Post RVN thru Pre- 9/11

Discussing the history of Army Rangers.

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goon175
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Post RVN thru Pre- 9/11

Post by goon175 »

Abram’s Own
The Pentagon became concerned with the Us Army’s ability to move well trained infantry forces anywhere in the world quickly and strategically after the Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur War ended in 1973. The Chief of staff General Creighton Abrams issued a charter to create battalion sized Ranger units which would be the first since WW II. The first would be 1st Ranger Battalion.
“Hoodlums or brigands” were not to be in General Abrams’ battalion for it was to be the best, no matter where they went. General Abrams hand-picked these men and selected their missions. He thought that having such elite soldiers who could “graduate” from Ranger units to Regular Army units would set the example for the other soldiers, eventually improving the entire Army. 1st Battalion (Ranger) was activated on January 25th, 1974 with the effective date being January 31st, and they parachuted into Fort Stewart, Ga. on July 1, 1974. The original home of the 1st Battalion was Fort Stewart, GA, but later moved to Hunter Army Airfield (HAAF) in Savannah, GA, between 1978 and 1979. The men from Company A, 75th Infantry of the 1st Cavalry Division were initially transferred to 1st Battalion, along with their equipment to man the battalion. On December 19th, 1974 Company A was inactivated, while the new battalion was assigned the heritage of the Vietnam era Ranger Company C.
2nd Battalion was activated on October 1st, 1974 and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. The men of Company B, 75th Infantry Division (Mech) were moved to the new battalion, and inactivated as of November 1st, 1974. 2nd battalion was assigned the heritage of the Airmobile Ranger Company H, 75th Infantry Regiment.
Desert One
A militant mob following Ayatollah Khomeini stormed the American Embassy in Tehran on November 4th, 1979. Col. Charlie A. Beckwith “Chagrin’ Charlie”, a hardened Ranger and Special Forces veteran of Korea and Vietnam, was put in charge of conducting an operation to rescue the remaining 53 captives.
President Carter authorized the rescue mission on April 24th, 1980. A group made up of 130 men, consisting of 1st SFOD-D, Rangers, drivers and translators was to be inserted into the Iranian desert by a crew of 50 pilots and air crewmen. They were to reach “Desert One” in Iran, a secret landing strip 256 nautical miles from the hostages in Tehran, which was to be secured by the Rangers and used to refuel and meet up with 8 Sea Stallion RH-53 helicopters from the U.S.S. Nimitz, stationed in the Arabian Sea.
The helicopters were to depart prior to dawn, with the 120 man assault force and arrive at “Desert Two”, a remote mountain hideaway, while the remaining Ranger security element and aircraft would sterilize and return. Later that evening, the assault force at Desert Two would depart in trucks and vans to storm the American Embassy compound in Tehran at about 2300. About forty minutes after the assault began, helicopters would arrive to take the freed hostages and the assault force from either the American Embassy compound or a nearby soccer stadium.
This is how the plan was supposed to work in theory. April 24th, a large portion of the GAF (ground assault force) departed to Mesirah Island, then to Desert One, and then boarded upon two C-141’s. This GAF included a detail of Rangers from C Company, 1st Battalion. On the way from U.S.S Nimitz at 1930, maintenance problems caused one of the eight Sea Stallions to abandon and another to abort and return to the ship.
Rangers were deployed at Desert One to secure the roads around the site while support personnel were getting ready to receive the helicopters from the U.S.S Nimitz. The Rangers encountered multiple unknown vehicles including a bus, a fuel truck and a pickup truck, that were suspiciously moving towards the site. The bus was fired up and secured, while the fuel truck was set ablaze by a Ranger antitank rocker. The driver from the fuel truck escaped in the pickup through a hail of Ranger fire.
The helicopters arrived, being an hour and a half late and the last 2 aircraft suffering from crippling mechanical failure, the mission was aborted, and the new task was to close up Desert One and get everyone back to Egypt. At 0200, a helicopter pilot refueling his aircraft with a C-130 became disoriented and crashed into the refueling plane, creating a huge fireball in the night. Many men, risking their lives rushed into the burning C-130 to save any survivors. Five Air force crewmembers perished in the flames, along with three Marines.
The remaining helicopters were immediately abandoned leaving the entire assault force to load on to the two C-130‘s. Equipment was jettisoned to make room for the extra men, while leaving behind secret documents, weapons, communications equipment, and five serviceable helicopters along with the 53 hostages.
