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75th Ranger Regiment 1st Battalion
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Recognizing the need for a highly trained and mobile reaction force, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Creighton Abrams, in the fall of 1973, directed the activation of the first battalion-size Ranger unit.
eadquarters, Forces Command, issued General Order 127, directing the activation of the 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry, with an effective date of January 31, 1974.
Selection continued from March through June 1974, as personnel assembled at Fort Benning, Ga., where cadre training was conducted. On July 1, 1974, the battalion parachuted into Fort Stewart, Ga., where the battalion was stationed until moving to Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., September 1978.
The modern Ranger battalions were first called upon in 1980, as Company C, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry participated in the Iranian hostage rescue attempts. The groundwork for special operations capability of today was laid during training and preparation for this operation.
Rangers and other special operations forces from throughout the Department of Defense developed tactics, techniques, and equipment from scratch, as no doctrine existed anywhere in the world. The combat effectiveness of the battalion led to its deployment to Grenada, October 25, 1983; along with 2D Battalion 75th (Ranger) Infantry to rescue United States students of the True Blue Medical Campus and restore democracy.
The change of the 75th Infantry to the 75th Ranger Regiment occurred March 1986 when the 75th Ranger Regiment received the World War II and Korean War Lineage and Honors consolidated and assigned, which caused the battalion to be re-designated as 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
On Dec. 20, 1989, the entire 75th Ranger Regiment along with 1st Battalion was again committed to combat operations in "Operation Just Cause." 1st Battalion's successful seizure of the Airfield at Torrijos/Tocumen Airport and its subsequent operations contributed significantly to the United States victory in Panama.
From February 12 to April 15 1991, Company B, and 1st platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. They conducted one critical raid and provided a quick reaction force in cooperation with allied forces. The performances of these Rangers significantly contributed to the overall success of the operation. In September 1994, 1st Battalion deployed to the USS America (CV-66) in support of Operation Uphold Democracy, Haiti.
In December 2001, after the terrorists attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, elements of Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Company A deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In 2002, the entire Battalion returned to Afghanistan where they participated in Operation Anaconda, seeing action in the Battle of Takur Gar, also known as Roberts Ridge.
In 2003, 1st Battalion participated in combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Battalion conducted missions across the entire country of Iraq. The Battalion along with Task Force elements distinguished itself during the successful rescue of prisoner of war, Private-First-Class Jessica Lynch.
At the end of 2003, the Battalion deployed again, this time sending elements of the Battalion to both Afghanistan and Iraq. The Battalion deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom until 2010. 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment continues to deploy in support of contingency operations around the world.