2:75th Ranger Battalion

• Heritage from World War II: The 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment traces its lineage to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, which famously scaled Pointe du Hoc on D-Day, June 6, 1944, during the Normandy landings. • Modern Activation: The current 2/75th Ranger Battalion was activated on October 1, 1974, at Fort Lewis, Washington, as part of the post-Vietnam era initiative to restore elite light infantry units. • Special Operations Unit: The 2/75th is one of three battalions in the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite special operations light infantry force under U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). • Operation Urgent Fury: In 1983, the battalion made a combat jump into Point Salines, Grenada, as part of Operation Urgent Fury, securing the airfield and rescuing American citizens. • Operation Just Cause: The 2/75th participated in the combat jump into Rio Hato Airfield in Panama in 1989, helping to oust dictator Manuel Noriega during Operation Just Cause. • Mogadishu 1993: Elements of 2/75th played a crucial role in the Battle of Mogadishu, immortalized in "Black Hawk Down," where they supported the rescue of downed helicopter crews. • Global War on Terror: Since 2001, the battalion has seen continuous deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, conducting direct action raids, airfield seizures, and counterterrorism operations. • First to Deploy after 9/11: Rangers from the 2/75th were among the first U.S. troops to deploy to Afghanistan, leading the airborne assault to capture Objective Rhino in October 2001. • Regimental Motto: The Rangers live by the motto "Rangers Lead the Way," a phrase originally coined during the D-Day landings and a testament to their leadership in combat. • Distinguished Honors: The battalion has produced numerous decorated soldiers, including Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, recognized for valor in Afghanistan in 2008.