2nd Ranger Battalion ( United States ) The 2nd Ranger Battalion is a special operations light infantry unit of the United States Army that is currently based at Joint Base Lewis - McChord south of Seattle , Washington , United States . The 2nd was formed when the battalion was reactivated in 1974 and serves to this day as a battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment . History . World War II . On 1 April 1943 the 2nd Ranger Battalion was formed at Camp Forrest , Tennessee , along with the 5th Ranger Battalion . Both battalions were officially activated in September 1943 and shipped to Great Britain where they were prepared for Operation Overlord as part of six Ranger battalion s of the Second World War . On 6 June 1944 , Dog , Easy , and Fox Companies , commanded by Lt . Colonel James Rudder , landed at Pointe du Hoc from LCA landing craft and specially modified DUKW " Ducks " operated by the Royal Navy . The 225 Rangers had set off from Britain to launch an assault upon the cliffs overlooking the English Channel . In order to over - strength the 2nd Battalion , members of what was formerly the 29th Rangers were assigned as well . Unfortunately , several landing craft containing Rangers and supplies capsized in the stormy waters and many Rangers drowned due to heavy equipment , but others were saved and hoisted into other DUKWs to participate in the attack . The Rangers had planned to land at the base of the cliffs at 0600 hours , however , because of a navigational error , they landed nearly an hour late . This cost the lives of more Rangers as well as the element of surprise . During the attack , the 190 remaining Rangers scaled the cliffs utilizing rope ladders , but only 90 Rangers were still able to bear arms after two days of relentless fighting . During the assault , 2nd Battalion managed to disable a battery of 155mm French artillery captured by the Germans , which was their primary objective . These guns were to be aimed at Utah Beach , however , the Rangers prevented their use , saving countless American lives on the shores of Normandy . Meanwhile Able , Baker and Charlie Companies landed along with the 5th Rangers , the 1st Infantry Division and the 29th Infantry Division at Omaha Beach . They suffered heavy casualties but were able to complete their D - Day objectives . The 2nd Rangers were later involved in the Battle for Brest and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest where they led the assault on Hill 400 , Bergstein . The battalion was deactivated after the war together with the 5th and 6th Battalion . Modern . The 2nd Ranger Battalion was reactivated on October 1 , 1974 as an elite combat unit eight months after 1st Ranger Battalion . The modern Ranger battalions are strategic assets , prepared to conduct missions short - notice worldwide . In 1984 the battalion became part of the newly formed Special Operations Command , 75th Ranger Regiment . The 2 / 75th participated in Operation Urgent Fury in October 1983 . During the invasion of Grenada , the 2nd conducted a daring low - level parachute assault ( 500 feet ) , seized the airfield at Point Salines , rescued American citizens at the True Blue Medical Campus , and conducted air assault operations to eliminate pockets of resistance . In December 1989 the battalion took part in Operation Just Cause . The 2nd and 3rd Ranger Battalions and a Regimental Command and Control Team , conducted a parachute assault onto the airfield at Rio Hato , to neutralize the Panamanian Defense Force rifle companies and seize General Manuel Noriega ' s beach house . Following the successful completion of these assaults , Rangers conducted follow - on operations in support of Joint Task Force ( JTF ) - South . The Rangers captured 1 , 014 Enemy Prisoners of War ( EPW ) , and over 18 , 000 arms of various types . The Rangers sustained 5 killed and 42 wounded . Recently , in October 2007 , D Company was added to all 3 Battalions of the 75th Ranger Regiment . Lineage and honors . In 1972 Company H , 75th Infantry ( Ranger ) - - - the most decorated and longest serving LRRP / Ranger unit in continuous combat - - - attached to the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam , was deactivated at Fort Hood , Texas . However , in 1974 its colors were reactivated and its lineage passed to HHC 2nd Ranger Battalion . Unit Awards and Streamers . The 2nd Battalion has earned numerous unit awards and battle streamers . Among them are :