Vietnamese Rangers

941:, but it was probably among the least effective units of this kind. With battalions that could muster only 225-300 men for operations, its performance was desultory at best. The Group's 68th Battalion typified the general lack of combat efficiency characteristic of the other two battalions, and for that matter, most of the 12 RF battalions in Quang Ngai. The 68th was driven from its dug-in positions on Hill 252 in the important Cong Hoa Valley approach to Quang Ngai City-in October by an inferior VC unit. After stalling in attempts to retake the hill, it was sent, somewhat as punishment for failure, to an active area south of Chu Lai. There on the night of 17 December, the 95th VC Sapper Company of 374: 127: 263: 492:. On the morning of 8 December the ARVN began their advance along Route 534 with the 1st Battalion on the left of the road and the 11th Rangers on the right. At 13:30 the Rangers walked into an ambush by the VC 70th Battalion which was overrun within 15 minutes, losing a third of their men, the remainder withdrew and established a defensive perimeter 1.2 km northwest and called for air support. The 1st Regiment was prevented from reinforcing the Rangers by intensive small arms and mortar fire and Marine airstrikes hit the VC positions. Later that day 251: 2328: 85: 109: 730:

until aided by US Cavalry forces. The assault slowly continued on 9 May finding 45 VC dead. On 10 May the 33rd Rangers swept the area around Phú Thọ Racetrack finding 9 VC dead and various weapons and supplies. On 11 May the 38th Rangers continued advancing to the north supported by airstrikes. The VC began to disengage across Saigon and the attack was largely over. The 3/4 Cavalry withdrew from the area and its area of operations was taken over by the Rangers.

870:'s birthday. The attack was broken up by U.S. air support and an ambush by the Airborne. After the attacks of 11 and 12 May the PAVN directed its main efforts to cutting off any more relief columns. However, by 9 June this proved ineffective, and the defenders were able to receive the injection of manpower and supplies needed to sweep the surrounding area of PAVN and by 18 June the battle was over. 25: 357:, operating in interdiction and counter-intelligence roles, and were trained specifically for counter-insurgency and rough-terrain warfare in the region. Ranger Units often had a US Military Adviser attached to these units although operated independently. With improvements in the ARVN from 1969 onward and the growing prestige of the Airborne and Marine Division, depredation had caused the 2191: 2140: 2071: 1959: 1890: 1850: 1816: 1774: 1728: 1687: 1645: 1608: 1581: 1544: 1504: 823:

600 PAVN troops were estimated as killed during the action, casualties in the three-day fight totaled 75 percent of the ARVN battalion. PAVN attention then shifted to Ranger South, where 400 ARVN troops, including the 109 survivors of Ranger North, held the outpost for another two days before General Lãm ordered them to fight their way five kilometers southeast to FSB 30.

839:, defended by one company of Airborne and one of Rangers came under attack by the PAVN 52nd Regiment, the assault was repulsed using intensive tactical airstrikes and the PAVN suffered 353 killed. On 21 April the PAVN launched an assault on Firebase Delta by 3 tanks supported by infantry and by the evening had succeeded in overrunning the base. 916:. On 21 May the 2nd and 6th Ranger Groups supported by armored cavalry and engineer elements began an operation to clear Route 14 from Pleiku to Kontum which had been blocked by the PAVN 95B Regiment near Chu Pao Mountain. The attack was slowed by multiple PAVN ambushes and roadblocks and ultimately halted by the defenses at Chu Pao Mountain. 866:

Vietnamese airstrikes. On 11 May the PAVN 5th and 9th Divisions launched a massive all-out infantry and armor assault on An Lộc, suffering severe losses to airstrikes but further squeezing the defenders. Another assault on 12 May failed to take the city. The PAVN launched a final attack on 19 May in honor of

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tanks. The ARVN held on tenaciously throughout the night. By the afternoon of the 20th, the 39th Ranger Battalion had been reduced from 500 to 323 men and its commander ordered a retreat toward Ranger South, six kilometers away. Only 109 survivors reached Ranger South by nightfall. Although more than

