Leyte, 1944: The Soldiers' Battle

Leyte, 1944: The Soldiers' Battle
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When General Douglas MacArthur arrived in Australia in March 1942, having successfully left the Philippines to organize a new American army, he vowed, "I shall return!" More than two years later he did return, at the head of a large U.S. army to retake the Philippines from the Japanese. The place of his re-invasion was the central Philippine Island of Leyte. Much has been written about the naval Battle of Leyte Gulf that his return provoked, but almost nothing has been written about the three-month long battle to seize Leyte itself.

Originally intending to delay the advancing Americans, 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 itself to halt and then overwhelm the Americans on Leyte. As were most battles in the Pacific, it was a long, bloody, and brutal fight. As did the Japanese, the Americans were forced to rush in reinforcements to compensate for the rapid increase in Japanese forces on Leyte.

This unique battle also saw a major Japanese counterattackâ€”not a banzai charge, but a carefully thought-out counteroffensive designed to push the Americans off the island and capture the elusive General MacArthur. Both American and Japanese battalions spent days surrounded by the enemy, often until relieved or overwhelmed. Under General Yamashitaâ€™s guidance it also saw a rare deployment of Japanese paratroopers in conjunction with the ground assault offensive.

Finally there were more naval and air battles, all designed to protect or cover landing operations of friendly forces. 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.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Decision For The Philippines
2. I Have Returnedâ€
3. Into The Valleys
4. Into The Mountainsâ€”Breakneck Ridge
5. Into The Mountainsâ€”Kilay Ridge
6. Into The Mountainsâ€”Shoestring Ridge
7. The â€œOld Bastardsâ€ Land
8. The Last Valley
9. The Japanese Retreat
10. The Bitter End

Appendix 1: U.S. Forces Order Of Battle, Leyte, 1944
Appendix 2: Japanese Order Of Battle, Leyte, 1944
Appendix 3: U.S. Army Battle Casualties, Leyte, 20 Oct 1944 â€“ 8 May 1945

Notes
Bibliographical Note
Index
Country USA
Brand Casemate
Manufacturer Casemate
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber Illustrated
ReleaseDate 2012-12-07
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781612001555

Country	USA
Brand	Casemate
Manufacturer	Casemate
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	Illustrated
ReleaseDate	2012-12-07
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781612001555

Leyte, 1944: The Soldiers' Battle

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