The 12th Cavalry Regiment entered the Admiralty Islands campaign after the 5th and 7th Cavalry had established and reinforced the Momote Airfield beachhead. It landed on Los Negros on March 6, 1944, and helped expand the division's position around Seeadler Harbor. Elements landed at Chaporowan Point, fought near Hill 260 and Papitalai Mission, and joined the coordinated westward attack that reduced the last major Japanese positions on Los Negros. The regiment also took part in the final phase of the Admiralties fighting, including a landing on Pak Island to search for remaining enemy parties.
On Leyte, the 12th Cavalry landed on October 20, 1944, in the center of the 1st Cavalry Division's assault formation. It helped clear San Jose, Tacloban Airfield, and the Cataisan Peninsula, then moved through the Tacloban-Caibaan area as the division pushed toward northern Leyte. The regiment later relieved positions near Hill 522 and, in December, became central to the westward drive. It entered Lonoy on December 19, seized Kananga on December 21, and advanced with the 5th Cavalry across swampy terrain to reach the coast at Tibur on December 28. That movement helped close the division's Leyte operations west of Villaba.
The regiment landed on Luzon in January 1945 and soon entered the Manila campaign. On February 10 it attacked into Rosario Heights while the division expanded south of the Pasig River. It then fought toward Manila Bay with the 5th Cavalry, passing through the Neilson Field area and helping clear the capital's southern approaches. After the Shimbu Line drive east of Manila, the 12th Cavalry shifted into southern Luzon. From April 1 to 5 its 2nd Squadron and supporting elements fought for Imoc Hill near Calauan, one of the regiment's sharpest late-war actions before organized resistance in the division zone broke into scattered pockets.
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