The United States Army Cavalry was a horse-mounted cavalry force that existed in various forms between 1775 and 1942. The Plains Cavalry played an important role in extending American governance into western North America. The 1st Cavalry Division (United States) is the only division of the U.S. Army that retains the "cavalry" name, and the division retains one detachment of horse cavalry for morale and ceremonial purposes. The division is otherwise divided into 4 armored brigades and one air cavalry brigade, both of which contain subordinate units that perform traditional cavalry tasks. The last horse cavalry charge by the Army took place against Japanese forces during the fighting in the Bataan Peninsula, Philippines, in the village of Morong in January 1942, by the 26th Cavalry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts. Shortly thereafter, the besieged U.S./Philippine forces were forced to slaughter their horses for food and the 26th fought on foot or in whatever scarce vehicles were available until the surrender of U.S./Philippine forces. For the remainder of World War II, Cavalry units were either mechanized with tanks and reconnaissance vehicles or fought as infantry. The distinct Cavalry branch ceased to exist when it was absorbed into the Armor branch in 1951, during the Korean War. Other regiments of both armored and air cavalry exist in the Army. The patches on 1st Cavalry Division helicopters that served in Vietnam retained the symbol of a horse, symbolizing the mobility that characterized the original horse cavalry. Chief, the Cavalry's last horse of the original tactical horses, died in 1968 at the age of 36. There is still one Army Military Occupational Specialty that is active and has been since the early Cavalry days: 19D Cavalry Scout.