On 29 June the entire company made a raid to locate an enemy aid station. On January 2, 1967 Captain James and Lt. Ronald Hall moved to the LRRP Camp Site. When the war finally ended with the fall of Saigon in 1975, most of the Ranger leaders were considered too dangerous by the communist government, and sentenced to long periods of incarceration in the dreaded reeducation camps. As an example, General Do ke Giai, the last commander of Ranger forces, spent more than 17 years imprisonment for his fervent anti-Communist resistance. The Indiana Adjutant General was able to retain most of the Airborne qualified personnel and formed two long range patrol companies. As night approached the Rangers led combined elements to a safe PZ. Most times, the brigade LRRP teams were used as forward scouts for brigade assaults. Then, he proceeded to purchase several million dollars worth of Berets from Communist China in violation of US law. His experiences as both a combat veteran and as a Ranger instructor set very high standards for the unit. No expended US brass was found in the ONH. The teams discovered recent signs of infiltration throughout the area. After a briefing by II Field Force Intel Officer, in which the company was told that the only true information was bodies, equipment, and documents. . 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). The Detachment participated in Operations Attleboro, Wheeler, Wallowa and Junction City penetrating and patrolling into War Zone C of I Corps. They displayed outstanding bravery in retaking LZ Baldy from the NVA Force sent to destroy the men with the bounties on their heads. During interrogation, a captured NVA officer stated he was trained in China and ordered to destroy the Rangers due to the disruption of their routes of movement from North Vietnam into Laos and their re-entry into South Vietnam. The NVA has never cast off its preferred tactic of terror against a defenseless population. The ranger scouts grappled with the enemy in a series of sharp clashes. This produced extremely qualified personnel well able and motivated to do the dangerous missions of the Rangers. Most of us were Ranger tabbed. Team Leaders were usually graduates of & U. S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia or combat experienced non-commissioned officers. Each team member performed a variety of tasks as assigned by the team leader. In mid November 1970 Company C was attached to the 17th Aviation Group, and it remained under either aviation or 173rd Airborne Brigade control for most of the remaining duration of its Vietnam service. 3. Team Kenya suffered 2 US KIA and 2 US WIA but maintained tactical integrity for 45 minutes until the Aero-rifle platoon of Charlie Troop 2/17 Cav came to reinforce them. 50th Infantry 1917 Since we were under FIELD FORCE command along with LRPing for IIFF, they would assign us to other units, such as 199th LIGHT INFANTRY BRIGADE, and 3rd BRIGADE 101st AIRBORNE (when they first arrived in-country). Learn more Size Primary color Add your personalization (optional) Enter the name you would like added to your purchase. Another team, under the leadership of Sgt. Here the emphasis was placed upon reconnaissance and surveillance of roads and trails through out the area. The beret had been denied the Rangers primarily because of senior officer opposition to further distinctions between unit paratroopers. Several members were sent TDY for special schools, including Radio school and Ranger school. To increase the effectiveness of this platoon a new concept has been formulated by Captain Friedrich (promoted 17 November 1966), and is planned to become operational the first quarter of 1967. Claymore mines were spread in front hopefully in the direction of the enemy. On high alert in the night darkness, the eyes of men with painted faces watched and waited for any miscalculation or laxity in secure movement by the NVAand make them pay. It became apparent in the early months of the Brigades deployment that a far ranging ground reconnaissance element was needed to gather intelligence on the enemy. Sixty missions were being performed on a monthly basis. The teams had to twice swim rivers to get into their Area of Operations (AO). The quiet allowed the senses to notice so much: the sudden snap of bamboo growing pains a jet-like wines of mosquitoes, dive-bombing flies, and butterflies alighting on the guns; the darkness so black that the only visible light was the luminous glow of decaying leaves. The word Reconnaissance is somewhat misleading because missions were often combat in nature stemming from the desire of patrollers and commanders to do more than just look. Effective 2 February 69, the unit continued to operate. It was not a well thought out plan and it was not successful. The new Company Commander was Captain Gary F. Bjork a graduate of both Airborne and Ranger Schools. The white star represents the Star of Burma. J.D. SSG Bob Schroeder was the NCOIC of the detachment during this interim period and directed the units deployment on the