The 187th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Rakkasans," was constituted on November 12, 1942, as the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment and activated on February 25, 1943, at Camp Mackall, North Carolina.
Originally assigned to the 11th Airborne Division, the regiment trained extensively in glider and parachute operations. During World War II, they participated in the New Guinea Campaign and the Leyte and Luzon campaigns in the Philippines, notably assaulting Nasugbu Point on January 31, 1945, to aid the advance on Manila. Post-war, the regiment was part of the occupation forces in Japan.
During the Korean War, the 187th, restructured as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, executed combat jumps at Sunchon and Sukchon in October 1950 and at Munsan-ni in March 1951. They also played a role in the Vietnam War, conducting numerous operations and earning multiple unit citations. In the Gulf War, the regiment participated in Operation Desert Storm, contributing to the liberation of Kuwait. Currently, the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the 187th Infantry Regiment are active components of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.