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On 6 May 1968 during the May Offensive the 30th and 33rd Ranger Battalions joined with US Cavalry forces to attack a hamlet west of Phú Thọ Racetrack in Saigon meeting heavy resistance they withdrew and called in air and artillery strikes, on entering the hamlet the next morning they counted over 200

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preparing to mount an attack on the positions of the 37th Ranger Battalion on the eastern perimeter of the base. On the night of 28 February, the base unleashed artillery and airstrikes on possible PAVN staging areas and routes of advance. At 21:30, the attack came on, but it was stifled by the small

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rockets described by their US adviser as "coming in like hail". The Rangers withdrew to allow airstrikes against the VC and assaulted again but were again stopped by heavy fire. On 8 May the 38th Ranger Battalion relieved the 35th Rangers and attempted to restart the advance but made little progress

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arms of the Rangers, who were supported by thousands of artillery rounds and airstrikes. Two further attacks later in the morning were halted before the PAVN finally withdrew. The PAVN, however, were not through with the ARVN troops. Five more attacks against their sector were launched during March.

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Rangers wore a snarling black tiger superimposed over a large yellow star painted in front of their helmets. Many wore a painted black and yellow striping pattern on their helmets. The Rangers also wore brown/maroon berets worn pulled to the left in the French-style with a badge containing a winged

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in 1961 and would become the central Ranger-Biêt Dông Quân-Company and Battalion sized unit training was later established at Trung Lap; to ensure a consistently high level of combat readiness, BDQ units regularly rotated through both RTC's. Graduates of the school earned the Ranger badge with its

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which blocked the avenues for attack on Kontum. Polei Kleng, defended by the 62nd Border Rangers, had been subjected to artillery fire since 24 April, but from midday on 6 May the volume of fire increased dramatically with over 500 rounds systematically destroying the base bunkers and an infantry

454:

to recapture Ba Gia which had been captured the previous day by the VC. The VC first attacked the 2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry and then ambushed the 3rd Marine Battalion as it attempted to support the 2/51st forcing both units to retreat to Phuoc Loc. On the morning of 31 May the VC renewed their

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rockets against PAVN tanks. The second assault on 15 April was also repulsed and the defenders were reinforced by the arrival of the 1st Airborne Brigade and 81st Ranger Group. The PAVN bombarded the town and gradually reduced the defensive line, while all the time being battered by US and South

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strikes, was concentrated on the attacking PAVN. On the night of 7 May the PAVN attempted another assault but were again repulsed suffering 300 killed. On the morning of 9 May the ARVN abandoned the base in the face of a PAVN tank and infantry assault, only 97 ARVN and their dependents reaching

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missiles, thereby breaking up the attack. The Rangers spent the rest of the day stabilising the perimeter ultimately destroying 11 tanks and killing over 100 PAVN. In early May the 2nd and 6th Ranger Groups deployed along Route 14 north of Kontum were replaced by the 45th and 46th Regiments,

1151:. A fourth company was added in 1965. It was reorganized in 1966 as the 81st Ranger Battalion by the "purging of non-Vietnamese" (transferred to Border Rangers or Regional Forces) to make it more "effective". The 81st consisted of six all-Vietnamese companies. It was officially under 408:

were assigned as advisers, initially as members of the Mobile Training Teams (MTTs), at Ranger Training Centers (RTC), and later at the unit level as members of the Military Advisory Command Vietnam (MACV). A small number of Vietnamese Ranger officers were selected to attend the

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A further 33 Ranger Border Defense Battalions also existed in 1973. These were the former CIDG units formed by the Americans and totaled 14,365 men. Border Ranger Battalions were smaller than their Ranger counterparts with 465 men versus the 575 to 650 of regular Rangers.

