the defensive and attacked by a much larger enemy force. The 42nd Ranger Battalion was commended for over-turning the attacking forces and turning them onto the defensive where they proceeded to rout them. Afterwards decorated on March 7, 1968 for assaulting a well-defended enemy stronghold. This unit was well-regarded as an assault unit capable of over-running well concealed fortifications and positions. Among the 11 ARVN Ranger Units awarded with the Presidential Unit Citation, the 42nd was among the most highly decorated. 39th Ranger Battalion, Army of the Republic of Vietnam Twice-decorated with a Presidential Unit Citation (United States), awarded for actions between February 18 and 28, 1968 during the Tet Offensive and again for actions between February 11 to April 24, 1970. Alongside the 42nd and 37th these were the most decorated Ranger battalions of the war. One of the chosen forward assault groups during Operation Lam Son 719, after securing an outpost, when expected reinforcements were halted this unit was in turn entirely encircled by armoured and infantry units from the elite 102nd Regiment, 308th Infantry Division (Vietnam). Fighting its way out of a cordon, the unit was annihilated with 178 KIA/MIA and 148 WIA out of an initial 430, although inflicting 639 KIA upon the 102nd Regiment. 52nd Ranger Battalion, Army of the Republic of Vietnam On 11 November 1965, the 52nd Ranger Battalion was augmented to the US 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and conducted an air assault to relief a US element of the 11th ACR that had been ambushed by the VC 275th Regiment near Kim Hai hamlet, in the village of Phuoc Hoa on Route 15, in Phuoc Tuy Province and received a United States Presidential Unit Citation. 44th Ranger Battalion, Army of the Republic of Vietnam On April 6, 1965 the 44th Ranger Battalion was a reserve element of a larger force engaged in a search and destroy operation against two Viet Cong force battalions. The Battalion was lifted by helicopter into battle when the lead infantry battalion accompanied by an armored personnel carrier troop were halted by intense fire delivered on their positions by the well-entrenched and camouflaged enemy. Upon entering into the landing zone, the enemy delivered withering machine gun fire. Despite the loss of their executive officer, a U.S. Army Advisor, and three helicopters during the lift the unit pursued and over-turned the attacking ambush forces, forcing them to withdraw and