This hostage recovery attempt was one of the first assignments to Rangers and other Special Operations units and provided a guideline to developing the tactics, techniques and equipment used today since there was no prior doctrine existing anywhere in the world.
Grenada
General Abram’s foresight combined with his decision and the Ranger Battalions extreme effectiveness in combat was displayed by their deployment to Grenada on October 25-27th, 1983. The mission of the Rangers was to keep American civilians safe and to retake the island to institute democracy on the island. There were no military maps to go off of, nor any tactical military intelligence to back up the mission planning. The planning was based off of an outdated British 1:50,000 square foot tourist map of the area. The mission’s code name was “Urgent Fury,” and involved 1st and 2nd Battalions executing a 500 foot, low-level parachute assault and performing an air field seizure at Point Salinas; while also rescuing American civilians at the True Blue Medical Campus and performing air assault operations to eliminate all resistance by the enemy. 1st Battalion was assigned and executed the Point Salines Airfield and the rescuing and securing of hostages at True Blue, while 2nd battalion was assigned the taking of Pearls Airport and hunting down the enemy by air assault. Though the Rangers didn’t know about the anti-aircraft or the heavy weapons the enemies possessed, they were able to perform successfully and take their objectives quickly and accurately. There were eight Rangers KIA, and almost 90 percent of the Rangers were wounded or injured in some way along with helicopters that took heavy enemy fire and had to crash land. Operation Urgent Fury was then, and still considered an extremely well executed and successful operation by Ranger Battalion,
Due to the successful mission in Grenada, the Department of Army expanded the Ranger force with another battalion and a Ranger Regiment Headquarters in 1984, the largest increase of Rangers in 40 years. 3rd Battalion and Headquarters Battalion were the official add-ons to the existing fighting force and were reinstated October 3, 1984 at Fort Benning, GA. The ceremony for the reinstatement was both for the future Rangers and the past Rangers, which involved the first reunion of Korean War Era Rangers. Both serving and retired Rangers came to show their support and respect of the decision to expand the Ranger force and the Korean War Rangers with their lineage and honor were consolidated and assigned by tradition to the 75th Ranger Regiment. This was the first time an organization of that size was recognized as the parent headquarters of Ranger Battalion.
Operation JUST CAUSE (Panama)
Operation JUST CAUSE, the code name for the United States invasion of Panama occurred on December 20th, 1989 under President George H. W. Bush. The aim of the mission was to capture Panamanian dictator, General Manual Noriega and bring him to the US to face drug smuggling charges. Secondary, however, was the objective of setting up a democratic government. Due to the complex and sensitive nature of the mission, America applied overwhelming combat force. The US had long-standing relations with Panama and several bases located there so it was imperative that the task be completed quickly and effectively to rebuild friendly relations with the nation.
The Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) commanded by Major General Wayne A. Downing, was organized into smaller task forces: TF RED (Ranger Regiment), TF BLACK (Army Special Forces), TF WHITE (SEALs and Special Boat Units). TF RED was the largest component of the Joint Special Operations Task Force. It consisted mainly of the 75th Ranger Regiment, but was reinforced by contingents of the Air Force Special Tactics teams and Marine Corps/Naval Gunfire liaison troops. Close air support aircraft was also provided by AH-6 attack helicopters, AC-130H gunships, AH-64 Apaches and F-117A fighter-bombers, the task force was to perform two simultaneous airborne assaults at H-Hour (0100 on 20 December 1989). One contingent would parachute onto the Omar Torrijos International Airport complex, while another would drop onto Rio Hato airfield.
Omar Torrijos International Airport was the main international airport serving Panama, and the adjoining Tocumen military airfield was the home base of the Panamanian Air Force. Capturing Torrijos/Tocumen was crucial to the JUST CAUSE campaign plan because it would enable the 82nd Airborne Division to come into the country, while preventing the Panamanian Defense operations. The Torrijos/tocumen complex formed a target area approximately six kilometers long and two kilometers wide.
