The History of the Creed

By: CSM (Ret.) Mike Martin

When the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Creighton Abrams ordered the formation of Ranger Battalions in 1974, he directed that they would be the elite, setting the standards for the Army; maintaining a code of ethics, a Ranger philosophy to live by the Ranger Creed written by Command Sergeant Major Neal R. Gentry, would encompass this philosophy and would be the hallmark of the spirit, discipline, and duty of all Rangers in peace and war.  CSM Gentry was handpicked to serve as the first Command Sergeants Major for the 1st Ranger Battalion.

In combat, he had served with Company L (Ranger), 75^th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in South Vietnam. An Airborne Ranger, most of his military career was as a volunteer (Paratrooper) with Airborne units in the United States and with overseas assignments, including duty as a First Sergeant of an Airborne Training Company at the U.S. Army Airborne training center, Fort Benning, Georgia.  CSM Gentry was responsible for establishing the cadre of noncommissioned officers that would build upon and set the standards and successful activation of the 1st Ranger Battalion since World War II, that would achieve its objective-the most elite "Infantry Battalion" in the world. Gentry's additional goal, along with other key NCOs and staff members, was to preserve and perpetuate the Ranger history.

He was instrumental in the development of the Coat of Arms and Distinguished Unit Insignia (DUI) for the Ranger Regiment. The flash that is affixed to the black beret worn by all members of the 75th Ranger Regiment and the parachutist background (affixed behind the Ranger's parachutist badge) was designed by CSM Gentry and approved by the Department of the Army in June 1974.  Command Sergeant Major Neal R. Gentry's example as the Senior NCO of the 1st Ranger Battalion continue to set the standards for Rangers past and present, and the Ranger Creed that he authored, is the torch that guides the Ranger Regiment today in its mission to conduct special operations in support of United States policies and objectives.