NOTE:Publication of the Occupation Diary, First Cavalry Division (1945-1950) will appear, as installments, on the Historian Corner on a continuing basis as time and space permits. Each installment will be subsequently moved to the History Annex Page when a new installment is published. Therefore, if an installment is missed during the period it was published, it may be viewed on the History Annex Page.

Continued: Installment 10:

In addition to the added duty of surveillance of demonstrations, the First Cavalry Division found its lot to be that of providing 12 food surveillance teams and nine teams for the surveillance of Japanese Tax Administration to 10 prefectures and I Corps. Also included in the division's assignment was the duty of maintaining 21 guard posts in the assigned area of responsibility.

The month of April came to a close in a flurry of activity brought about by the Command Post Exercise conducted in preparation for May Day, the Korean elections scheduled 10 days later, and possible subversive activity which might result. All echelons of the command were called into play. Operational patrols were dispatched by air and ground to cover expected areas of activity and Communist concentration. These patrols funneled information on through command channels to division headquarters using all means of communication, namely, wire and telephone, police command circuits, radio command, air ground and liaison nets. Through these networks and command nets to IX Corps and 8th Army, a running account and close tab on all activities was made available to the higher commanders intimately concerned.

Young soldiers of the 8th Cavalry Regiment train in the use of a modern infantry weapon in the maneuver area of Camp McNair, located on the foothills of famed Mount Fuji.

On May 1, the entire First Cavalry Division found itself on an alert status in preparation for any outbreak of violence that might occur as a result of May Day festivities and Korean elections. The alert status remained in effect from May 1-12 with surveillance patrols in all areas of responsibility, which could very well account for the fact that no outbreaks of a subversive nature occurred in the First Cavalry Division area.

The strength of the division continued to be a matter of grave concern however, for the number of replacements only exceeded total losses for May by 86 men. Officer strength continued to drop during the month with a net loss of 20 officers and warrant officers, increasing the already critical officer shortage. A ray of hope came from the division's recruiting team in the Zone of Interior, indicating that a total of 3,384 men enlisted for the First Cavalry Division during the period March 15 to May 7, 1948.

In June, the division experienced a net gain of 271 enlisted men which gave rise to a renewed feeling of optimism regarding the future of tactical training. The physical result of this small gain in personnel was to make available a total of nearly two troops daily from the entire division for training. This was double the number available during the previous four months, and it had an excellent effect upon the morale of troops heavily overburdened with occupation, guard, surveillance and housekeeping duties.

The training picture in the division brightened to some small extent in June because of the slight increase in manpower. With two troops available daily, it was possible to conduct training in the cadre phase of air

The general overall operations for the First Cavalry Division during the month of July were accelerated somewhat, because of an influx of replacements, exceeding losses by 713 men. The month's mission centered around testing these replacements, orienting them and instituting training programs which would best expedite their becoming First Cavalry Division troopers of the caliber which the division demanded. Coupled with the division's replacement program, plans were put into effect for all units to undergo field exercises and maneuvers at Camp McNair. the division's maneuver area, for a minimum of two weeks.

While a forward radioman calls for additional help, members of the scout patrol give initial assault on an enemy position during field problems of the 16th Reconnaissance Company.

The operations of the division during the month of August 1948, began to take on the proportions of full scale training for the first time :a many months. The arrival of a substantial number of replacements during the two previous months made the establishment of brigade and division artillery training programs the chief activity of all units. The new men received intensive indoctrination in the occupational duties of the division as well as a refresher in all basic training" subjects.

August also saw a slight increase over the normal amount of occupational duties. A strike at the Toho motion picture studio in Tokyo threatened law and order until the arrival of 2nd Cavalry Brigade troops supported by elements of the 302nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop and the 95th Light Tank Company. The mere presence: of the troops, whose mission was to protect allied lives and property and to exercise surveillance of the strike, was sufficient to maintain order.

During the month, command inspections were held for all units of the division, with emphasis being placed on the replacement housekeeping and training situations.

During the month of September, the First Cavalry Division hit its stride with full scale training and a full agenda of occupation missions for all units. Continued arrival of a substantial number of replacements, which exceeded losses by 720 enlisted men for the month, enabled the division to return several troops to an active status.

Coupled with replacement refresher training and continuous emphasis on field training and combat firing, all units participated in a command post exercise on the 9th and 10th of September, during which, all headquarters down to include active regimental and squadron headquarters, moved into the field.

Dignitaries and guests honored by the division during the month included participation in a welcoming ceremony for Lieutenant General Walton H. Walter, who replaced Lieutenant General Robert L. Eichelberger as commander of the Eighth United States Army, on September 15.

On October 19, Brigadier General W. B. Bradford assumed command of the division during the temporary absence of Major General William C. Chase, who departed for the Zone of Interior on emergency leave. Other command post changes saw Major Hal D. Steward, combat veteran of the division, returned to replace Captain S. A. Freedman as division public information officer.

