8^th Cavalry Regiment

The 8th Cavalry Regiment entered combat in the Admiralty Islands after the 1st Cavalry Division had secured its initial foothold on Los Negros. On March 15, 1944, the regiment led the 2nd Cavalry Brigade assault on Manus, landing near Lugos Mission after artillery, naval gunfire, and air preparation. One squadron pushed east along the coastal road toward Lorengau airdrome while another moved inland toward Road No. 1. The 7th Cavalry followed ashore to protect the beachhead and support the attack. Over the next several days the 8th Cavalry fought toward the airfield, helped overrun it on March 18, and then crossed the Lorengau River to take Lorengau village before continuing the clearance of eastern Manus.

During the Leyte campaign the regiment received a distinct mission from the rest of the division. On October 24, 1944, it landed at La Paz on Samar and operated along both sides of San Juanico Strait to block Japanese movement between Samar and Leyte. Reconnaissance parties moved by landing craft through the strait, while other elements secured the Diit River bridge and prepared movement toward Santa Cruz and Carigara Bay. The regiment remained on Samar patrol duty into January 1945, returning to the division on January 8.

The 8th Cavalry landed on Luzon later that month and joined the rapid drive from Guimba toward Manila. Its motorized elements passed through Gapan and helped spearhead the division's entry into the city on February 3. After Manila, the regiment operated with the 2nd Cavalry Brigade east of the capital, attacking from Taytay toward the Shimbu Line and meeting stiff resistance near Antipolo. In late March it captured Lipa, contacted the 11th Airborne Division, and helped open the Batangas-Calamba supply road into Manila before the division shifted east and south against remaining Japanese pockets.