5^th Cavalry Regiment

The 5th Cavalry Regiment entered combat with the 1st Cavalry Division in the Admiralty Islands. After the division trained in Australia and New Guinea, a squadron of the regiment landed on Los Negros on February 29, 1944, as the first American ground force committed to the operation. The landing force occupied Momote Airfield, then held a small perimeter through night counterattacks and infiltration until the rest of the regiment and division reinforcements arrived. In March the 5th Cavalry expanded westward on Los Negros, seized Hill 260, occupied Loniu Village, and helped reduce the remaining Japanese positions while Manus was being taken by the division's second brigade.

The regiment next assaulted Leyte on October 20, 1944. Landing with the 7th and 12th Cavalry Regiments, it helped clear San Jose, Tacloban Airfield, and the Cataisan Peninsula. As the division pushed north and west, the 5th Cavalry moved through the Tacloban-Caibaan area, helped secure approaches toward the Carigara-Barugo region, and later fought through swampy country with the 12th Cavalry. On December 28 the two regiments reached the coast at Tibur, helping close the division's drive past Villaba and toward contact with the 32nd Infantry Division.

On Luzon, the 5th Cavalry landed at Lingayen Gulf on January 27, 1945, and advanced from Guimba toward Manila with the 8th Cavalry. The regiment fought in the capital's northern and eastern approaches, reached Manila Bay with the 12th Cavalry, and captured the Agriculture Building on March 1. It then joined the March attack against the Shimbu Line before shifting into southern Luzon. In April it reached San Pablo, pushed east toward Laguna de Bay and Mauban, and later probed Mount Isarong as organized resistance in the division's zone contracted.