Emphasis continued on fire prevention and control with demonstrations and lectures on this subject being conducted throughout the division. Coupled with career management and Military Occupational Specialty training, the division intensified its drive for United States Armed Forces Institute enrollments and stressed the Army Education Program in all units.

In November of 1948, the division found itself embroiled in a beehive of activity, contributed to in a large extent by the arrival of 1335 enlisted men replacements and 40 officers.

The month's mission, in addition to the ever-present occupation mission, was centered primarily around processing and training replacements. Concurrent with replacement training, emphasis was placed on cadre and specialist training and the attendant problems of logistical and administrative supporting functions.

A lineman of the 13th Signal Company searches out a faulty line in the intricate telephone system composed of American and Japanese equipment connecting camps of the division.

Major command changes during the month included Major General William C. Chase's re-assumption of the division command on November 18, after his return from the Zone of Interior on emergency leave, and naming of Colonel Raymond D. Palmer as commanding officer of the 12th Cavalry Regiment.

Ceremonies during the month were confined to one post review at Camp Drake in honor of General Chase's return, and an honor guard ceremony conducted at Camp Drake on November 26 for the Honorable Bernabe Africa, chief of the Philippine Mission in Japan. On November 23, the 8th Cavalry Regiment conducted Organization Day ceremonies.

The First Cavalry Division embarked on the month of December in a whirlwind of activity that carried throughout the month. The biggest influx of replacements to date made their appearance on the local scene with a total of 2880 enlisted replacements and 104 officers. Adding to the multitude of new faces already present in the division, the new replacements broadened the possibility for meeting existing training requirements. However, despite the replacement influx, there still remained shortage of good non-commissioned officers for quad leaders and company grade line officers.

All ranks looked forward to the New Year with anticipation to bringing the division up to the standards of combat efficiency and morale for which it stands.

The momentum of activity of the old year continued on into the new year as the First Cavalry Division launched into its first busy month of 1949. The number of replacements that arrived during the month totaled 2494 enlisted men and 3 officers. The month's officer and enlisted replacements totaled an approximate 70 per cent influx of new personnel over that of the previous six months. During the month, the First Cavalry Division received word that General Chase would be returned to the United States by order of the Department of Army, for duty with the Third United States Army. Also scheduled to return to the Zone of Interior was Lieutenant Colonel /William F. Damon Jr, the assistant chief of staff G-2. Colonel Damon was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel John J. Beiser.

Mobilization Training Program tests were inducted for the 271st Field Artillery Battalion at Camp Drew on January 6 and 7. This constituted the first such official testing for the division.

Giant prime movers of Company "A," 71st Heavy Tank Battalion carried M-24 tanks from Camp Chigasaki to the maneuver area at Yoshida in the first overland tank march in the history of the Japanese occupation.

The division's mission remained as in months past, that of processing and training replacements, cadre and specialist training, and providing occupation administrative and logistical support.

During the month of January the division furnished a total of 82 election surveillance teams in supervision of the Japanese election of House of Representatives and Supreme Court members. This election surveillance covered a four day period. The division continued to provide military government assistance in the way of teams for supervision of tax administration and to curtail the black marketing of food. Twenty guard posts were maintained in the assigned areas of responsibility. Military police patrols continued at the same pace as the previous month, with an average of 325 military police and reconnaissance patrols. A total of 323 operational flights of liaison aircraft were recorded during this period.

The important news of February 1949 was the change in command of the division, with Major General John M. Devine assuming command from Major General William C. Chase, who had commanded the First Cavalry Division during all of its occupation duty in Japan and had served with the division during World War II. Along with the new commanding general, the division received a total of 1061 enlisted men and 61 officers during the month. The strength of the division continued to mount, because of the influx of additional men who enlisted in the States for duty with the First Cavalry Division. The strength totaled just under 15,000.'

The division G-3 section continued to administer Mobilization Training Program tests upon completion of unit basic training cycles. Those units that completed their Phase I program and testing were launched into Phase II unit training.

The month of February proved to be a busy one in the observance of special events. The division celebrated February 3 as "Manila Day" in commemoration of the "Flying Column's" dash into Manila. A division review scheduled for the same day, in observance of "Manila Day" was actually held on the 2nd, in honor of Secretary of the Army Royall, on the Imperial Palace Plaza in Tokyo. Secretary Royall visited Camp Drake and Camp McGill while touring Japan. On February 11, a colorful review was staged at Herron Field, Camp Drake, in honor of the departing Commanding General, William C. Chase, with all units at Camp Drake participating and token units representing the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Brigades and Division Artillery. General Devine was on the reviewing stand with General Chase. On February 12, an honor guard ceremony was held for General Chase as he left. The new commanding general was officially welcomed into the division on the 14th with an honor guard ceremony.

Named in honor of General Jonathan Wainwright, one time brigade commander in the division, the Camp Drake officers' club took on a new dress with the mid-February 1950 snow.

To Be Continued...