462:, the 52nd Ranger Battalion was landed by helicopter 3 kilometres south of Đồng Xoài. While the lead company was ambushed by VC suffering heavy losses, the unit pushed on into Đồng Xoài reinforcing the defenders in the camp and repelling several night attacks by the VC. 545:

During 1966, the battalions were formed into task forces, and five Ranger Group headquarters were created at Corps level to provide command and control for tactical operations. The Ranger Group structure was maintained until 1970 as U.S. force reduction commenced. The

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assault by the PAVN 64th Regiment penetrated the perimeter. At 19:00 the two U.S. advisers at the base were evacuated by helicopter. The attack was repulsed and the ARVN continued to hold for a further 3 days during which time U.S. airpower, including gunships and 16

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in Laos to serve as tripwires for any PAVN advance into the zone of the ARVN incursion. On 18 February PAVN forces began attacks by fire on bases Ranger North and South. On 19 February the attacks commenced against Ranger North conducted by the 102nd Regiment,

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Ranger Training Centers conducted tough realistic training that enabled graduates to accomplish the challenging missions assigned to Ranger units. Known as the "steel refinery" of the ARVN, the centers conducted training in both jungle and mountain warfare.

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The 3rd, 5th, and 6th Ranger Groups, all operational in the III Corps area, were grouped together into the Third Ranger Command through which the ARVN attempted to form another division, but the lack of enough heavy weapons prevented this from happening.

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Additionally, during the Vietnamization of the CIDG and MIKE Forces, former CIDG units were namely given Ranger status and organized into groups mostly of 3 battalions each, but they were largely local forces without any special forces capabilities.

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infiltrated the sleeping battalion command post, caused over 50 casualties including the battalion commander and his deputy and carried away an 81-mm. mortar, eight PRC-25 radios, 15 M-16 rifles, five .45-caliber pistols and five binoculars.

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In 1962, BDQ companies were initially formed into counter-insurgency Special Battalions but by 1963 Ranger units were organized into battalions and their mission evolved from counter-insurgency to light infantry operations.

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on the opposite bank killing 80 PAVN with 1 captured for the loss of 7 ARVN dead and 45 wounded. At 20:00 Company H 2/5th Marines ambushed 30 PAVN as they attempted to cross the Song Ky Lam on boats, killing all on board.

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In existence by March 1975 were also the following new formations in the Central Highlands, made up of mainly the former Ranger Border Defense Battalions being now consolidated into Ranger Groups of three battalion each:

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Group, was integrated into the Ranger command. Thus, the Rangers assumed an expanded role of border defense. The conversion of CIDG camps to 37 combat battalions with 14,534 men, more than doubled the Ranger force size.

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At their height in 1975 there were 54 Ranger battalions in 20 Groups. However, only 22 of these battalions, formed in 10 Groups, were actual Rangers while the rest were Border Rangers who were converted over during the

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from 31 January to 2 February 1968 the 3rd Ranger Task Force, consisting of the 35th and 36th Ranger Battalions, provided a rapid reaction force supported by 2 155-mm howitzer battalions located on the southeast of

709:. The operation involved nearly every combat unit in III Corps. The operation was a success with allied forces claiming 7645 VC/PAVN killed, however the operation did not prevent the PAVN/VC from launching their 348:

Rangers were often regarded as among the most effective units in the war. Part of this was due to the specialized role of these units, given that they had their origins in French-raised Commando Units, the

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safety in Kontum. On 9 May, elements of the PAVN 203rd Armored Regiment assaulted Ben Het which was defended by the 85th Border Rangers and the 1st Squadron, 19th Armored Cavalry Regiment equipped with

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area in the Quế Sơn Valley. The Rangers lost 13 killed and 9 missing while the PAVN lost 70 killed. On the evening of 13 September the PAVN attacked the 37th Rangers again and additional ARVN units and

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was defended by the 3rd Ranger Group; the 5th Division (less one battalion); Task Force 52 (2nd Battalion, 52nd Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment), 500 men; as well as

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to replace the 11th Rangers. The operation concluded on 20 December, the Marines had lost 45 killed, the ARVN 90 killed and 91 missing and the VC 407 killed and 33 captured.

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in the An Hoa basin, Quảng Nam Province against the PAVN/VC Base Area 112. ARVN losses were 100 killed and 378 wounded, PAVN/VC losses were 1,398 killed and 29 captured.

