16th Div

26th Div

102d Div

1st Div

XXXX CORPS

XXIV CORPS

1st Cav Div24th Div (-)

32dDiv

96th Div

7th Div

77th Div

77th Div(-)

11th Abn Div

77th(-)

1st CavDiv

24thDiv

24th Div(-)32d Div

OrmocValley

LE

YT

E

V

AL

LE

Y

Breakneck Ridge

Kilay Ridge

Hill 918

C A R I G A R A B A Y

O R M O C B A Y

S a n J u a n i c o S t r a i t

Antipolo Pt.

SanPabloBuri

Valencia

Camp Downes

HW

Y 2H I G H WAY 2

HIG

HW

AY

1

B I L I R A N

S A M A R

PONSON I

Palompon

Ormoc

Burauen

Jaro

CarigaraPinamopoan

Mahonag

Damulaan

Baybay

Santa Cruz

Dagami

S I T U A T I O N O N L E Y T E7 November–31 December 1944

Route of Allied Advance

Japanese Attack, 6 Dec

Japanese Paratrooper Raid, 6 Dec

Front Line, 7 Dec

No te : Fo rm L i n e s d u e to d i s c re p a n c i e s i n t h e e l e va t i o n d a t a

0 15

Miles

Debarking from landing craft, reserve troops of 96th Infantry Division seek shelter from Japanese fire behind vehicles on beach at Leyte Island —20 Oct, 1944

77th Infantry Division proceeds onward in northwest Leyte —1945

U.S Soldiers from the 77th Infantry Division enter Ormoc, Leyte —16 Dec, 1944

CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY

UNITED STATES ARMYWASHINGTON, D.C.

www.history.army.mil

XXXX CORPS

XXIV CORPS

XX

XX

XX

1 CAV24

1st CavDiv

24th Div

7th Div

96th Div

L EY

TE

V

AL

LE

Y

OR

MO

C

VA

LL

EY

CatmonHill

Breakneck Ridge

Kilay Ri d ge

Hill 522

Hill 918

C A R I G A R A B A Y

O R M O C B A Y

L E Y T EG U L F

San Juanico Strait

Pa lo R

Daguitan R

Buri

Valencia

Tacloban

Camp Downes

HIG

HW

AY

1

HIG

HW

AY

1

H I G H WAY 2

HIG

HW

AY

2

PONSON I

B I L I R A N

S A M A R

Ormoc

Burauen

Dulag

San Jose

Abuyog

Tanauan

Palo

Jaro

CarigaraPinamopoan

Mahonag

Baybay

Barugo

Santa Cruz

Tabontabon

Dagami

Damulaan

Tacloban

S I T U A T I O N O N L E Y T E20 October–2 November 1944

Axis of Advance

No te : Fo rm L i n e s d u e to d i s c re p a n c i e s i n t h e e l e va t i o n d a t a

0 15

Miles

BATTLE OF LEYTE

THE U.S. ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Second World War through outreach events and other mediums to educate and inspire all members of American society by honoring the selfless acts of courage and heroism performed by U.S. soldiers in the service of our nation.Through this commemoration, we will:

• Remember the sacrifices of the more than 800,000 killed, wounded, or captured during the fighting of World War II.

• Honor the service of more than 11 million American soldiers who served in World War II.

• Educate current soldiers and the American public about the accomplishments that added new chapters to the proud history of the nation’s premier fighting force.

To view the World War II 75th commemoration Web site and affiliated publications, please visit the U.S. Army Center of Military History home page: www.history.army.milLearn more about the National Museum of the United States Army:

www.thenmusa.orgJoin us on social media at:

www.facebook.com/armyhistorywww.twitter.com/USArmyCMH

www.instagram.com/armyhistory CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY

“People of the Philippines, I have returned! By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil.” — General Douglas A. MacArthur

Facts:The Leyte invasion was the largest American and Allied amphibious

operation to that date in the Pacific Theater.

202,500 ground troops were involved in the campaign.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff had designated

General MacArthur supreme commander of sea, air, and land forces drawn from both the Southwest

Pacific and Central Pacific Area Commands.

General MacArthur’s staff in the Southwest Pacific Area Command used

“A-Day” (for Attack) in lieu of “D-Day” for the start of the invasion.

BATTLE OF LEYTEThe invasion of Leyte began on 17 October 1944 when the 6th Ranger Battalion assaulted and destroyed the Japanese garrisons and a radio station on the small islands of Suluan, Dinaget, and Homonhon. After the Rangers positioned navigation lights, U.S. Navy mine sweepers and underwater demolition teams entered Leyte Gulf to clear the approaches to the main invasion area. On 19 October, the armada of warships, transports, and amphibious assault vessels assembled offshore and commenced naval gunfire and carrier-based air strikes against the east coast of Leyte. At 1000 on A-Day, 20 October, after an intense air and naval bombardment, the Sixth Army, commanded by Lt. Gen. Walter Krueger, began the amphibious assault along two separate beachheads. The X Corps landed on a four-mile stretch of beach between the airfield at Tacloban and the Palo River, with the 1st Cavalry and the 24th Infantry Divisions in the north. The XXIV Corps landed 15 miles to the south and came ashore across a three-mile strand between San Jose and the Daguitan River with the 7th and 96th Infantry Divisions. Within an hour of landing, the assault units had secured beachheads deep enough to receive heavy vehicles and large amounts of supplies. By 1330, Japanese resistance had been reduced enough to allow the supreme Allied commander, General Douglas MacArthur, to come ashore and announce to the people of the Philippines the beginning of their liberation. The Sixth Army and Filipino guerrillas made steady progress against often tenacious enemy resistance. By late December, the Sixth Army had secured the northern sectors sufficiently to turn the battle over to the Eighth Army, which continued mopping-up operations in the south until May 1945.

All photos courtesy of National Archives.Cover illustration – “Follow Me!,” World War II, Leyte, H. Charles McBarron, c. 1948, oil on illustration board.

Army Museum Enterprise art collection

U.S. Army

Sixth Army

X Corps XXIV Corps

1st Cav Div 7th ID 11th ABN Div

24th ID 32d ID 77th ID 96th ID