Following the surrender of Imperial Japan, the 1st Cavalry Division was redeployed from Luzon to Japan to take up occupation duties. The division marched victoriously into Tokyo in 1945 and began the grueling tasks of policing a now-defeated Japan. Destruction of war material, securing Imperial bullion and wealth, and protecting the citizenry were all cornerstones of the service the 1st Cavalry Division conducted in Japan. The First Team remained in Japan from 1945 to 1950 before the aptly nicknamed Praetorian Guards were sent to Korea for the first war of the new global Cold War.

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This page is dedicated to the troopers who dutifully maintained prosperity and peace in Occupied Japan during the early days of rebuilding the country.