FTX. Ranger units were deployed by helicopter far ahead of American forces. Eventually, dedicated radio relay teams would be raised within the LRRP and Ranger Companies. The unit was originally billeted with troops of the 2d Squadron of the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment. In the last days of the war, the BDQ fought to the end, units totally destroyed in battles from the North to Saigon, many of the Ranger units fought back independently against orders refusing to surrender bloodying the advancing Communist forces. Ranger, therefore, has been returned to the role it was initially intended to signify intelligence gathering. Example: In 1946, after Ho Chi Minh established his troops in Hanoi, there were two indigenous Vietnamese sects in Viet Nam which, because they were also fervently anti-Communist, represented a threat to Hos plans. The Comintern or Third International, was founded in Moscow in 1919 to coordinate world communist aggression. Campbell was the communication Sgt and later would become the operations sgt. Rangers can reconnoiter and assault any target, on any terrain, in any climate, at any time, day or night. By employing gunships and small arms fire the Rangers killed the enemy and engaged another platoon size enemy force. At An Loc, Ranger, ARVN and Regional Force units stopped four NVA Divisions, reinforced with armor and artillery in what was probably one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War. Operations against the enemy were begun immediately with division reconnaissance principally mounted from bases in the Binh Duong Province at Di An, Phu Loi, Lai Khe, and Phuoc Vinh (Phuoc Long Providence). March also brought a new aspect of Ranger operations to the forefront. Guy 19 Jul 69- 20 May 70 Reorganized 1 January 1969 as the 75th Infantry (Ranger), a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System . To Naamon Grimmetts web site that is linked to by going to military.com unit pages and going to F Co INF ABN LRSC for the inception of F/51st and their lineage to Vietnam. Attention to other details also raised morale in the unit. The Department of the Army officially authorized the formation of Company F, 50th Infantry Detachment (LRP) on 20 December, 1967. . Since their presence had been detected they were extracted at 1450 hours. The consolidation of the Division LRRP assets was to give better support to the three different Infantry Brigades spread out within the Division Area of Operations (DAO). Inspections, on the other hand, were performed in the company area. Today, the modern Rangers of the 75th Ranger Regiment continue the traditions of being a premier fighting element of the active army. At that time the Rangers numbered only 25-30 personnel. During the Vietnam War K Company (RANGER), 75TH Infantry (Airborne) was on the active roles of the United States Army from 1 February 1969 to 10 December1970. Patrick Downing. The main prerequisite for service in F/51st was that every volunteer was to be Airborne qualified. Non-airborne and airborne personnel were required to attend training. Elements of Company B, and 1st Platoon Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, deployed to Saudi Arabia, Feb. 12, 1991 to April 15, 1991, in . By late 1970, & PAPA Company Rangers found their missions to be centered more in the Khe Sahn Plain. Its primary missions included providing close in ambushes and daily clearing of the road connecting Camp Eagle and Highway 1. During the following months, the unit lost several team members as a result of direct action battles. Rangers from Company M were know to patrol in two man teams, however the six man Ranger team was standard and a twelve man heavy team was used for combat patrols in most instances. By spring, 1970, the 4th relocated its headquarters to Camp Radcliff, near An Khe, and again went on the offensive during the Cambodian cross-border incursion in May and June of 1970. Under the command of Americal Division Commander, Major General Samuel W. Koster, the 196th LRRP Detachment was deactivated as a Brigade asset on 2 November 1967. One heavy contact was made by Ranger Team Forrest, led by Sgt Lambert (Gloves), when the rangers discovered an enemy base camp. Most Green Berets are Ranger qualified. The General saw what his men could do, and he knew that, given the proper support and good missions, they could do even more. Captain Bjork and 1SG Whitcomb instituted a fair rotation of teams to help teach training with the new Company Recondo School. K/75th Rangers would provide the Division with a long range capability unmatched, at the time, in modern warfare. Only after arriving in Vietnam did the unit find out that they would be replacing another Long Range Patrol company that was being dismantled. The LRPD also conducted important military intelligence tasks for the Mobile Riverine Force within the Mekong Delta. On 1 January 1969 the 75th Infantry (Merrills Marauders) was restored to the active roles of the US Army as a parent regiment under the Combat Army Regimental