32nd Army Ranger Battalion

"Resist and bite. It was our motto then, it is our motto now. Don't care if its forty men against the blitzkrieg, or our entire force against the covenant. If we are told to hold the line, we will bloody well do it, or die trying."-Major William Maurice, 32nd "Chasseur" Ranger Battalion, 5th Company
== Formation and Inclusion into the UNSC ==
The 32nd Army Ranger Battalion was originally formed in 1933 as the 10th Belgium infantry regiment after the first world war as a light infantry unit by the Belgium Army. They served with distinction over their years of service, becoming legendary during the second world war. They continued to serve Belgium with distinction until 2163 when they, along with most of the worlds militaries, were absorbed into the newly formed UNSC. Here, they were reorganized into the 32nd Infantry Battalion attached to the UNSC Army first regiment. The unit would keep its motto and mascot, even several centuries later. Over the years, the unit would range from a battalion to a full division strong. Eventually it would be attached into the 10th UNSC Army Regiment based on Reach.
== Service History ==
=== Jovian Moons Campaign ===
Joining UN forces as the 10th Infantry Regiment of Belgium (strength of one Battalion), the 32nd was deployed to IO in 2160. There, they operated as a highly mobile raid team against rebel outposts with great success. During the Campaign, the unit only suffered 3 wounded.
=== Rain Forest Wars ===
Joining UN forces as the 10th Infantry Regiment of Belgium (strength of one Battalion), the 32nd was redeployed to South America in 2162. For their part in the rain forest wars, they continued to operate against rebel forces as small independent units and recon teams. During the last month of the conflict, three divisions Frieden forces attempted to make a flanking maneuver against a UN army that was threatening to demolish the last of their main forces. They went west through the mountains using secretly dug tunnels and routes, collecting vehicles and troops from hidden bases and caches along their way. They caught the 15th Korean Regiment by surprise and pushed them into a fighting retreat, but the 15th dug in near the town of Salecia. One of the Divisions stayed to fight the Koreans, while the other two tried to flank. However, standing in their way were the 2nd and 4th companies of the Belgium 10th who were on a R&R break nearby. After hearing radio chatter from the Koreans, the Belgiums secured their positions and prepared. The two companies of the 10th, armed only with their issued weapons, two mortars, and one APC defended the small village of Pisco Genio against two divisions of rebels troops who had obtained several dozen old armored vehicles and other improvised armor and artillery. They held out for three days before UN reinforcements arrived and crushed the last ditch offensive, taking only 21 casualties, with 7 killed and 14 wounded. They caused an estimated 1200-1500 casualties upon the Frieden forces.
=== Interplanetary wars ===
Now integrated into the UNSC as the 32nd Army Battalion, the soldiers were sent to Mars. There, they proved their worth on the ground, being dropped into the fray in early Orbital Drop Pods. They would be redesignated as the 32nd Army Ranger Battalion, continuing to perform raids, recon, ambushes, and other work behind enemy lines.
=== Colonial Era ===
This time was quiet for the 32nd. It eventually found itself a part of the elite 10th infantry regiment on Reach. During this time and beyond, they would still be referenced in military circles by nicknames that refer to their origins as the Chasseur Ardennes.
=== The Insurrection ===
The 32nd was deployed to several worlds to combat growing Insurrection, becoming Infamous among rebel circles for their efficient and lethal nature. They grew to a full size division of 8,540 at this point, at times with detachments being sent on separate assignments in the same or even different systems. Among rebels, they earned nicknames such as the The Pigs, The Blood Thirsty Second, Raider 32, Recon Raiders, and their most famous, The Bloody Boars.
=== Human-Covenant War ===
"I was there that day. We would have lost if they hadn't been. They promised to fight to the last man if needed, and they were ready to. They just about did."-ODST, Lt. Amos Ferend, on the 32nd Rangers and defense of New Porgha
The 32nd Army Rangers participated in many battles during the human covenant war. They greatly distinguished themselves during the Harvest campaign, and the First Battle of Arcadia where a detachment investigating local rebel activity was caught up in the ground invasion of the planet. In January 2551, the entire division of the 32nd was sent to the colony Yalvis IV where they suffered heavy losses, but managed to hold back covenant forces in a rear guard attack to allow UNSC forces to regroup and defend evacuation zones. The 32nd lost over half of its strength. They were sent back to Reach and by June 2552, were back up to full strength with ninety five percent of their ranks being veteran troops. However, one month later, the Invasion of Reach began. While combat initially went well for the 32nd with minimal losses, after the arrival of Thel Vadam and his fleet, all hell broke loose. Records of the 32nd become spotty at this point until their final action in the final days of the battle. UNSC forces defending an evacuation zone in New Porgha reported a battle weary unit arriving with a civilian convoy in tow and the remnants of several other UNSC units. The lead unit, was the battle weary and exhausted remains of the 32nd Rangers. They were reported to be at a little less than one third strength at around 2,800 men, many of them wounded. They had miraculously just broken out of an encirclement 15 miles away from the city. 
From here, the able bodied men dutifully took up defensive positions with other UNSC forces, with the wounded refusing evacuation before civilians. On August 28th, the covenant made a massive push to overrun the defenders. The first lines were overrun, many dying in the chaos. Already wounded members of the 32nd who were further back fought back with sidearms and other weapons lying around them. Commander Heartsworth of the 32nd reportedly told his men "Resist and bite to last man! When the bullets run out, beat them to death with the butt of your rifle!". UNSC forces regrouped and forced back the covenant assault, but at a heavy cost. By the time the last troops evacuated the city along with the survivors of the 32nd, the 32nd had been reduced to 48 men, only 13 of whom were uninjured. They were awarded 47 colonial crosses for their actions during the defense of New Porgha. 40 of them were awarded posthumously, Commander Heartsworth among them.
Upon regrouping at Earth, the 32nd immediately began rebuilding. Due to its near complete decimation, the unit was redesignated as a battalion and remains as such today. Two weeks after arriving at Earth, the battalion was reassigned to the now mostly ad hawk 12th Army group, which mostly consisted of other decimated units including the remnants of the 9th Army group. The 32nd was soon rebuilt to 248 men strong, all of whom were veterans. 
In the forests of Africa, the 32nd was indispensable, directing UNSC forces with intelligence and ambushing covenant forces. When the chain of command broke down in their region and contact was lost, the unit continued conducting guerilla warfare operations independently.
Contact was later re-established with the 32nd by UNSC force in Voi. Here the 32nd would help hold the town until John 117 arrived, then further aiding him in attacking covenant positions when the spartan was tasked with breaking a hole in covenant AA defenses. 
When the flood arrived in Voi, a large portion of the 32nd was miraculously able to fight its way out of the city with the help of Sangheli and other UNSC forces.