bigpigeon.us webpage WWII -  Japan  >  Philippines Liberated  > Leyte, updated by RAC 18 May 2022.
The Leyte Campaign began in earnest on 20 October 1944 when four divisions of MacArthur's Sixth Army, led by General Walter Krueger, landed on the east coast of Leyte in the central Philippine Islands.

In an attempt to destroy the invasion forces, the Imperial Japanese Navy then launched a complex naval operation which became the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the subject of a separate webpage.

The accompanying map shows the US land advance during the first two weeks.

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Early Stage of the Leyte Campaign
Early Stage of the Leyte Campaign
The Japanese continued to reinforce their troops on Leyte with troops brought in from elsewhere in the Philippines. Also, Leyte in the autumn turned out to be not well suited for airbase construction because of climatic and soil conditions. Thus the Leyte Campaign took longer than expected. 

Various dates are used to mark the close of the Leyte Campaign:
  • 25 Dec - Last port available for Japanese use is siezed.
  • 26 Dec - Leyte operational control transferred from the Sixth to the Eigth Army.
  • 31 Dec - Last combat with Japanese units.
  • 8 May 1945 - Mop-up of Japanese stragglers ends.
Final Stage of the Leyte Campaign
Final Stage of the Leyte Campaign
Sources for the Leyte webpage:
  • The webpage header photo, MacArthur at Leyte, shows General MacArthur landing on the beach at Leyte on invasion day, 20 Oct 1944. The photo is courtesy of wikipedia.
  • The map Early Stage of the Leyte Campaign is taken from https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-27/CMH_Pub_72-27.pdf.
  • The map Final Stage of the Leyte Campaign is taken from https://history.army.mil/html/books/072/72-27/CMH_Pub_72-27.pdf.
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Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - Leyte: ​09-01 - Philippines Liberated > Leyte: (three dead, updated 15 Dec 2021)
† Alley, Guy Hersell, SN 37-267-605, US Army, Mills Co.
  • 382nd Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div.; KIA 9 Nov 1944 W of Dagami, Leyte, Philippines; Philippines Liberated > Leyte.
† Karnes, Howard Leroy, SN 37-431-632, US Army, Cass Co.
  • Co. I, 32nd Inf. Regt., 7th Inf. Div.; KIA 25 Nov 1944 SE of Ormoc; Leyte, Phillipines; Battle of Shoestring Ridge - Philippines Liberated > Leyte.
† Leet, John Drexel Sr., SN 37-267-578, US Army, Mills Co.
  • Co. B, 382nd Inf. Regt., 96th Inf. Div., KIA 4 Nov 1944 Bloody Ridge, W of Dagami, Leyte, Philippines; Philippines Liberated > Leyte.
† Pettie, Vernon Gerard, SN 648-57-95, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • Fleet Hospital #114, Leyte Gulf, Manicani Is., Guinan, Samar, Philippines; DNB 8 Apr 1945, Samar, drowning; Philippines Liberated > Leyte.