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 square configuration, with modification. 1st Cav was comprised of Headquarters Troop, 1st Cavalry Brigade with the 5th Cavalary Regiment and 12th Cavalry Regiment. The 2nd Cavalry Brigade was comprised of the 7th Cavalry Regiment and 8th Cavalry Regiment, Division Artillery and 7th Cavalry Recon Squadron.

On February 28, 1943 the last of the 1st Cavalry Division's mounted units permanently retired their horses and became infantry formations. In preparation for moving overseas, the 1st Cav moved to Camp Stoneman to prepare to move to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). When the 1st Cav arrived in Australia, the division continued training in Strathpine, Queensland. On July 26, 1943 the division shipped to New Guinea and continues training and preparing for combat operations.

Admiralty Islands
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 the 8th Cavalry Regiment lands at Lugos Mission near Lorengau on Manus 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 attack Lorengau Airfield and by the end of the next day captured it then began artillery bombarment of Lorengau on Manus.

Leyte
On October 20, 1944 participated in the U.S. landings on Leyte in the Philippines. The 1st Cav captured Tacloban Airfield and Tacloban. Next, they advanced along the north coast with elements landing on Samar. Next, advanced southward down the Ormoc Valley. On January 1, 1945 reached the west coast of Leyte.

Luzon
On January 27, 1945 lands at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon in the Philippines as reinforcements and joined the flying column south to Manila. On February 3, 1945 liberated Santo Thomas University then fought in the Battle of Manila. On February 20, 1945 assigned the mission of seizing and securing crossings over the Marikina River and secured the Tagaytay-Antipolo Line. On March 12, 1945 relieved in the Antipolo area during the middle of the Battle of Wawa Dam, elements pushed south into the Batangas and Bicol Region with guerrillas. Afterwards, the division continued to mop up remaining pockets of resistance until July 1, 1945. Afterwards, the 1st Cav remained on Luzon. During World War II, 1st Cav casualties included: 4,055 Killed in Action (KIA), 734 Wounded In Action (WIA), 3,311 Missing in action (MIA) and 9 Prisoners Of War (POW).

Postwar
On August 25, 1945 departs Luzon for the occupation of Japan. On September 2, 1945 arrived Yokohama. On September 4, 1945 a detachment from the 1st Cav occupied Yokota Airfield without opposition or incident. On September 8, 1945 enters Tokyo as the fist U.S. Army 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 perimeter around Pusan and remained on the line for the remainder of the year. During January 1952 relieved by the 45th Infantry Division. 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 (KIA) and 12,086 Wounded In Action (WIA). 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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