On 5 December 1968, the Chief of Staff, United States Army, approved the activation of the 75th Infantry as the parent regiment for all Department of the Army Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) units and the parenthetical designation (Ranger) in lien of (LRRP) for these units. On 1 January 1969 the 75th Infantry (Merrill's Marauders) was restored to the active roles of the US Army as a parent regiment under the Combat Army Regimental System serving in the Republic of Vietnam.

With this Department of the Army directive, the LRP Company of the 101st Airborne Division, Company F (LRP), 58th Infantry was deactivated and these individuals formed under the new designation as Company L (Ranger) 75th Infantry on 1 February 1969.

The year of 1969 saw the company rise in a degree of professionalism to make it one of the most efficient, accurate intelligence gathering sources in the Division. With the reorganization of the company from F Company (LRP) 58th Infantry to Company L (Ranger) 75th Infantry, the company’s mission became strictly that of intelligence gathering. Freed from duties of security type ambushes, providing security for downed helicopters, and reaction forces as needed by the Division for general security; the company concentrated 100 percent on reconnaissance.

During 1969 the company conducted 310 Long Range Patrols, almost twice the number as the previous year, accounting for 21 enemy killed, and a larger undetermined number killed and wounded from the supporting fires of gunships, artillery and TAC Air directed by the teams.

The enemy was visually encountered and observed by patrols in as many as 100 occasions. Teams directed the fires of gunships and artillery as many as 200 times throughout the year. In addition to the visual sightings the company’s teams continued to provide the Division with an immeasurable amount of information concerning enemy movements and concentrations, along with a vast amount of terrain information such as LZ locations, water sources and the like.

Loss of company personnel due to enemy action was 5 killed and 14 wounded.

The company additionally conducted rappelling and McGuire Rig training for the Division.

When inclement weather forced the closing of the outlying firebases due to re-supply problems, Co L found itself in a new role, that of working sometimes as far as 70 KM from Camp Eagle, depending on 175 Howitzers firing at maximum range for support and fair to poor or no communications.

In summation, Co L (Ranger) 75th Infantry continued to be the eyes and ears of the Division, reporting enemy activities throughout the Division Area of Operations. The Company’s achievement and performance were admirable in every respect.

At a ceremony at Camp Eagle, the Company was presented the Valorous Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism during the period 7 Dec 1969 to 16 Feb 1970.

On 24 November, 1971, Co L (Ranger) 75th Infantry received orders to “stand down”. By 5 December, 1971, the unit was inactivated, bringing to a close the history of Co L (Ranger) 75th Infantry in Vietnam.

The men of this unit accomplished what others only dream of and walked where others have not dared. Our minds and hearts are with those valiant Rangers who died in these battles.

“Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Here am I, send me.”

An abridged history of the Unit. For the full unit history follow this link.