The 1st Cavalry Division started activities in New Guinea 1944 and after different battles the division took part in the invasion of Leyte. Later, the division invaded Luzon and fought its way as a «flying column» to Manila by 3 February 1945. After the surrender of the Japanese, the 1st Division was given responsibility for occupying the entire city of Tokyo and The 8th Cavalry occupied the 3rd Imperial Guard Regiment Barracks in Tokyo, which provided greater proximity to security missions at the American and Russian Embassies and the Imperial Palace grounds.