The TF RED commander, Colonel William F. “Buck” Kernan, gave the mission of capturing Torrijos/Tocumen to 1st Battalion, 75th Regiment, commanded by LTC Robert W. Wagner. The Rangers had a tight schedule to seize this complex- about 45 minutes, as an airborne brigade was schedule to drop then.
LTC Wagner’s plan called for the helicopters and AC-130H to attack the PDF positions at H-Hour, just prior to the Ranger parachute assault. After parachuting in, Company A would seize the Panamanian Air Force compound and destroy the aircraft, Company C, reinforce with a Platoon from Company B, would seize the 2nd PDF compound and destroy the PDF Company. The rest of Company B, reinforced with 12 gun jeeps and 10 motorcycles, would clear both runways and establish blocking positions to prevent other PDF forces from interfering with the battalion’s operation. Finally, 3rd Battalion would clear the smaller building area near the Torrijos terminal, isolate the terminal building, then enter the terminal building and destroy PDF resistance there.
The attack commenced at 0100. Due to the other units having attacked 15 minutes early, however, PDF forces were aware of the Ranger airdrop before it began. Even so, at 0103, the first jumpers from Company A landed receiving only sporadic fire and secured all of their objectives within two hours after capturing virtually the entire Panamanian Air Force on the ground. The Company captured about 20 Panamanian Air Force personnel hiding in one of the hangars. Company B also landed on target and quickly secured its blocking positions. Company A received only sporadic enemy fire and took some prisoners. The biggest problem Company B had was with Panamanian vehicles ignoring its warning signs and barricades and trying to run its blocking positions. Generally these vehicles turned around and fled after the Rangers fired warning shots, but one vehicle had to be disabled by shooting out its tires, one of the vehicles that fled from warning shots contained Manuel Noriega who had been visiting the Cereme Military Recreation Center. Company C assaulted the barracks of the PDF’s 2nd Company and received ineffective enemy fire; they quickly cleared the area killing one PDF soldier who had refused to surrender. Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was to secure the international air terminal, and this proved to be the only portion of the assault on Torrijos/Tocumen that was significantly more difficult than expected. First one-fourth of the company landed in ten-foot tall cunna grass to the west of the runway and took two hours to join the main body; the depleted Company C had no trouble securing its objectives outside the terminal building, though. The 3rd platoon seized the fire station on the north side of the terminal and then received fire from the second floor of the terminal. In the end, the Rangers were successful in seizing Torrijos/Tucumen complex with minimal collateral damage and captured 1,014 Enemy Prisoners of War (EPW), and over 18,000 arms of various types. The Rangers sustained four KIA.
Desert Storm
Elements from Company B and 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment deployed to Saudi Arabia from February 12, 1991 to April 15th, 1991. The Rangers worked together with Allied forces to conduct pin-point raids, in support of Operation Desert Storm. The Rangers involved in these operations contributed significantly to the success, and upheld the proud Ranger traditions of the past, without taking any Ranger casualties throughout the operation.
Somalia
The Rangers’ mission in Somalia beginning in early 1993 was to support the United Nations aid to the starving population and in the process, eliminate clan fighting between the chaotic factions. The focus of their attention was the city of Mogadishu, where the fighting was especially chaotic. The violence reached its pinnacle on October 3rd-4th. The Rangers were assigned the task of conducting a daylight raid in which they were to kill or capture several key clan leaders under Mohamed Farrah Aidid.
The mission commenced at approximately 1300, when due to intelligence provided by a Somali agent, it was discovered that a number of Aidid’s lieutenants would be meeting that afternoon. The mark was a house with a flat roof along one of the only paved roads in the city. Just three blocks were of the house was the Bakara Market, the most heavily armed region of Mogadishu. This area was known by soldiers as “The Black Sea” and was referred to as real “Indian country”. The assault force was formidable and consisted of seventy-five Rangers and forty SFOD-D soldiers onboard an air fleet of sixteen helicopters. The SFOD-D and Ranger assault force would be inserted by four MH-6 and six MH-60 Black Hawks with four AH-J6 little birds providing close air support.