1012: 329:, they later expanded into a swing force capable of conventional as well as counter-insurgency operations, and were relied on to retake captured regions. Later during 1223:

remarked in 1974 that the ARVN as a whole were the third-best trained army in the free-world and second only to the Israelis in counter-insurgency, with the Rangers,

1155:(LLDB) command and not that of Ranger Command. It was actually under the direct control of Project DELTA although two companies were made available to the LLDB. 1002:

There were Ranger liaison platoons of 45 to 52 men assigned to each ARVN Corps/CTZ headquarters. They were supposed to ensure the "proper use" of the Rangers.

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Previously 81st Ranger Battalion (Airborne). Officially upgraded to Groups status, but actually just an overstrength single battalion with 6 rifle companies.

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Ranger courses were established at three training sites in May 1960: Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Song Mao. The original Nha Trang Training course relocated to

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The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History, 2nd Edition [4 volumes]: A Political, Social, and Military History

1213: 964:. The Rangers successfully defended the camp and the 7th Ranger Group with other ARVN units attacked PAVN base areas in Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia. 455:

attacks capturing Phuoc Loc and attacking the 39th Rangers inflicting heavy casualties. Total South Vietnamese losses were 392 men killed and missing.

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with the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 51st Regiment and the US 1st Marine Division against PAVN/VC base areas on Go Noi Island southwest of Da Nang.

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were issued to the 22 original Ranger Battalions, including one unit whom earned three total citations from two different presidents. See

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and People's Self-Defense Forces (PSDF), about 2,000 men. The initial attack on the town was repulsed by airpower and skillful use of

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which had its headquarters there successfully defended the headquarters and other key facilities in the Bien Hoa-Long Binh complex.

2963: 2472: 1016: 968: 334: 361:-based Rangers to become manned by deserters, released convicts and Montagnards nevertheless the unit continued to operate in the 404:

began in earnest, the Vietnamese Rangers were formed. Rangers (Biet Dong Quan ) initially organized into separate companies with

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4th Ranger Group: 42nd, 43rd and 44th Ranger Battalions – Chi Long (initially in the 44 Tactical Zone and later the IV Corps)

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From 28 August to 10 December 1974 the 15th Ranger Group together with the 3rd and 51st Regiments, 1st Division fought the

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from 31 January-11 February 1968 the 30th, 33rd and 38th Ranger Battalions were all involved in the fighting. During the

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From 18 July to 4 October 1974 the 78th Ranger Battalion and 12th Ranger Group, together with 3rd Division, fought the

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Forsaken Warriors: The Story of an American Advisor who Fought with the South Vietnamese Rangers and Airborne, 1970-71

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From 5 January to 30 May 1971 the 74th Ranger Battalion and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted operations in the

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in a move more for political than tactical reasons. In late February, ground sensors detected the PAVN 66th Regiment,

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reaction force. Formed on 1 November 1964 as the 91st Airborne Ranger Battalion and consisted of three companies of

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were airlifted to support them. By dawn the PAVN disengaged leaving 49 dead while the Rangers has lost 15 killed.

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took over the military advisory role, the school was converted to a Ranger school in 1956. In 1960, when the

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The Rangers wore all the uniforms that the ARVN wore, however they were known for their tightly tailored

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From 30 October to 10 December 1973 the 21st Ranger Battalion together with the 23rd Division fought the

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In late December 1964 elements of the 29th, 30th, 33rd, 35th and 38th Ranger Battalions took part in the

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2870: 2632: 899: 806: 780: 761: 605: 601: 342: 311: 2835: 2830: 801:

From 8 February to 25 March 1971 the 21st and 39th Battalions of the 1st Ranger Group participated in

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the 21st and 37th Ranger Battalions trapped a PAVN unit in a bend of the Song Ky Lam River with the

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the 39th Ranger Battalion was part of a task force with ARVN 2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry Regiment,

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United States Army in Vietnam Combat Operations Staying the Course October 1967 to September 1968

750: 531: 410: 190: 2865: 2780: 477: 942: 927: 698: 473: 432: 2925: 2895: 2840: 2700: 2690: 2055:"U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Command History 1972, Annex K. Kontum, 1973. MACV" 1383: 2885: 2775: 2735: 2579: 2569: 2121: 1797: 1599: 1336: 802: 706: 589: 585: 1356: 1261: 851: 262: 46: 2905: 2890: 2730: 2725: 1148: 961: 843: 616: 612: 493: 2855: 2720: 2705: 1626: 1525: 725:, were ordered to attack VC positions to the north. They were met by heavy fire including 8: 2810: 2750: 2670: 1754:

Shulimson, Jack; LtCol. Leonard Blasiol; Charles R. Smith; Capt. David A. Dawson (1997).

