5:87th Infantry

• Origins: The 5th Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment was constituted on 1 July 1916 in the Regular Army as Company E, 37th Infantry. • World War II Service: The unit was reactivated during World War II and served with distinction in the Aleutian Islands campaign in Alaska, notably participating in the Battle of Attu. • Arctic Warriors: The 87th Infantry, including 5/87, has a heritage as one of the Army's original mountain and arctic warfare units, forming the backbone of the 10th Mountain Division. • Panama Assignment: In the 1980s and 1990s, 5/87th Infantry was part of the 193rd Infantry Brigade, stationed at Fort Clayton, Panama, guarding the Panama Canal and U.S. interests. • Operation Just Cause: The battalion participated in Operation Just Cause in December 1989, helping to depose Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. • Deactivation and Reactivation: The battalion was inactivated after the drawdown of U.S. forces in Panama in 1994, but its lineage continues within the Army's regimental system. • Distinctive Insignia: The 87th Infantry's crest features a mountain and crossed ski poles, symbolizing its mountain warfare mission. • Decorations: The unit has been awarded numerous campaign streamers and unit citations, including the Presidential Unit Citation for actions during the Aleutians campaign. • Veterans' Stories: Veterans of 5/87th have shared stories of jungle patrols, canal security, and urban combat during their Panama deployments, highlighting the unit’s versatility. • Legacy: Although no longer active, alumni of the 5/87th Infantry remain active in veterans’ groups, preserving the battalion's unique history and esprit de corps.