Distinguished Unit Citation
Battle Honors
The 1st Battalion, 188th Glider Infantry Regiment is cited
for outstanding heroism, and conspicuous performance of duty in action against the enemy on Luzon, Philippine Islands from 31 January to 5 February 1945.
During this period, this airborne battalion by its aggressiveness and courage contributed immeasurably to the rapid advance of an airborne division to Manila. Despite the disadvantages imposed by lack of transportation and small-sized companies, the battalion landed at Nasugbu, 31 January 1945, against the fire of enemy automatic weapons and artillery.
The battallion proceeded rapidly inland by a forced march of twenty miles in twenty-four hours. En route, they reduced the Japanese beach defenses, captured the towns of Wawa and Nasugbu, Nasugbu Airport, the strategic Palico Bridge, and were attacking the main Japanese line of resistance in the Cariliao Defile.
Without halting and in the face of heavy machine-gun fire, mortar and 105mm and 155mm artillery fire, the battalion attacked and seized Mount Aiming, the dominant terrain of the Japanese position. The battalion defended this position and held it through numerous enemy counterattacks. When one Japanese attack thrust through the lines and cut the battalion off from the remainder of the regiment, the exhausted men attacked and anniliated the Japanese force.
In conjunction with two other battalions, the 1st Battalion overran the enemy position and proceeded on foot toward Manila, reaching Siland before being picked up in trucks.
At the end of the fifth day, the battalion, en route to Manila, had marched on foot a distance of forty-five miles, had fought three minor and one major engagement, and with tireless determination was preparing itself for Nichols Field.
The unhesitating subordination of personal safety to the task in hand, and the magnificent courage, fortitude and personal stamina displayed by the soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 188th Glider Infantry Regiment are in accordance with the highest traditions of the military service.
(General Orders No. 69, Headquarters Eighth Army,, 25 June 1945, as approved by the commander in Chief , Pacific.) [ General Order No. 68, War Department, Washington, 14 August 1945]
By Order of The Secretary of War