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arrow in a wreath was worn over the right ear. This beret was also worn by American and

953:, successfully defeating PAVN efforts to expand their logistical network from Cambodia. 2715: 2695: 2660: 2564: 2559: 2544: 2309: 1871: 985:

forcing the PAVN back from hills overlooking Highway 1 and from which they could shell

904: 772: 620: 574: 550:(CIDG) situated along the Laotian and Cambodian borders, formerly under control of 5th 425: 319: 315: 194: 156: 152: 2755: 1485: 957: 2655: 2637: 2539: 2213: 2178: 2127: 2100: 2029: 1981: 1946: 1916: 1909: 1877: 1803: 1761: 1715: 1674: 1632: 1568: 1531: 1491: 1429: 1389: 1362: 1267: 975: 798:

from 25–30 May 1971 resulting in 37 ARVN killed and 74 missing for 1043 PAVN killed.

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On 10 September 1967 the 37th Ranger Battalion encountered a PAVN force north of the

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From 20–21 October 1965 the 22nd and 96th Ranger Battalions assisted in lifting the

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VC dead. On 7 May the 35th Ranger Battalion, who had established a cordon with the

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and integrated as Border Battalions responsible for manning remote outposts in the

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6th Ranger Group: 35th, 51st and 54th Ranger Battalions – Biên Hòa (III Corps/CTZ)

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5th Ranger Group: 30th, 33rd and 38th Ranger Battalions – Biên Hòa (III Corps/CTZ)

1036:

3rd Ranger Group: 31st, 36th and 52nd Ranger Battalions – Biên Hòa (III Corps/CTZ)

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From 18 July to 7 August 1974 Ranger units fought the PAVN 304th Division in the

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Hell in An Loc: The 1972 Easter Invasion and the battle that saved South Vietnam

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on 25 February a two Battalion Ranger task force recaptured the Gia Hoi sector (

1288:"Memories of Vietnam: Fighting alongside a well-led unit of Vietnamese Rangers" 1033:

2nd Ranger Group: 11th, 22nd and 23rd Ranger Battalions – Pleiku (II Corps/CTZ)

1030:

1st Ranger Group: 21st, 37th and 39th Ranger Battalions – Da Nang (I Corps/CTZ)

832: 791: 779:(Total Victory) three Ranger battalions and other ARVN forces crossed into the 504: 330: 299: 142: 1409: 2957: 2549: 2327: 2302: 2195: 2144: 2075: 1963: 1894: 1854: 1820: 1778: 1732: 1691: 1649: 1612: 1585: 1562: 1548: 1508: 1144: 710: 691: 673: 660: 652: 378: 271: 114: 894: 581:'s Operation Union II in the Quế Sơn Valley against the PAVN 2nd Division. 1705: 749:

From 7 December 1968 to 8 March 1969 the 1st Ranger Group participated in

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From 26 May to 7 November 1969 the 37th Ranger Battalion participated in

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with the ARVN 6th Regiment, 2nd Division and in coordination with the US

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which was fighting the PAVN 24th Regiment near the village of Toumorong,

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light infantry force by removing the fourth company each of the existing

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7th Ranger Group: 32nd and 85th Ranger Battalions – Saigon, attached to

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held out against a prolonged PAVN siege before finally being overrun.

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Combat Operations: Taking the Offensive, October 1966 to October 1967

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9th Ranger Group: 91st and 92nd Ranger Battalions – Formed in 1974–75

1054:

8th Ranger Group: 84th and 87th Ranger Battalions – Formed in 1974–75

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the 34th and 36th Rangers drove out a VC force occupying the town.

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advisers, the Vietnamese Rangers infiltrated beyond enemy lines in

2249: 2247: 570:, near Saigon. Total VC losses were over 1200 killed or captured. 2194: