11th Airborne WW II Medal
of Honor RecipientPvt Elmer E Fryar Pfc Manuel Perez Jr
The 187th Glider Infantry Regiment Unit History
he 187th Infantry Regiment was constituted on 12 November 1942 at
Camp Mackall, North Carolina. On 25 February 1943, the 187th was activated. designated a
glider regiment, and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. A two battalion regiment, 187th
trained and prepared for combat with its men trained at the end of the war both as
gliderists and parachutists.
In May 1944, the Regiment deployed with the Division to the southwest
Pacific debarking at Lae, New Guinea. On November 18th, the entire 11th Airborne Division
landed on Bito Beach on Leyte. Four days later the 11th relieved the 7th Infantry Division.
Initially, the 187th under Colonel Harry D Hildebrand (picture left) were charged with guarding the rear
installation around Bito Beach. However, in the ensuing days the Japanese mounted their only
airborne operation against US forces in WW II an jumped on the San Pablo airstrip on Leyte.
General Swing immediately ordered a counterattack and rushed the 187th forward from Bito Beach.
During the battle the 1st Battalion of the 187th captured the Japanese paratroopers flag which
hangs today in the West Point Museum. Meanwhile, the 2nd Battalion of the 187th under the command
of Lt Col Arthur H Wilson Jr reinforced the 511th. Two days after Christmas the 187th moved to
attack the Japanese positions at Anonang on two steep parallel ridges. The second ridge became
known as Purple Heart Hill because of the large contingent of glidermen killed and wounded
while taking it. After two days of ferocious fighting the ridge was seized.
In January 1945, the 187th landed with the Division at Nasubu Bay,
south of Manila to seize Tagaytay Ridge and to advance on Manila from the south. From
January to April the 187th was in constant action, ranging from Nichols Field, Fort
McKinley and Manila to Mount Macolod and Malepunyo.
In May, the Regiment moved into Lipa to refit, rebuild, and prepare for
(he Invasion of Japan. At this time, the 3rd Battalion was formed and the Regiment was
redesigned a para-glider regiment. When the war ended, the 187th wasselected to
spearhead the occupation of Japan and gained the distinction of being the first foreign
round combat unit to enter Japan.
While serving as occupation forces, the 187th received the title
"Rakkasan" from the Japanese which literally translatedmeans
"Falling Down Umbrella". In April 949, the Rakkasans returned to the United
States with the 11th Airborne Division and settled into then Camp Campbell, Kentucky. In
early 1950, the Rakkasans participated in the largest peacetime airborne maneuver in
history, "Operation Swarmer". The Performance of the Regiment during this
maneuver was instrumental in the Regiment being selected to form an airborne regimental
combatteam to enter the Korean conflict.
(picture above left: Men of the 187th GIR, Company C, 2nd Platoon,
1st Battalion.
(^^ Click Picture to Enlarge ^^) )
E Company 187th GIR
- Photo of Company E, (1st Squad, 2nd Platoon) 187th GIR (Back Row: Lawrence E Stevens, Murlin L Berry, Smith, Smithson, T/Sgt Lloyd Love (KIA), Bonner, Lt Parker; Kneeling: Pfc Edward Standora, Gene Crissman, Pfc George Russell (KIA), Pvt Ray Shadden & Pfc Edwin C Harris. location & date unknown)
G Company 187th GIR
- Photo of Company G, (2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon) 187th GIR in Okinawa circa August 15, 1945. ( (left to right) Squatting: PFC Tony Sellaro (Morgantown, WV), PFC Vernon Hughes (St. Paul, MN), PFC Eugene Wagner (Texas). Standing: PFC Odeen Tyre, (Bristol, GA), PVT Andy Murray (Kentucky), PFC Charlie Stith (Jefferson City, MO), S/SGT George Zweirzybski (Chicago, IL), PVT Eugene DeAngelis (Toledo, OH), PFC Regis Neiman (Latrobe, PA), PFC Norman Hoff (Minnesota).
) (Photo
courtesy of Odeen L Tyre)
he 187th Infantry Regiment was constituted on 12 November 1942 at
Camp Mackall, North Carolina. On 25 February 1943, the 187th was activated. designated a
glider regiment, and assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. A two battalion regiment, 187th
trained and prepared for combat with its men trained at the end of the war both as
gliderists and parachutists.
(picture above left: Men of the 187th GIR, Company C, 2nd Platoon,
1st Battalion.
