Distinguished Unit Citation

Battle Honors

The 1st Battalion, 511th Parachute 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 unit distinguished itself by the imposing part it played in the advance of an airborne division to Manila. After securing Tagaytay Ridge following a parachute drop, the 1st Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was assigned the mission of marching on Manila. Proceeding by foot and by truck, the battalion became the assault battalion by passing through the 1st Battalion northeast of Zapote.

After annihilating the enemy garrison in Las Pinas, the battalion pressed forward to Paranaque, where heavy sniper and machine-gun fire was encountered from the cathedral. The battalion destroyed the enemy and seized the church in a fierce attack, in the course of which the division chief of staff was killed. By 1900 hours a perimeter had been set up. Throughout the night the battalion received a heavy barrage of artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire which caused several serious casualties.

At daybreak on 5 February the battalion continued to clean out the area around the Paranaque Church despite intense rifle and artillery fire. The mission was extremely difficult to accomplish, as the battalion was confronted with better than 2,000 enemy troops, supported by mortars, 12-inch naval guns, and 20, 40 and 90mm AA guns. Failure to hold any point on the wide front would have resulted in completely cutting off the remainder of the regiment which was attacking to the north.

After days of intense enemy shelling, the battalion was ordered to attack across the northern edge of Nichols Field and to secure high ground dominating the field and Fort McKinley. Making full use of supporting infantry weapons and self-propelled guns,the 1st Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, destroyed the center of the Japanese line of resistance, capturing numerous machine guns, 75 and 120mm guns, 11 antiaircraft guns, sighted for direct fire, and killing 286 Japanese.

(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