Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 26 March 2013
DUI Symbolism
The colors blue, white, red and green represent four of the original six combat teams of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), commonly referred to as Merrill’s Marauders, which were identified by color. To avoid confusion, the other two colors, khaki and orange, were not represented in the design, however, khaki was represented by the color of the uniform worn by US forces in the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. The unit’s close cooperation with the Chinese forces in the China-Burma-India Theater is represented by the sun symbol from the Chinese flag. The white star represents the Star of Burma, the country in which the Marauders campaigned during World War II. The lightning bolt is symbolic of the strike characteristics of the Marauders’ behind-the-line activities.
DUI Background
The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 75th Infantry Regiment on 18 March 1969. It was redesignated for the 75th Ranger Regiment on 3 February 1986.
Organized 3 October 1943 in the Army of the United States in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations as an element of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)
Consolidated 10 August 1944 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 475th Infantry (constituted 25 May 1944 in the Army of the United States), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 475th Infantry
Inactivated 1 July 1945 in China
Redesignated 21 June 1954 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Infantry
Allotted 26 October 1954 to the Regular Army
Activated 20 November 1954 on Okinawa
Inactivated 21 March 1956 on Okinawa
Redesignated 1 January 1969 as Company N, 75th Infantry
Activated 1 February 1969 in Vietnam
Inactivated 25 August 1971 in Vietnam
Consolidated 3 February 1986 with former Company B, 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion (see ANNEX), and consolidated unit designated as Company N, 75th Ranger Regiment
Redesignated 10 March 2006 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment (organic elements concurrently constituted)
Battalion activated 16 October 2007 at Fort Benning, Georgia
ANNEX
Constituted 27 May 1942 in the Army of the United States as Company B, 1st Ranger Battalion
Activated 19 June 1942 in Northern Ireland
Redesignated 1 August 1943 as Company B, 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion
Disbanded 15 August 1944
Reconstituted 1 September 1948 in the Army of the United States as Company B, 1st Infantry Battalion, and activated in the Panama Canal Zone
Inactivated 4 January 1950 in the Panama Canal Zone
Redesignated 2 November 1950 as the 5th Ranger Infantry Company and allotted to the Regular Army
Activated 20 November 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia
Inactivated 1 August 1951 in Korea
Redesignated 24 November 1952 as Company B, 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion
Consolidated 15 April 1960 with the 2d Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Special Service Force (activated 9 July 1942), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces
Consolidated 30 September 1960 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group (constituted 14 June 1957 in the Regular Army and activated 24 June 1957 in Japan), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces (organic units concurrently constituted and activated 4 October 1960)
Group inactivated 30 June 1974 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Activated 1 September 1984 at Fort Lewis, Washington
Former Company B, 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with Company N, 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit designated as Company N, 75th Ranger Regiment (remainder of 1st Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces -- hereafter separate lineage)
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II
- New Guinea
- Leyte (with arrowhead)
- Luzon
- *India-Burma
- *Central Burma
- *Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead)
- *Tunisia
- *Sicily (with arrowhead)
- *Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead)
- *Anzio (with arrowhead)
- *Rome-Arno
- Normandy (with arrowhead)
- Northern France
- Rhineland
- Ardennes-Alsace
- Central Europe
Korean War
- *First UN Counteroffensive
- *CCF Spring Offensive
- *UN Summer-Fall Offensive
Vietnam
- *Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- *Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- *Summer-Fall 1969
- *Winter-Spring 1970
- *Sanctuary Counteroffensive
- *Counteroffensive, Phase VII
- *Consolidation I
War on Terrorism
- Campaigns to be determined
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered EL GUETTAR
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SALERNO
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered POINTE DU HOE
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered NORMANDY BEACHHEAD
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered SAAR RIVER AREA
*Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered MYITKYINA
*Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1951
*Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
*Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1971