System serving in the Republic of Vietnam. The Battlefield in Vietnam was abandoned, not lost. On 30 November 1968, Major General Donn R. Pepke assumed command of the 4th Division. The largest operation of the month was when 2d platoon walked into the mountains on a nine day operation. The unit was again awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer embroidered Vietnam 21 January 69 31 August 69. Later that evening the team observed 1 NVA crawling toward their position and dispatched his with small arms and grenades resulting in another NVA KIA. The rangers were known as Echo Rangers or Riverine Rangers, because they mostly dealt with riverine and canal reconnaissance even though the company was only partially assigned to the Mobile Riverine Force. On January 7, 1967, Christopher was handed a coordinates and with that he established all the necessary requirements of a mission in his AO which included an overflight of the selected Landing Zone. THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS AND ACTIVITIES OF K COMPANY(RANGER), 75TH INFANTRY (AIRBORNE), 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION, REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM During the Vietnam War K Company (RANGER), 75TH Infantry (Airborne). Fifteen separate Ranger companies were formed from this reorganization. The provisional 'Go-Devil" Ranger company, also known as the separate 3rd Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division, formally established as an independent unit on 26 July 1969, was unaffected by this paper ruse. Combined LRRP Units Roster Unit Roster The men on this roster are some of the bravest men that served in Vietnam. Plt. The concept was sound, and it was proven on the battlefield in Viet Nam: They changed the very nature of waragain. THE LONG RANGE PATROL: PENETRATE DEEPER, STAY IN LONGER. His replacement as First Sergeant was a SSG Turner who was assigned to the unit from Division HQ. Was reduced to zero strength on 24 September and officially deactivated effective 12 October 1970. On 1 February 1969, the department of the Army reorganized the 75th Infantry as the parent regiment for long-range patrol companies under the combat arms regimental system. However, without formal approval of a LRRP capability, Ray and Stotsers beliefs were dead in the water, unless of course, the Pentagon would approve a LRRP concept for the Air Cavalry. Allocations to Nha Trang and length of training time encouraged the formation of a 25th Division Recondo School which quickly brought volunteers to a workable patrol knowledge level. For the 1/506 Inf, six Ranger teams were employed in the flat and piedmont region south and west of FSB Jack. 3. Their native expertise in the mountains, on the trails, and in the ways of the Jungle, plus their experience fighting the NVA a skill previously demonstrated under MG Peers command, was again employed to good effect. Therefore, they remained on station until the mission was terminated. L Co along with Delta Troop 2/17 Cavalry, made a raid along Rt 548, a wire cut on an NVA communications line, and left a platoon size element, led by LT. (Gray Hog) Sawtelle, for an ambush. After two days of continuous air strikes, gunships, and artillery on the enemy positions, along with another US company committed to the battle, the enemy still refused to give ground. In March 67, Lt. Hall began gathering a Montagnard Tribe, (Rhades) which he set up west of Ankhe in their own camp. Today, the modern Rangers of the 75th Ranger Regiment continue the traditions of being the premier fighting element of the active army. Pruitt SSgt. Delta Troop 2/17 Cav was inserted next to relieve the pinned down Ranger Team. This kind of close support with the air cavalry has been the key to success in many Ranger operations. In addition to running 31 regular reconnaissance missions during July, Company L (Ranger) graduated three classes of ARVN HAC BAO from specialized training which it conducted. Optimally, Ranger teams were inserted by staging a phony insertion or two along with the real one. disbanded in 1943, the Comintern was replaced by the Cominform (Communist Information Bureau,1947 to 1954), in which only the Russian Soviet, the ruling East European communist parties (Yugoslavia was expelled in 1948), and the French and the Italian communist parties were represented. The nature of warfare had changed. Then he was briefed by Capt Jim James. Most of Company Is (the Divisions) Area of Operations was densely populated, especially near Saigon and the Saigon River, The population density gradually decreased towards the north, going towards the central highlands inhabited by the Montagnard tribesmen. It conducted no less than 662 combat operations and was also accredited with 322 confirmed enemy kills, 106 enemy wounded in action, and 53 prisoners of war. They interviewed and screened the records of 130 volunteer soldiers and selected the best 40. Constant personnel turnover plagued K/75th Rangers as much as it had E/58th (LRP) and all the other units in