[Webmaster Note: The following division information is reproduced
from the public domain publication, The Army Almanac: A Book of
Facts Concerning the Army of the United States, U.S. Government Printing Office,
1950. Portions of the information may be out of date. Only minor formatting changes and
typographical corrections have been made.]
World War II
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Overseas: 23 May 1943.
Campaigns: New Guinea, Bismark Archipelago, Leyte, Luzon.
Days of combat: 521.
Distinguished Unit Citations: 10.
Awards: MH-2; DSC-14; DSM-4; SS-542; LM-29; SM-29; BSM-2,782; AM-66.
Commanders: Maj. Gen. Innis P. Swift (19 April 1941-19 August 1944),
Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge (19 August 1944),
Brig. Gen. Hugh F. T. Hoffman (28 February 1945-30 July 1945),
Maj. Gen. William C. Chase (31 July 1945 to date).
Combat Chronicle
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The 1st Cavalry Division arrived in Australia 11 July 1943, continued its
training at Strathpine, Queensland, until 26 July, then moved to
New Guinea to stage for the Admiralties' campaign 22-27 February 1944. The
Division saw its first combat in the Admiralty Islands, units landing at
Los Negros Island 29 February 1944. Momote airstrip was secured against
great odds. Attacks by fanatical Japanese were thrown back, and the enemy force
surrounded by the end of March. Nearby islands were taken in April and May. The
Division next took part in the invasion of Leyte, 20 October 1944, captured
Tacloban and the adjacent airstrip, advanced along the north coast, and
secured Leyte Valley, elements landing on and securing Samar Island. Moving down
Ormoc Valley (in Leyte) and across the Ormoc plain, the Division reached the
west coast of Leyte 1 January 1945. The Division then invaded Luzon, landing
in the Lingayen Gulf area 27 January 1945, and fought its way to
Manila by 3 February 1945. Prisoners at Santo Tomas University were
liberated and the 1st Cavalry had advanced east of Manila by the
middle of February before the city was cleared. On 20 February the
Division was assigned the mission of seizing and securing crossings over the
Marikina River and securing the Tagaytay-Antipolo Line. After being
relieved 12 March in the Antipolo area, elements pushed south into
Batangas and Bicol Provinces. They mopped up remaining pockets of resistance in
these areas in small unit actions. Resistance was officially declared at an
end 1 July 1945. The Division left Luzon 25 August 1945 for occupation
duty in Japan, arriving in Yokohama 2 September 1945 and
entering Tokyo 8 September, the first United States Division to enter the
Japanese capital.
General
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Nickname: The First Team.
Slogan: Move in on 'em and kill 'em!
Shoulder patch: Large yellow shield with black diagonal bar and a
horse's head in the upper corner.
Association: 1st Cavalry Division Association.
Publications: History of the 1st Cavalry Division; by Maj. B. C. Wright, unit
historian; Toppan Printing Co., Tokyo, Japan.
See Also:
6th Infantry Division,
7th Infantry Division,
24th Infantry Division,
25th Infantry Division,
27th Infantry Division,
31st Infantry Division,
32nd Infantry Division,
33rd Infantry Division,
37th Infantry Division,
38th Infantry Division,
40th Infantry Division,
41st Infantry Division,
43rd Infantry Division,
77th Infantry Division,
81st Infantry Division,
93rd Infantry Division,
96th Infantry Division,
98th Infantry Division,
11th Airborne Division,
Americal Division,
Philippine Division
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