Leyte 1944 : the soldiers' battle

Page 1



LEYTE 1944 The Soldiers' Battle

NATHAN N. PREFER

CASEMATE Philadelphia & Oxford


Published in the United States of America and Great Britain in 2012 by CASEMATE PUBLISHERS 908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083 and 10 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, OXI 2EW Copyright 2012 Š Nathan N. Prefer ISBN 978-I-6I200-I55-5 Digital Edition: ISBN 978-I-6I200-I56-2 Cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of Congress and the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Publisher in writing. 10 9 8 7 6 5 43

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Printed and bound in the United States of America.

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I

I.

DECISION FOR THE PHILIPPINES

5

2.

"I HAVE RETURNED"

37

INTO THE VALLEYS

73

INTO THE MOUNTAINS-BREAKNECK RIDGE

107

INTO THE MOUNTAINS-KILAY RIDGE

143

6.

INTO THE MOUNTAINS-SHOESTRING RIDGE

181

THE "OLD BASTARDS" LAND

211

8.

THE LAST VALLEY

245

THE JAPANESE RETREAT

27 8

THE BITTER END

299

10.

ApPENDIX

I:

U.S. FORCES

ORDER OF BATTLE, LEYTE, ApPENDIX

329

1944

334

2: JAPANESE

ORDER OF BATTLE, LEYTE, ApPENDIX

1944

3:

U.S. ARMY BATTLE

CASUALTIES, LEYTE,

20 OCT 1944-8

MAY

1945

337

NOTES

33 8

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

369

INDEX

375


MAPS

MAP MAP MAP MAP MAP MAP MAP

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2 -

3456-

7-

Sixth Army's Assault Plan and Projected Lines of Advance x X Corps Landings 36 XXIV Corps Landings 53 Securing the Northern Beachhead 72 Shoestring Ridge I84 Situation on Leyte, 7 December I944 225 Encircling the Japanese on Leyte, the Ormoc Landing 244

All maps created by Mary Craddock Hoffman / STYLOGRAPHIX


To the men and women ofall nations who fought, suffered, bled and died on the island ofLeyte, and so many other islands and places around the worldfew had ever heard ofbefore, being thrust into the ongoing battle for freedom.



"When [General Walter] Krueger found an infantryman with untreated blisters, athlete's foot, or leaky socks, the soldier's noncoms lost their stripes and his officers got official reprimands. We in the lower echelons sort of loved the crusty old boy, were delighted to learn that he had enlisted as a private and risen through the ranks, and were not surprised when later he turned out to be one of the most distinguished generals in the pacific." Bill Mauldin, The Brass Ring (1971)

"1 love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rainand-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the guys that wars can't be won without." Ernie Pyle, New York World Telegram (May 5, 1943)

"The system was popularly called 'leapfrogging,' and hailed as something new in warfare. But it was actually the adaptation of modern instrumentalities of war to a concept as ancient as war itself. Derived from the classic strategy of envelopment, it was given a new name, imposed by modern conditions. Never before had a field of battle embraced land and water in such relative proportions. Earlier campaigns had been decided on either land or sea. However, the process of transferring troops by sea as well as by land appeared to conceal the fact that the system was merely that of envelopment applied to a new type of battle area. It has always proved the ideal method for success by inferior but faster-moving forces." Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Reminiscences (1964)


o

SIXTH U.S. ARMY ASSAULT PLAN AND PROJECTED LINES OF ADVANCE 20 October 1944

Samar 1

2

~

3

Objectives High Ground

Roads

oI

10 I

Miles

Gamotes

Sea

Bohol

20 I


I NTRClDUCTIClN

T

he story of the U.S. Army's battle for Leyte Island in late 1944-January 1945 numbers among many tales of many battles fought by that army during the global Second World War. But is it just another battle? To military historians who have studied the war in the Pacific, the answer has been lost in the more flamboyant tales of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which the Battle for Leyte precipitated. In that naval battle, which sealed the fate of Imperial Japan's naval power for the war's duration, the chance for Japan to regain the naval initiative was forever destroyed, as was the fleet Japan sent to contest the American landings on Leyte. With the destruction and retreat of the enemy fleet remnants, the Battle for Leyte was assumed by many to have been won. The decisive battle that Japanese naval leaders had long sought had gone against them, and there now remained only the need to continue moving closer to the home islands of Japan to end the war. But there was another decisive battle at Leyte, largely overlooked. Although in the years since the war more than a dozen books and monographs have appeared that detail various aspects of the naval Battle of Leyte Gulf, not one non-official work details the army's struggle for Leyte. Again, it appears that the assumption has been that since the naval battle was so clearly successful that the land campaign was simply a pro forma matter, with no unusual or atypical events to make it noticeable and stand out among many similar battles. But was that the case? It was not. The Leyte Campaign, one of the largest combined operations


