It all started in the late 90s while attending a timline reenactment where reenactors from all eras come to one event to teach the public about their particular impression.  Two French Marines portraying the seven years war were walking back to their camp when a 1940s willys jeep zoomed by them.  Still burdened with a long trek back to their camp they soon realized that they were doing the wrong era. These men were Andrew Burgess and Kenny Ozanich.  Soon after they were introduced to a British Grenadier Guards reenactor, Jim Higginbottom, who also shared an intrest in World War II.  These three men started the 5th Ranger Battalion in 1998 with the 20th Century Tactical Studies Group.  At that time no one else was portraying men of that unit and there was very little information available. This is what attracted them to the Rangers.