Being that the helicopters could not land, forty SFOD-D Soldiers would insert in front of the building and six Rangers in the rear to create a secure perimeter by fast rope. The significant amount of dust kicked up by the helicopters produced a huge visibility problem. The mission’s precious cargo, twenty-four prisoners, including the two primary men they had sought, had been quickly captured and the Ranger twelve-vehicle ground convoy was called at the twenty-minute mark to make its way to their location from their hold position approximately 200 meters from the objective. As the ground convoy picked up the prisoners in front of the building, enemy fire began to gain intensity. A convoy of three vehicles was dispatched with an injured Ranger to make its way back to the airfield.
The situation spiraled out of control when an RPG struck the tail of a Black Hawk, known as Super 61, hovering above causing it to crash, killing the pilot and leaving the five others inside injured. The task force quickly implemented three contingency plans: provide cover nearby CSAR Black Hawk, Super 68, deploy the main body of Task Force Ranger from the objective to the crash site, and alert the Quick Reaction Force from the 10th mountain Division to deploy from its location at the Somali National University to the Mogadishu Airport, from where it could launch to support CSAR missions.
Only eight minutes after the first helicopter was hit, as was a second carrying fifteen members of a CSAR unit fast-roping down to help. The wounded bird was fortunately able to make its way back to an airfield three miles away.
When the Rangers and SFOD-D soldiers were finally able to make their way to the crash site after a three block run through a hail of enemy fire, it was discovered that the remains of the pilot were trapped inside. Over head, Super 64 had been directed to take super 61’s orbital spot over the target area when it, too, took and RPG round to the tail. Within minutes, the rotor failed and the aircraft plummeted to the ground 1500 meters from Super 61’s location.
After several requests, it was finally approver that two NCO snipers, Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, could be inserted to try to alleviate the mounting situation. Everyone, including the two men, knew this was a mission they likely would not return from. Even so, Armed only with a sniper rifle and pistols, the two men went in to set up a defensive perimeter and secure the site until further help could arrive. Both men received Medals of Honor for their heroic efforts.
As casualties continued to mount, a major QRF of 425 men led by 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division and augmented by Pakistani M-28 tanks and Malaysian Armored Personnel Carriers was finally able to deploy at 2324 after a number of unsuccessful attempts by smaller elements. Strung out in a convoy of seventy vehicles and hit within five minutes of its departure, the relief force slugged its way through any obstacles and enemy fire, inflicting and taking casualties along the way. The frequency and violence ambushes increased markedly as the two-mile long convoy neared the crash site.
At the release point, the convoy split into the two main 10th Mountain companies. A Company continued to move north to the super 61 crash site where they were finally able to establish link up with the embattled Rangers at 0155. C Company moved west to the Super 64 site where they made a sweep of the wreckage but found no survivors or bodies. It would be another four hours before the pilot’s body in Super 61 could be extracted. Even then, the nightmare of the engagements was not over for many to remain demounted for lack of vehicle space, once again braving intense enemy fire as they made their way back down the streets of Mogadishu.
The raid officially came to a close around 0700 on 4 October with the return of the final Task Force Ranger and Quick Reaction Force (QRF) elements. The battle is consider being the fiercest ground combat since the Vietnam War. At the end of it all, six Rangers died during the mission and the Somali death toll was never determined, but numbers range between 600 and 1,000.
"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

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StephanT
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Re: Post RVN thru Pre- 9/11

Post by StephanT »

Fascinating, brings back a lot of memories. I was in Co A, 75th Inf, 1st Cav Div, from Aug 72 -Dec 74. A very memorable time, which shaped/formed my remaining 18 yrs in the U.S. Army. Times I will never forget!
Stephan A. Thompson
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Jim
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Re: Post RVN thru Pre- 9/11

Post by Jim »

StephanT wrote:Fascinating, brings back a lot of memories. I was in Co A, 75th Inf, 1st Cav Div, from Aug 72 -Dec 74. A very memorable time, which shaped/formed my remaining 18 yrs in the U.S. Army. Times I will never forget!
Your initial post should have been an introduction in the appropriate introduction thread. Please comply or risk being banned.
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