Major General William C. Chase, commander of the flying column which dashed to Manila holds out
the division colors for General Eichelberger to attached another streamer while the members of the
MP Platoon (acting as color/honor guard) look on in Tokyo.

 

When the Luzon campaign came to its official termination on 1 July 1945, the First Cavalry was situated at Lucena in Tayabas Province, Luzon.

Then, in quick succession, came the news of the Potsdam Declaration, the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Russia’s declaration of war on Japan, and Japans willingness to surrender unconditionally.  On 13 August, a warning order was received from General MacArthur’s Headquarters stating that the First Cavalry Division had been selected to accompany the Supreme Allied Commander into Tokyo and that the honor of leading that column was reserved for the MP Platoon, 1st Cavalry Division.  Detailed orders followed on 17 August.

At 0800 on 8 September, a history making convoy left Hara-Machida with Tokyo as its destination.  Lead by General Chase and a veteran from each unit within the division and escorted by the MP Platoon, they crossed into the city limits of Tokyo a short time later thereby making another First for the 1st Cavalry and the MP Platoon – First in Tokyo!

By January 1952, the division, after 18 months of continuous fighting in Korea, rotated along with the 545th MP Company back to Hokkaido, Japan where they remained on garrison duty until returning to Korea in 1957.

Click on the below web site to view videos of the U.S. Army in Post World War II

US Army in Post WWII

 

 

 
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