On January 5, 1943, the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated at Camp Toccoa, Georgia under COL Orin D. "Hard Rock" Haugen.

The 511th PIR joined the 11th Airborne Division which activated on February 25, 1943, at Camp Mackall, NC.

The 511th PIR spent the summer of 1944 at Dobodura, New Guinea undergoing theater training.

During November of 1944 to August of 1945, the 511th fought bloody campaigns to liberate Leyte and Luzon.

Between August of 1945 and March of 1949, the 511th participated in the Occupation of Japan.