187^th Glider Infantry Regiment

The 187th Glider Infantry Regiment was activated at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, on February 25, 1943, as part of the 11th Airborne Division. After training in the United States, it moved through Camp Stoneman to the Pacific, arriving in New Guinea in May 1944 and moving to Leyte in November. On Leyte the regiment helped secure the Burauen airfield area during the Japanese airborne attack of December 1944, fighting in the San Pablo, Bayug, and Buri airfield sector while the division opened its westward drive toward the Ormoc plain.

The regiment's major offensive work came on Luzon. Landing with the division at Nasugbu on January 31, 1945, the 187th supported the drive inland from the beaches toward Route 17 and Tagaytay Ridge. Its 2d Battalion moved toward the Palico River behind the 188th Glider Infantry, while the 1st Battalion later led the advance along Route 17 to within two miles of the western end of Tagaytay Ridge. From there the division turned north toward Manila.

In the battle for Nichols Field, the 187th fought in close coordination with the 188th and 511th. Its 1st Battalion was attached to the southern assault with the 188th, while the 2d Battalion attacked eastward across the field from the northwest on February 12. These attacks helped break the organized defense of the airfield, which was largely cleared by the next day.

The 187th then fought through the rugged southern Luzon campaign. It descended from Tagaytay Ridge toward Lake Taal, fought at Hill 660 from March 8 to 11, and later battled for Bukel Hill, Talisay, and Mt. Macolod. At Mt. Macolod, renewed attacks with armor, tank destroyers, mortars, and guerrilla support overcame the strongpoint by April 21. After combat operations, the regiment served in Manila and then moved to Okinawa and Japan for occupation duty.