Washington, D. C.
15 June 1953

Contents

ChapterPage
I.[THE STRATEGIC PLAN]1
[Preliminary Discussion]1
[Plans Agreed Upon]8
II.[THE NATURE OF THE TARGET]10
[Geography of Leyte]10
[The Resistance Movement on Leyte]14
[Liaison Between Leyte and Australia]18
III.[PLANS ARE MADE AND FORCES ARE READIED]21
[Estimate of the Enemy Situation]21
[The Tactical Plan]23
[The Logistical Plan]35
IV.[THE RETURN]40
[The Convoy Forms]40
[Softening the Target]42
[Japanese Plan of Defense]45
[Securing the Channel Approaches]54
[The Convoy Enters Leyte Gulf]58
V.[A DAY: 20 OCTOBER 1944]60
[Bombardment of the Shores of Leyte]60
[X Corps Goes Ashore]62
[XXIV Corps Goes Ashore]72
[Bringing in Supplies]80
VI.[THE JAPANESE REACTION]85
[The Air Forces]85
[The Battle of Leyte Gulf]88
[The Japanese Reinforce the LeyteGarrison]92
VII.[SOUTHERN LEYTE VALLEY: PART ONE] 103
[The SHŌ Operations]103
[Enlarging the 96th Division Beachhead]107
[Catmon Hill Area]114
VIII.[SOUTHERN LEYTE VALLEY: PART TWO]124
[The Dulag-Burauen Road]124
[Securing the XXIV Corps Beachhead Line]133
IX.[NORTHERN LEYTE VALLEY: PART ONE]146
[San Juanico Strait]146
[Leyte Valley Entrance]157
X.[NORTHERN LEYTE VALLEY: PART TWO]168
[Drive up Leyte Valley]168
[Capture of Carigara]179
XI.[LOGISTICS AND CIVIL AFFAIRS]184
[Logistics]184
[Medical Support]192
[Civil Affairs]198
[Relations With Filipino Refugees]200
XII.[THE MOUNTAIN BARRIER: PART ONE]206
[The Coastal Corridor]206
[Battle of Breakneck Ridge]211
XIII.[THE MOUNTAIN BARRIER: PART TWO]221
[Reinforcements]221
[32d Division Assumes the Offensive]223
[Battle of Kilay Ridge]227
[Central Mountain Range]235
XIV.[MEASURE OF THE FIGHTING]244
[The American Ground Forces]244
[Japanese Warfare]251
XV.[BATTLE OF THE RIDGES]253
[American Plans and Preparations]253
[Battle of Shoestring Ridge]257
[Battles of the Hills]266
XVI.[THE FALL OF ORMOC] 275
[Plan for Amphibious Movement]276
[The Movement Overwater]280
[Drive Toward Ormoc]284
[Two Sevens Are Rolled in Ormoc]290
XVII.[BATTLE OF THE AIRSTRIPS]294
[The American Dispositions]296
[First Japanese Effort]297
[Battle of Buri Airstrip]298
[Attack From the Sky]300
XVIII.[LOGISTICS]306
[Construction]306
[Supplies]308
XIX.[THE ENTRANCES TO ORMOC VALLEY]313
[Southern Entrance to Ormoc Valley]313
[The Mountain Passage]321
[The Drive South]323
XX.[SEIZURE OF ORMOC VALLEY]329
[Drive From the South to the LibongaoArea]330
[The 32d Division Resumes the Offensive]339
[Debouchment From the Mountains]342
XXI.[WESTWARD TO THE SEA]347
[The 77th Division Goes West]348
[X Corps Goes West]354
[The Japanese Retreat]358
XXII.[LEYTE IS LIBERATED]361
[The Eighth Army Assumes Control]361
[The RoadEnds]367
Appendix
A.[GHQ OPERATIONS INSTRUCTIONS NO. 70, 21 SEPTEMBER1944]371
B.[BASIC MILITARY MAP SYMBOLS]378
[LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS]380
[BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE]383
[INDEX]391

Tables

No.Page
1.[Sixth Army DailyStrength Reports, 12 November–25 December 1944]222
2.[Shipping TonnageDischarged in Leyte-Samar Area, 28 October–25 December1944]310
3.[Airdrops by 11th AirCargo Resupply Squadron, 11 November–25 December 1944]311
4.[U. S. Army BattleCasualties at Leyte, 20 October 1944–8 May 1945]368
5.[Sixth Army BattleCasualties by Arm or Service, 20 October–25 December1944]369

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