The Long, Proud History of the Army Ranger
The term “Ranger” was first used in what would become the United States back in the 17th century. The first Ranger Companyofficially began in 1676. Rangers fought in many different wars, including the American Revolution, The War of 1812, and every war the United States was involved in afterwards. What most people consider to be “today’s” Army Rangers were authorized in 1942 by General Marshall. There are currently six Ranger battalions and they have played an important role in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They were also vital to the successes of other conflicts like Grenada and Panama.
The long and proud history of the United States Army Rangers officially began when George Washington ordered Thomas Knowlton, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, to personally select men for reconnaissance missions. This unit was called Knowlton’s Rangers, but it actually was more centered on gathering intelligence than for combat. This group of Rangers became the Military Intelligence Branch.
During the Civil War, two units of Rangers, one for the Confederate Army and one for the Union Army would become somewhat famous. Mosby’s Rangers often raided deep within Union territory, capturing high-ranking officers and disrupting supply lines. The Union’s Mean’s Rangers were best known for capturing a Confederate ammunition train. Eventually, Mean’s Rangers captured part of Mosby’s Rangers after a long, hard fought battle.
The next century would see two World Wars and multiple conflicts which would put the Army Rangers to the test. From the beach at Normandy to the jungles of Vietnam, there have been a number of different Ranger Battalions. During Vietnam and Korea, the Ranger units were organized as companies and were part of larger units. These were considered special operations units. During the Korean War, the Rangers patrolled, scouted, and attacked the North Korean enemy. During the Vietnam War, the Rangers were tasked with the same duties, but were paramount in the success of reconnaissance behind enemy lines. They planned and directed air strikes, conducted ambushes, assessed the damage from frequent bombing in enemy territory, and provided snipers where needed.
By the end of the Vietnam War, it was evident that the United States Army needed an elite, rapid response light infantry. The 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions were created. This combination of elite airborne infantry and special operations is highly trained, very flexible, and can be deployed anywhere in the world within a matter of hours. Today, the Army Rangers are deployed on the War on Terror, with units in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 75th Ranger Regiment is one of only a handful of units that has had members continuously deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.
There is no doubt the Army Rangers are an important part of the United States Armed Forces. One of the best ways to say thank you for their service, dedication, and sacrifice is with one of the many styles of Army Ranger rings. These rings are a beautiful visual reminder of what it means to be an Army Ranger.
Army Jewelry Honors Dedicated Soldiers, Past and Present
The U.S. Army is the world’s strongest military force, bar none.
Hundreds of thousands of men and women currently serve in this powerful branch of the military.
Lets not forget U.S. Army
Although many soldiers are stationed within the U.S., many others are currently deployed in dangerous combat zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
The lives of these soldiers are on the line every day.
And even the active-duty soldiers, members of the National Guard and Reservists that are stationed within the United States could be sent into battle on very short notice, putting them at risk, too.
Let’s not forget about the men and women who served in the U.S. Army in the past, either.
When their time in the service was up, these Army veterans and retirees received honorable discharges for good reason, having serving honorably and with distinction in war and peace.
Army jewelry lets us honor our soldiers
Army jewelry lets us honor our soldiers, and many want to wear something more attractive to connect them to the Army than just the standard-issue dog tags that identify them.
Army men and women love wearing Army jewelry because it lets them show their pride in themselves, their buddies and their units.
But they love it even more when their family and friends give them Army jewelry, because these gifts show that their service is honored by the people they care for.
All of our soldiers are well trained and dedicated to protecting our freedom at home and abroad.
They have a unique combination of physical strength, mental toughness and superb equipment.
And above all, they have a sense of purpose.
When called upon, they consistently respond with the speed, courage and discipline we associate with the U.S. Army. Army jewelry, with its beautiful but powerful appearance, perfectly captures the spirit of our soldiers.
No matter when or where a soldier has served, Army rings, tie tacks, lapel pins, necklaces, pendants, watches, cuff links and other pieces of Army jewelry can commemorate his or her service.
Many types of Army jewelry can be personalized with a soldier’s name, initials, dates of service or other details.
Army jewelry can incorporate a wide assortment of Army:
- emblems
- logos
- insignia
- slogans.
The design of Army jewelry can reflect a man or woman’s service in the Army in a general way, or it can show membership in a specific battalion, regiment, division or other Army unit. Army jewelry can also indicate a man or woman’s service in a specific war or armed conflict, including deployment in Iran, Afghanistan, Vietnam and other combat theaters.
Some pieces of Army jewelry, especially Army rings, tie tacks, lapel pins, cuff links, pendants, and necklaces, are made of gold or sterling silver.
Many include precious or semi-precious gems in their designs, while others are brightly colored with gorgeous enamels.
But no matter what Army jewelry is made of or how it is designed, Army jewelry is a powerful symbol of a soldier’s service.
