II Field Force Vietnam Rangers

HURRICANE PATROLLERS [Company F (Long Range Patrol), 51st Infantry (Airborne)]

Company F (Long Range Patrol), 51st Infantry (Airborne) was activated on 25 September 1967 and assigned directly to II Field Force Vietnam. Recon personnel of the company were known as "Hurricane Patrollers" after the signal code word "Hurricane" favored by the II Field Force Vietnam headquarters. Company F was placed under the helicopter-equipped "Red Horse" 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, for aerial support. On 8 December 1967, Company F were formally paired up with the "Silver Spur" Troop A of the 17th Cavalry "Red Horse" squadron. The combination gave the patrollers responsive helicopter support as well as backup contingents of aero-riflemen. The force provided support to the 199th Infantry Brigade and the newly arriving 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, through January 1968.

On 18 July 1968, Company F and its air cavalry troops were assigned to a reconnaissance task force that included the South Vietnamese 36th Ranger Battalion and aerial Troop D from the 17th Cavalry "Red Horse" squadron. The joint "field force recon regiment" performed reconnaissance-in-force operations that screened the vital Long Binh - Bien Hoa military installation east of Saigon. The task force was bolstered during August 1968 with the Special Forces 1st Battalion of the 3rd Mobile Strike Force Command, as well as the 11th Armored Cavalry's tank Company D and mechanized Troop E.

On 26 December 1968, Company F was officially deactivated, although it continued to function until 15 February 1969 training its replacement, Company D (Long Range Patrol) of the 151st Infantry.

INDIANA RANGERS

Company D (Long Range Patrol) of the 151st Infantry was the only Army National Guard infantry unit to serve in Vietnam. [It operated between February and October 1969. There is no mention of any relationship with the 3/17th Air Cavalry. Company D (Ranger), 75th Infantry replaced it in late 1969 - ed.]

DELTA RANGERS

Company D (Ranger), 75th Infantry was formed on 20 November 1969. On 1 December 1969 the new ranger company was placed under the operational control of the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry. The company was given the mission of providing corps-level ranger support to II Field Force Vietnam.

On 8 February 1970, ranger Company D was released from the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, and placed under the operational control of the 199th Infantry Brigade. The Delta Rangers continued operating in southwestern War Zone D and the eastern Catcher's Mitt area. On 18 March, ranger Company D returned to direct II Field Force Vietnam control; it was employed to sweep the Nhon Trach district and train recon members of the South Vietnamese 18th Division.

At the end of March 1970 the Delta Rangers ceased operations and commenced stand-down procedures. Company D (Ranger), 75th Infantry, was officially deactivated on 10 April 1970

Source: Shelby L. Stanton, "Rangers at War - LRRP's in Vietnam", New York, NY, 1992, pp.217-231