Viet Nambut the Ranger mission was so specialized and multi-tasked (communications skills, proficiency at map reading, proficiency at directing air strikes, proficiency at using artilleryand so on) that when a teammate or team leader rotated out of the unit, the loss was acutely felt. As could be expected, operational deficiencies surfaced on some of the missions, but these were dealt with. Decembers weather proved to be no better than November but with occasional breaks the Ranger Company was able to complete 10 missions with emphasis on the Khe Sahn plains (Vietnamese Salient Area) and eastern Ashau Valley region. The teams worked throughout the Division AO in the areas west of Hue and Camp Eagle all the way out to the A Shau Valley and south to the 85 east-west grid line and north to the 30 east-west grid line. Obviously, some higher ups had to justify us being there. Echo Company 51st was also accredited with training the Reconnaissance Element of the 2nd ARVN Division during 1968. Only three Rangers LRRPs received the Nations highest medal while assigned to these type units. The rangers were known as Charlie Rangers in conformity with C in the ICAO phonetic alphabet. The team continued to receive a heavy barrage of small arms and two mortar rounds went off on the LZ. The 1st Cavalry was not an Infantry Division, it was an Air Cavalry Division and second, the 9th Cavalry Squadron was the eyes and ears of the 1st Cav Division so it was generally felt that a LRRP capability wasnt necessary. This is what Pol Pot accomplished so efficiently in Cambodia in 1975 1978. In all, 19 Silver Stars, 175 Bronze Stars, 86 Army Commendation Medals, 120 Air Medals, 110 Purple hearts, 19 Indiana Distinguished Service Crosses, and 204 Indiana Commendation Medals were awarded. The division operated primarily in the lowlands south of Saigon, the Rung Sat Special Zone, and the Mekong Delta. The unit was consolidated with the assets and soldiers of the deactivated 11th Infantry Brigades 70th Infantry Long Range Patrol Detachment in December 1967, as Long Range Recon Patrol Detachment (Airborne) LRRP-D(A). At the same time, each of the 4th Divisions three maneuver Brigades (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) were authorized a 62 member Reconnaissance Platoon (LRRP). K Company, 75th Infantry GuestBook. Unlike National Socialism (Nazism) which passed away with the Third Reich, egalitarian socialism (the soft word for the brand of communism achieved by a more gradual approach) maintains its presence in various forms in all Western nations and carries influence among opinionmakers that defies logic. In a setting that combined classroom instruction in the science of ballistics, shooting, camouflage and stealth, and with an abundance of live fire range time, Rangers were trained to engage individual targets at long range at night and in daylight. The company began extensive operations in the Ba Long Valley area and operated a forward base at Dong Ha and later Quang Tri. Volunteers to the unit arrived with different styles of uniforms depending on what was being worn by the unit they recently departed. However, because the 101st Airborne Division had just recently arrived in-country and was facing the monumental job of establishing itself, both in a semi-permanent location and as a well functioning fighting team, Company F, 58th Infantry, better known as the Division LRRPs, was called on to perform numerous functions other than long range patrolling and it was not until 4 May 1968 that the first long range patrol was conducted. After the Vietnam War, remnants of the 13 companies of the 75th Ranger Infantry Regiment formed the nucleus of the first permanent Ranger unit in American History: 1st Battalion (RANGER), 75th Infantry (Airborne); Colors pass in review at activation ceremony and parade, 1 July 1974, at Fort Stewart, Georgia. Ranger Team Cubs, led by SGT Georgia Peach Duran, which was on radio relay for the platoon conducting the ambush on Rt 548, made contact with a large enemy force in reinforced bunkers. The assigned officers served as the Commander, Executive Officer and Operations Officer. As a consequence of this esprit de corps, the unit was extremely cohesive, and in this regard would have been a good subject for a case study in small unit leadership, i.e., unit members were motivated to accomplish the mission because of positive, as opposed to negative stimuli. In previous phased drawdowns servicemen were sent home if they had less than four months remaining in country; Big Red One Rangers were sent for action with other units in Vietnam. Upon deployment to Southeast Asia, the 3d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division (Separate) included no standard ground patrolling components, Col. Bolling authorized his three Battalion Commanders to form ad-hoc reconnaissance/security elements as they were required. CPT Bjork also had the largest rappelling tower in Vietnam built for their training it was ninety feet high. 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