A fine school. Good training.
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Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
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Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Kauai »

Thank you Ranger Jim for affirming what my Uncle had initally passed on to me.
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Re: VietNam War

Post by Jim »

Slowpoke wrote:And we haven't mentioned the Biet Dong Quan who were American Ranger Advisors who were with Vietnamese Ranger units which more closely resembled American Ranger Battalions.

Rangers Jim and Lefty served with the Biet Dong Quan......which took large balls in my opinion!
I wrote this following the installation of the Vietnamese Ranger Advisor Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/vietna ... morial.htm
Ranger Class 13-71
Advisor, VN 66-68 69-70
42d Vn Ranger Battalion 1969-1970
Trainer, El Salvador 86-87
Advisor, Saudi Arabian National Guard 91, 93-94
75th RRA Life Member #867
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