by Anselmos "Sam" Rodriquez
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| History of VII LRRP CO (ABN) by Anselmos "Sam" Rodriquez |
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| The VII Corps LRRP Co. (ABN) was one of the first two Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Companies authorized at Army level.� The other was attached to V Corps.� It was activated at 7th Army in W. Germany on 09 June 1961, and was formed at Nellingen, West Germany.� The first company Commander was Maj. Maltese and the first First Sergeant was 1SGT Winston E. "Patty" Flynn.� | |||||||||||||||||
| The company was initially designated the U.S. Army 3780 Long Range Recon Patrol Company, and came under Headquarters VII Corps Special Troops in Stuttgart, Germany for Administration and court martial jurisdiction, and worked directly for VII Corps G-2.� | |||||||||||||||||
| �VII Corps LRRP (ABN) was never an interim, provisional or TD unit. It was the first full-fledged LRRP Company.� It had the largest area of responsibility for the deepest penetration, up to 150 Km behind enemy lines.� Known informally as the Jayhawk LRRPs, the company motto on its crest was "Eyes Behind the Lines."� The company had the largest number of personnel of the LRRP outfits in Europe. It was also a fully contained outfit. Other than the personnel sent off to train on SADM emplacement, it had the facilities to train all its personnel in CW and all the field requirements of LRRP operations.� Under the Command of its second CO, Maj. Hunt, the VII Corps LRRP developed and perfected aspects of Long Range Recon Operations that are still in use today.� Many of these techniques were incorporated into the first Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Field Manual (FM 31-16). | |||||||||||||||||
| The Mission of the company was Battlefield Surveillance and Target Acquisition in the area under the influence of VII Corps.�� The company would also later be used for special missions of infiltration that included Team placement of T-4 Atomic Demolition Munitions and locating enemy targets for Tactical Nuclear Delivery Systems. | |||||||||||||||||
| In 1963 the company was given the mission to provide foot patrols along the Czech Border, along with the 2nd ACR. These patrols were able to get closer to the border than the vehicle bound 2nd ACR. These patrols were able to provide valuable intelligence to the VII Corp G-2. | |||||||||||||||||
| On 15 May 1965, the unit was re-designated, Company C (LRP) 58th Inf. ABN, and continued the same mission and remained at Nellingen�� Barracks, Nellingen, West Germany. | |||||||||||||||||
| In 1968 the Army began a massive pullout from Europe code named Operation Reforger� (Redeployment of Forces Germany), and Company C (LRP) 58th Inf. ABN. Was relocated to Ft. Riley, Kansas. While at Ft. Riley, Kansas, the Company was re-designated, Company B (Rangers) 75th Infantry (ABN), and was then relocated to Ft. Carson, Colorado. The company was administratively assigned to the 4th Inf. Div, 2nd Bn.17th Cav. for all administrative support. While there, the company still maintained its mission for VII Corp G-2 and VII Corp remained the unit's parent Headquarters.� The unit maintained its mission proficiency by making parachute jumps onto Ft. Carson with both Air Force aircraft and Army aircraft, and practicing patrol techniques in the Pike National Forest. | |||||||||||||||||
| IIn 1972, under the command of Capt. Kenneth Kubasik, the unit was ordered to take part in Operation REFORGER II, The unit deployed to Germany.� After a short briefing to the VII Corp Command and Staff as to the unit?s capabilities, the unit was sent into the field where it performed every mission superbly. | |||||||||||||||||
| In June 1974, under the command of Capt. Wetzel the company was relocated to Ft. Lewis, Washington.� Shortly after arriving there, the unit was used as the nucleus for the 2nd Bn. 75th Rangers on 1 Nov 1974. | |||||||||||||||||
| Today the modern Rangers of the 75th Ranger Regiment continue the traditions of being the premier fighting element of the active Army. They still hold to the standards and traditions that the LRRP companies set in the beginning. | |||||||||||||||||
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