Leyte, 1944: The Soldiers' BattleCasemate, 2012 M12 7 - 425 pages The decisive battle in Gen. MacArthur’s reclaiming of the Philippines in WWII is told in vivid, on-the-ground detail in this “definitive account” (WWII History Magazine). When Gen. Douglas MacArthur left the Philippines in 1942 to organize a new American army, he vowed, “I shall return!” More than two years later, he did return, retaking the Philippines from the Japanese. The site of his reinvasion was the central Philippine island of Leyte. The Japanese high command decided to make Leyte the “decisive battle” for the western Pacific and rushed crack Imperial Army units from Manchuria, Korea, and Japan to overwhelm the Americans. The Americans in turn rushed in reinforcements. This unique battle also saw a counteroffensive designed to push the Americans off the island and capture the elusive Gen. MacArthur. Both American and Japanese battalions spent days surrounded by the enemy, often until relieved or overwhelmed. Leyte was a three-dimensional battle, fought with the best both sides had to offer, and did indeed decide the fate of the Philippines in World War II. |
Contents
INTO THE VALLEYS | |
INTO THE MOUNTAINS BREAKNECK RIDGE | |
INTO THE MOUNTAINS KILAY RIDGE | |
INTO THE MOUNTAINSSHOESTRING RIDGE | |
THE OLD BASTARDS LAND | |
THE LAST VALLEY | |
THE JAPANESE RETREAT | |
THE BITTER | |
ORDER OF BATTLE LEYTE 1944 | |
ORDER OF BATTLE LEYTE 1944 | |
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11th Airborne Division 1st Battalion 1st Infantry 24th Infantry Division 2nd Battalion 32nd Infantry Division 35th Army 77th Infantry advance Air Force airfields American ammunition amphibious assault assigned attack battle Baybay beach beachhead Breakneck Ridge Burauen Captain Carigara casualties Colonel Clifford combat command Company G convoy counterattack Dagami December defense destroyer Distinguished Service Cross division's enemy fire enemy positions Engineer Field Artillery Battalion fight flank forward fought grenades guerrillas Headquarters heavy Highway Hill Infantry Regiment invasion island Japanese soldiers killed knocked Krueger landing Leyte Campaign Leyte Valley Luzon MacArthur Major mountains moved naval night November October opened fire operations Order Number Ormoc Bay Ormoc Valley Palompon patrol perimeter Philippines pillboxes planes platoon Presidential Unit Citation Private First Class rear reinforcements rifle River road Sergeant ships Sixth Army soon Staff supplies Suzuki Tacloban Tank Battalion troops U.S. Army wounded X Corps XXIV Corps yards