More than five decades after returning home from Vietnam, members of the Indiana Army National Guard’s Company D (Ranger), 151st Infantry Regiment, known as the “Indiana Rangers,” have received two of Indiana’s and the nation’s highest honors for their military service.
The Indiana Rangers were formally awarded the Presidential Unit Citation during the National Guard Association of the United States conference. The prestigious military award recognizes the unit’s extraordinary heroism, combat service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also honored the Indiana Rangers with a group Sagamore of the Wabash, one of the highest honors a governor can bestow upon a Hoosier for extraordinary service, leadership and excellence.
“For more than 50 years, the Indiana Rangers have carried with them a legacy of courage, sacrifice and service that every Hoosier should be proud of,” Braun said. “These men answered our nation’s call, fought with extraordinary bravery in Vietnam and came home as one of the most decorated units of the war.”
The Indiana Rangers hold the distinction of being the only Army National Guard ground maneuver unit to serve in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The unit became one of the most decorated units of the conflict, with its members receiving hundreds of individual awards for valor and service.
The unit deployed to Vietnam in December 1968 and conducted hundreds of long-range reconnaissance missions. Rangers frequently operated deep inside enemy-controlled territory under extremely difficult conditions.
Company D returned to Indiana in November 1969. For decades, surviving members of the unit have worked to secure appropriate recognition for the company as a whole.
Maj. Gen. Larry Muennich, Indiana’s Adjutant General, called the presentation a historic moment for the Indiana National Guard.
“After more than five decades, we have the privilege of presenting our Indiana Rangers with the Presidential Unit Citation they earned for their service in Vietnam,” Muennich said. “This is more than an award – it is a long-overdue recognition of courage and dedication to these Hoosier Soldiers.”
The Presidential Unit Citation is the highest military decoration awarded to a unit for extraordinary heroism in combat against an armed enemy. Unlike individual awards, the citation recognizes the collective courage, teamwork and sacrifice of the entire unit.
The Sagamore of the Wabash and Presidential Unit Citation together provide long-overdue recognition of the Indiana Rangers’ service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War.
Photos courtesy of the Office of Governor Mike Braun.
