88^th Glider Infantry Regiment

The 88th Glider Infantry Regiment had no combat record as a regiment in World War II. Its wartime service was important primarily as part of the formation and later consolidation of the 13th Airborne Division. The unit began as the 88th Airborne Infantry Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was redesignated on May 28, 1942 as the 88th Infantry Regiment under Airborne Command. On October 1, 1942, it became the 88th Glider Infantry Regiment, reflecting the Army's effort to build specialized airborne infantry for glider-borne assault.

During 1943 the regiment moved through a series of airborne training and staging stations, including Fort Meade, Fort Robinson, Alliance Army Airfield, and Fort Bragg. It was assigned to the 13th Airborne Division on December 3, 1943 and moved to Camp Mackall in January 1944. The regiment remained in the United States through most of 1944 while the division trained for possible employment in the European theater.

The 88th staged at Camp Shanks, New York, in January 1945 and departed the New York Port of Embarkation on January 26. It landed in France on February 6, the same date the 13th Airborne Division arrived in theater. The division was held for possible airborne operations but did not enter combat. It was not used in Operation Varsity on March 24, 1945 because available airlift was committed to the British 6th and U.S. 17th Airborne Divisions. Before that operation, the 88th Glider Infantry was disbanded at Caserne, France, on March 1, 1945, and its personnel and assets were transferred to the 326th Glider Infantry. Its Central Europe campaign credit reflects theater service rather than a separate battlefield action by the regiment.