The units of the 96th Division spent the next three days in patrolling and mopping up. The division had secured the beachhead area of the XXIV Corps in its zone of action. Its units had seized the Catmon Hill mass, which dominated the landing beaches, had traversed and cleaned out the inland swamps, and had secured the important communications center and supply dump of Tabontabon and the main portion of the significant Tanauan-Dagami road. Since landing they had killed an estimated 2,769 Japanese and taken 6 prisoners in their zone of action.[62] The cost had not been light. Casualties of the 96th Division since 25 October had been 13 officers and 132 enlisted men killed, 30 officers and 534 enlisted men wounded, and 2 officers and 88 enlisted men missing in action.[63]
[1] 35th Army Opns, p. 30. Unless otherwise indicated, the following is based upon this study, pp. 30–34. [↑]
[2] Allied Geographical Sec, GHQ SWPA Terrain Handbook 34, Tacloban, 25 Sep 44, p. 10. [↑]
[3] 96th Div Opns Rpt Leyte, p. 88. [↑]
[4] 10th I&HS Eighth Army, Stf Study of Opns of Japanese 35th Army on Leyte, pp. 2–3. [↑]
[5] 35th Army Opns, pp. 22–23. [↑]
[6] 96th Div FO 2, 10 Oct 44. [↑]