1. Mike Palacios, Bob Arnold,
Juaquin Cruz, Dave Schreffler, Phil Earnest. Members of First Platoon recovering
after 2 plus weeks of patrolling the Honduran-Nicaraguan border. As one Ranger
stated, " Honduras, we came, we saw, it killed our butts". The Cold War was
still on and Honduras was part of the US effort to counter the Sandinista regime
in Nicaragua. This was the last deployment that the Vietnam era M16A1 rifle was
used before being replaced by the M16A2.
2. First Platoon practices
casualty evacuation procedures. Dave Morrison, Cody Button, Dean Foston, Sean
McDonald, Matt Sonner.
3. James Pippin is holding the
casualty as it is quickly lowered down an incline.
4. Rangers conducting winter
warfare training at Huckleberry Creek, Washington.
5. First Platoon at Yakima,
Washington. Yakima approximately 150 miles South East of Tacoma, Washington.
6. Mike McCally and Dave Morrison
goofing off.
Jim Winslow, 2/75th, 1975-77
Fort San Lorenzo, Panama 1976
This is a picture of the 2nd Ranger Battalion
standing in formation on top of
Fort San
Lorenzo, Panama in 1976.
Matt Sonner, C Co, 2/75th, 1986-1989
Staging out of McCord Air Force Base, Wa. Matt Sonner, Dan Taylor, Gavin Graysen, John Donnelly, Dean Foston.
Ranger School Graduation, July 1987. That is my brother Dave on the left and my Mom on the right. I weigh only 140 pounds after losing 40.
Operation Celtic Cross, Ft Ord, Ca. Validation of the 7th Infantry Division.
Panama 1988. Mike McCally holding map and joking about being lost. We met in Airborne School and were good friends while in "2nd Batt".
The plaque on the 23mm twin barrel anti-aircraft gun in the foreground lists the Rangers killed during the invasion of Grenada in 1983.
Fort Sherman, Panama which is located on the Atlantic side of the Canal. Taken from the back of a CH-53. One awesome helicopter.
Panama Canal. Next to Rock Star Bob Dylan's wrecked sailboat. Someone had a good imagination. Cody Button, myself, Dan Taylor, Mike McCally.
A jungle environment can be rough on a Soldier. My last Hooah picture before leaving the Army and going back to Ohio State University.
2nd squad, 1st Platoon C 2/75. Steve Stein, Hood, James Pippin, Mike Palacios, James Finney, Matt Sonner, Robert Fremgen.
1st Platoon C 2/75. 1LT Kemp is on the left with his Platoon Sergeant, SFC Tim Rego on the right. Typical Ft Lewis rainclouds in the background.
Dean Foston in Yakima, Washington 1988. Another good friend. Hard to believe that there is a desert in the state of Washington.
Fast roping at Fort Lewis. Someone would always break an arm or a leg and end up pulling CQ duty for weeks at a time.
Urban terrian combat at Fort Campbell, Ky with CH-47 in support. Notice Ranger using Pathfinder skills.
SSG Boykin, SGT Platt and SGT Hernandez in front of C Company barracks.
Fort Lewis, WA and the 2nd Ranger
Battalion were both a good time. I served as a Rifleman, SAW Gunner (M249),
Platoon Marksman, and Infantry Team Leader. James Pippin named our Platoon "The
Mad Slashers", if my memory serves me correctly.
Stein and Pippin made the Army a
career with Stein going the Special Forces route and then flying UH-60s. As of
2007 Pippin was the
Command
Sergeant Major of 2-7 US Cavalry at Fort Hood, Texas. John Donnelly would
later serve as a Special Forces Operator with 10th Group.
I graduated from Ranger School on
July 2nd, 1987. It was considered the "Last Hard Class" by most of my fellow
classmates of course, me included. View
Class 9-87 and any
other Ranger School class photos at the
Ranger Training Brigade
website. Ranger training was tough and going back to Battalion Ranger
qualified and eligible to wear the Ranger Tab was a good feeling. I was also
able to get promoted and attend other military schools.
Within a year of leaving the
Battalion, my friends were parachuting into combat during the invasion of
Panama. Mixed feelings of course. None of my immediate friends were killed but
the following 2/75 Rangers died during
Operation Just Cause: Specialist Philip Lear and Private
First Class John Mark Price.
While attending the
Infantry
Officer Basic Course (IOBC) at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1994, I had the honor of
meeting Lieutenants Curt Sansoucie and Spencer Dodge. Recent graduates of the
US
Military Academy at West Point, New York they would later die of exposure
during
Florida phase of Ranger
School in February 1995.
"Rangers Lead The Way"
Ranger Phrases and other Interesting Stuff
Hooah:
Rangers say this quite a lot during their time in a Ranger Battalion and also
quite frequently in civilian life until one realizes no one else understands
what you are trying to communicate. Hooah can mean many things to include "Yes
Sir" or "Yes Sergeant". It is also uttered when the Ranger just wants to be left
alone and hopes this will get him off the hook. It can also be said with a
different inflection that could border on disrespect. This would then bring on
some more comments as listed below.
