The 1st Ranger Battalion was formed upon America’s entry into World War II. Major General Lucian Truscott, U.S. Army, in liaison with the British General Staff, submitted proposals to General George Marshall that “we undertake immediately an American unit along the lines of the British Commandos” in 1942. A subsequent cable from the U.S. Department of War authorized the activation of the 1st U.S. Army Ranger Battalion.

The 1st Ranger Battalion had many accomplishments during its early entry of WWII, if it were not for that, there would be no Rangers today. Their successful invasions in North Africa opened the sea and its ports for the Allied forces. The Allies were now able to move ships and equipment to support subsequent campaigns, enabling the later forces to successfully infiltrate enemy lines along the African coast, in Sicily, and up into Italy.

The Ranger Force targeted Salerno on September 9, 1943, and participated in the Naples-Foggia Campaign. Then they moved on to Anzio on January 22, 1944. The entire 6615th Ranger Force (Provisional) was destroyed behind enemy lines in a heavily outnumbered encounter at Cisterna, Italy on January 31, 1944,

After this the Unit went into post World War II service.