At noon on September 5, 1945, a reconnaissance party headed by Colonel Charles A. Sheldon, the First Cavalry Division's Chief-of-Staff, entered Tokyo. While the formal entrance was to come later, this actually marked the first official movement of American personnel into the capital of Japan's once-mighty empire. The reconnaissance was without incident. Its mission was to find bivouac areas for the division within the city itself.

Although there had been some doubt as to reactions of the Japanese populace when the troops had first come ashore, no friction or untoward incidents developed. In the Kanto Plain area surrounding Tokyo was a large segment of the Japanese army which was commencing its own disarmament. The units included 14 infantry divisions, 17 independent mixed brigades, one armored division, and one infantry regiment. Had any part of this force decided to rebel at the provisions of the peace agreement, the First Cavalry Division might have been badly hit before it had gained a firm foothold in Japan. On the contrary, both the Japanese and the Americans were highly pleased at the behavior of each other The troopers' experience with the unyielding do-or-die conduct of the Japanese soldier on the battlefield made it almost inconceivable that he would permit these "foreign barbarians" to walk upon the sacred soil of Nippon without displaying some kind of resistance even though it would be of a futile, token-like nature. Instead, the Japanese people exhibited a fine willingness to cooperate to the utmost of their ability. Long years of war propaganda had taught them that the arrival of the Americans would be followed by an orgy of raping and looting. Their women and private property would not be safe for a minute. 'When the large-scale outrages failed to materialize. the Japanese began to breathe easier.

At 8 A.M. on September 8, 1945, a history making convoy left Hara-Machida with Tokyo as its destination. Headed by Major General William C. Chase, commanding general of the First Cavalry Division, the party included a veteran from each troop in the division so that all units would be represented on this climatic trek of the war. Passing through Hachioji, Fuchu and Chofu, the convoy halted briefly at the Tokyo City Limits. General Chase stepped across the line thereby putting the American Army officially in Tokyo and adding another "First" to the record of the "First Team." To Pfc Paul Davis of Fairland, Ottawa County, Oklahoma. who followed the general, went the honor of being the first enlisted man to enter the city officially. This won him an award of $1000 offered by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of his home county to the first soldier from the county to set foot in Tokyo. Davis was a member of "D" Troop, 12th Cavalary.

On the same morning, veteran cavalrymen raised the flag atop the American embassy building. Their comrades stood at attention while the division band played the national anthem. The flag was the one which had been flying over the Capitol at Washington on Pearl Harbor Day and had flown over the Battleship Missouri while the surrender documents were being signed. The Flag of Liberation was also the first American flag to be flown over Rome, Italy, at the conclusion of hostilities with that country. It was the first American flag to fly over Berlin after VE-Day. This flag is now in the national Capitol, having been delivered to Senator Vandenberg and House Speaker Martin on April 6, 1948 by the commander of the First Cavalry Division, Major General Hobart R. Gay.

Major General Hobart R. Gay

Major General Gay was Chief of Staff of the Third U.S. Army in Europe during World War II under the late General George S. Patton. Jr.. He assumed command of the First Cavalry Division in mid-September 1949 through February 1951.

To Be Continued...