After Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, the Department of the Army ordered the activation of the 3rd Battalion. In April 1984, a small cadre arrived at Fort Benning, Georgia, to begin the selection process.
Rangers from all over the world were interviewed, selected and moved to Fort Benning. On Oct. 3, 1984, at York Field, Fort Benning, Georgia, the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable John O. Marsh, presented the colors and activated the 75th Ranger Regimental Headquarters and the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. The activation of the Regimental Headquarters and the 3rd Battalion marked the first time since World War II that such a large Ranger force had been activated.
On Dec. 20, 1989, 3rd Ranger Battalion was committed to Operation Just Cause in Panama. The battalion's successful airfield seizure of the Rio Hato Airfield, its participation with 1st Battalion at Torrijos/Tocumen Airfield and subsequent combat operations contributed significantly to the U.S. victory in Panama.
In August 1993, Elements of Company B, 3rd Ranger Battalion and the Battalion Headquarters deployed to Somalia as part of Task Force Ranger, where on Oct. 3, 1993 -- exactly nine years from the activation of the unit -- they performed a courageous daylight assault and engaged in the most intense ground combat since the Vietnam War. In commemoration of the Rangers who fought and died in Somalia, several members of Company B deployed to Morocco in 2001 to appear in the movie "Black Hawk Down."
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 3rd Ranger Battalion was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On the night of Oct. 19, 2001, components of Companies A and C conducted a daring low-level parachute assault onto Objective Rhino, a desert airfield in southwestern Afghanistan, in order to capture key logistical information. During follow-on missions, company B, 3rd Battalion minus accomplished a successful night parachute assault into Bastogne DZ to secure a desert landing strip in support of a special operations raid.
Due to growing terrorist attacks and terrorism overall throughout the world, President George W. Bush declared war on terrorism, and the Global War on Terrorism campaign begins in the early months of the year 2002. Once again, 3rd Battalion was called upon to fight against terrorism, but this time, it would be to aid in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A few weeks later, company A 3rd battalion and sections of HHC 3rd Battalion carried out a successful parachute assault on H2 Airfield in Western Iraq. On the night of March 31, 2003, Company B 3rd Battalion gained a foothold of the Haditha Dam complex and fought off elements from the Iraqi Republican Guard's Hammurabi Division over the course of the next week.
Want to Know More About the Military?
Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
