Today in History: On the morning of October 20, 1944, American forces landed on Red Beach in the municipality of Palo, roughly 14 kilometers from the Leyte capital Tacloban. Landing triumphantly on the beachhead that day were Filipino and American leaders, notably General Douglas MacArthur, President Sergio Osmeña, and Brigadier General Carlos P. Romulo.
The invasion of Leyte began the campaign for the liberation of the Philippines from the Imperial Japanese forces, fulfilling MacArthur’s pledge of returning to the islands he was forced to leave more than two years prior. It also marked the re-establishment of the Commonwealth Government on Philippine soil after years of government-in-exile in Washington D.C. Re-elected Vice President in 1941, Osmeña had assumed the Presidency following the demise of President Manuel L. Quezon on August 1, 1944.
Meanwhile, the Filipino leader of the resistance movement in Leyte, Ruperto Kangleon, rallied his troops in support of the Americans. He was appointed military governor of Leyte on October 23, 1944, and went on to further serve the country, first as Secretary of National Defense under the administration of President Manuel Roxas, and then as a Senator.
The Battle of Leyte was waged from October 20 to December 31, 1944, resulting in a decisive victory for the Allied forces. The campaign involved the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which was fought from October 23 to 26. It was the largest naval battle in history and the first instance of the Japanese deploying kamikaze pilots. The Battle of Leyte was a watershed moment in the Pacific war theatre, culminating in the end of almost three years of Japanese occupation of the Philippines and the loss of Japan’s strategic vise grip on Southeast Asia. | Source: Malacañan Palace Presidential Museum & Library | via Visayan Khronika
#TaclobanToday #78thLeyteLandingAnniversary #KnowYourHistory
* * *
Avail of easy and fast online loan at
www.tala.com Philippines
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=123265.0
