1st Cavalry Division (1st Cav)
U.S. Army

Background
On April 4, 1921, the 1st Cavalry Division (1st Cav) was established as a square division comprised of a Headquarters, two Cavalry Brigades, Field Artillery Battalion, Engineer Battalion, Quartermaster, Special Troops and Ambulance Company. On August 20, 1921 constituted in the regular U.S. Army assigned to Eighth Corps Area and assigned to the Third Army. The division headquarters and 2nd Cavalry Brigade were located at Fort Bliss, Texas, while the 1st Cavalry Brigade was stationed at Camp Harry J. Jones in Douglas, Arizona.

World War II
During World War II, retained its square configuration with modification. On February 28, 1943 the last of the 1st Cavalry Division's mounted units permanently retired their horses and converted to infantry formations. The division moved to Camp Stoneman, CA and prepared to move oversea to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Arriving in Australia, the 1st Cav continued training at Strathpine, Queensland. On July 26, 1943 moved to New Guinea.

On February 29, 1944 the 1st Cav lands on the southern shore of Hyane Harbor on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands as their first combat operation. On March 2, 1944 they capture Momote Airfield. On March 11, 1944 a platoon sized reconnaissance force from U.S. Army, 1st Cavalry Division made an amphibious landing in a landing craft supported by a PT Boat on Hauwei Island but were ambushed and fought their way back to their landing craft that ran around and sank. After three hours in the sea, the platoon was rescued by another PT Boat. On March 15, 1944 U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Cavalry Regiment lands at Lugos Mission near Lorengau and encountered only light resistance and advanced in two prongs towards eastwards towards Lorengau The 7th Cavalry Regiment also landed and was held in reserve. On March 16, 1944 the Cavalrymen attacked Lorengau Airfield and captured it by the end of the next day and began bombarding Lorengau.

On October 20, 1944 participated in the American landings on eastern Leyte in the Philippines. On January 27, 1945 lands at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon as reinforcements and fought as a flying column south to Manila. On February 3, 1945 liberated Santo Thomas University then fought in Manila. On February 20, 1945 assigned the mission of seizing and securing crossings over the Marikina River and securing the Tagaytay-Antipolo Line. After being relieved on March 12, 1945 in the Antipolo area during the middle of the Battle of Wawa Dam, elements pushed south into Batangas and Bicol Region together with guerrillas. They mopped up the remaining pockets of resistance in these areas until July 1, 1945.

During World War II, 1st Cav casualties totaled 4,055 Killed in action: 734 Wounded in action: 3,311 Missing in action: 9 Prisoner of war: 1.

Postwar
On August 25, 1945 departs Luzon for the occupation of Japan. On September 2, 1945 arrives Yokohama. On September 4, 1945 a detachment from the 1st Cav occupies Yokota Airfield without opposition or incident. On September 8, 1945 enters Tokyo as the fist U.S. division to enter the capital. In May 1945. For the next five years, served with occupation duty in Japan.

Korean War
After the start of the Korean War, the 1st Cav was rushed to Korea. On July 18, 1950 lands at Pohang to defend the Pusan Perimeter.

The 1st Cavalry Division remained in the line until it was relieved by the 45th Infantry Division in January 1952. Afterwards, the 1st Cav was based in Japan. In 1957 deployed to South Korea until 1965.

During the Korean War, 1st Cav casualties totaled 3,811 killed in action 12,086 wounded in action. Nine 1st Cav men earned the medal of honor.

Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, redesignated as the 1st Air Cavalry Division. personnel and units of the 1st Cavalry Division that remained in Korea became part of the new 2nd Infantry Division. On July 29, 1965 sent to Vietnam based at Camp Radcliff, An Khe, Vietnam, in the Central Highlands. They were equipped with the M16 rifle, UH-1 troop carrier helicopter, UH-1C gunships, CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter, and the CH-54 Skycrane cargo helicopter. Their first major operation was to help relieve the Siege of Plei Me near Pleiku and the pursuit of the withdrawing People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) which culminated in the Battle of Ia Drang depicted in the book "We Were Soldiers Once...And Young".

References
Sixth Army News 1st Cavalry Edition: First in Manila
Souvenir Battle Diary The 1st Cavalry Division Tokyo, Japan (1945)

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