Back when it was
Hard: This is used to start out a conversation so as to ensure the audience
knows that you joined the Ranger Battalion before they did. "Back when it was
hard, Platoon Sergeant So and So would make us put 50 pound sandbags in our
rucksacks before a road march".
Beat your face:
This is said by a higher ranking enlisted Ranger to a subordinate who then has
to do pushups to atone for a minor screw-up.
Beat your face until
I get tired: A modification of the phrase listed above and usually
means many more pushups and much more pain.
I will smoke your
bag: Another way for a senior Ranger to initiate corrective action in the
form of physical exercise. Instead of smoking a bag of marijuana as was the
habit of some civilians, the higher
ranking Ranger is going to "smoke" the unlucky subordinate by overseeing some
form of physical exercise.
Batt boy:
This is said when a Soldier, Ranger or otherwise, is identifying someone who is
serving, or has served, in a Ranger Battalion.
Sky shark:
This is the label put on a new Ranger who has only a few parachute jumps to his
credit.
Tabless wonder:
Any Soldier who is not Ranger qualified.
Elevate your feet:
Once again, this is when a junior Ranger is instructed to do pushups. Before
starting the punishment session, the unlucky Ranger has to quickly find the
highest object to elevate his feet on. If more than one Ranger is being
disciplined, it is smart to have ones feet elevated higher than your buddies. In
this way, they might get more of the unwanted attention.
Tabbed Out: This
has the opposite meaning as the Tabless Wonder and it is what every aspiring
young Ranger wants to be. This exalted status ensures that the Ranger qualified
"Hooah" avoids most work details and is now able to instruct junior
Rangers on how to " Beat Your Face" and other fun games.
Moses robe:
During my time in 2nd Batt, our bed sheets were called this as they were made
out of a synthetic material that had multiple brightly colored stripes along its
length.
Chill liner:
This was the name given to the Army issued poncho liner. It seemed to have
magical warming properties when a Ranger found himself in a cold environment and
was unable or foolish enough not to bring a sleeping bag.
If you don't have a
Tab, hit the slab: My all time favorite. In the rare chance that we
were able to ride on trucks, all Tabless Wonders had to first sit on the bed of
the vehicle. In this way, all Tabbed Out Rangers could be guaranteed a seat on
the bench. If the "older/wiser" Rangers were feeling generous, they might let
the Tabless wonders have a seat on the bench also.
The last hard class:
Similar to "Back when it was hard" so as to distinguish oneself from other
Rangers. "I graduated from Ranger School class 9-87, the last hard class".
"The standards were lowered so the rest of you wimps could graduate".
Any Rangers out there
who would like to submit one of their own, please send me an email at tacarm@aol.com.
No profanity is allowed and I will edit if needed.
Ranger Creed
Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger,
fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession. I will always endeavor to
uphold the prestige, honor and high "esprit de corps" of my Ranger Regiment.
Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more
elite soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air. I
accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster
and fight harder than any other soldier.
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will
always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I
will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be. One hundred
percent and then some
Gallantly will I show the world that I am a
specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers,
neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to
follow.
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my
country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and
will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never
leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no
circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude
required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I
be the lone survivor.
Have
your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds
powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning.
When
you're on the march, act the way you would if you was sneaking
up on a deer. See the enemy first.
Tell
the truth about what you see and what you do. There is an army
depending on us for correct information. You can lie all you
please when you tell other folks about the Rangers, but don't
never lie to a Ranger or officer.
Don't
never take a chance you don't have to.
When
we're on the march we march single file, far enough apart so one
shot can't go through two men.
If we
strike swamps, or soft ground, we spread out abreast, so it's
hard to track us.
When we
march, we keep moving till dark, so as to give the enemy the
least possible chance at us.
When we
camp, half the party stays awake while the other half sleeps.
If we
take prisoners, we keep'em separate till we have had time to
examine them, so they can't cook up a story between 'em.
Don't
ever march home the same way. Take a different route so you
won't be ambushed.
No
matter whether we travel in big parties or little ones, each
party has to keep a scout 20 yards ahead, 20 yards on each
flank, and 20 yards in the rear so the main body can't be
surprised and wiped out.
Every
night you'll be told where to meet if surrounded by a superior
force.
Don't
sit down to eat without posting sentries.
Don't
sleep beyond dawn. Dawn's when the French and Indians attack.
Don't
cross a river by a regular ford.
If
somebody's trailing you, make a circle, come back onto your own
tracks, and ambush the folks that aim to ambush you.
Don't
stand up when the enemy's coming against you. Kneel down, lie
down, hide behind a tree.
Let the
enemy come till he's almost close enough to touch, then let him
have it and jump out and finish him up with your hatchet.