2

•

LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

of the Pacific War, quickly turned into one of the most difficult and deadly ground campaigns of the Southwest Pacific Theater. A full American army, with two corps and more than seven American divisions under it's command in the middle of the campaign, devoted itself for four months to subduing the Japanese defenders of Leyte. If the naval Battle of Leyte Gulf was the decisive naval engagement of the second half of the war, then the land battle for Leyte was the decisive ground forces battle as well. For the Japanese decided to make it so. The land campaign for Leyte involved more than two hundred thousand American soldiers, far more than the number of sailors and Marines who fought the three-day Battle of Leyte Gulf. These soldiers, many of whom spent the entire four months deep in heavy jungles, fighting in spite of typhoons and the rainy season, basically destroyed the fabric of the planned Japanese defense of the entire Philippines. For the Japanese High Command had decided, albeit late, that rather than fight the decisive battle for the Philippines on Luzon, it would be fought on Leyte. That decision alone made the Leyte Campaign decisive, but when the Japanese poured in their best troops from China, Korea,Japan and other Philippine islands, they also committed their best chance of holding the Philippines and keeping open their essential supply lines to the Southeast Asian natural resources upon which their war effort depended. Nor did the Leyte Campaign go as planned. Few battles ever did, but the Leyte Campaign was full of surprises. Initially only one Japanese division defended the island, and the four American divisions should have been more than enough to overwhelm the defenders. But the change in Japanese policy changed everything. Before the battle was over another three American divisions had to be committed, another division-sized amphibious landing conducted, and plans and preparations for future assaults changed, delayed, postponed. And the cream of the Imperial Japanese Army died on Leyte. At least two of the reinforcing divisions were rated as among the best in the Imperial Japanese Army in 1944, and the bulk of these divisions were destroyed on Leyte. Japanese air power, husbanded for the defense of the Philippines, was also largely destroyed during the campaign, making the rest of the Philippine battles less deadly then they would otherwise have been. Indeed, the Battle for Luzon, on the main Philippine island, can be said to have been won with the Battle of Leyte, during which Japanese air and naval power was rendered ineffective and the best of the Japanese soldiers destroyed, rather than building stronger defenses on Luzon.


INTRODUCTION

• 3

Nor did the Americans hold the upper hand throughout the campaign. The Japanese presence felt by their constantly reinforced garrison, and the Imperial Japanese Navy's continuous presence offshore, combined with the ever present Japanese air power to make the campaign difficult. American troops felt the wrath ofJapanese naval bombardments, were hit by the new but already dreaded Kamikaze suicide planes, and were involved in at least two last-stand defenses of positions while surrounded by Japanese forces. As if that were not enough to excite interest in the campaign, a Japanese counterattack late in the campaign was highlighted by the only airborne assault attack against American forces in the Southwest Pacific. The campaign also featured several leading figures who have otherwise remained hidden from view behind the overpowering figure of General Douglas MacArthur. General Walter Krueger is largely unknown outside the circle of students of the Second World War in the Pacific, yet he led his Sixth Army throughout some of the most difficult campaigns of the war. At times he was fighting a war with his component units as far apart as a thousand miles. Despite these difficulties, the Leyte Campaign was fought successfully due in large part to his skills as a battlefield commander, even with the constant pressure exerted by his own commanding officer, General MacArthur, to rush the campaign so that the island of Luzon, and the Philippine capital of Manila, could be attacked and seized as soon as possible. There was also General Robert Eichelberger whose Eighth Army took over the campaign when General Krueger's men moved on to Luzon. Another competent soldier whose skills were overshadowed by General MacArthur's strict publicity policies, Eichelberger too finished the Leyte Campaign while conducting several other campaigns around the Philippines simultaneously. The corps and division commanders are likewise unknown, but their accomplishments before, during and after the Leyte Campaign remain among the most successful in military history. There were others, nearly all of whose names are forever lost to history, who deserve recognition. Today they are revered anonymously as "The Greatest Generation," a title most of them ignore or shrug off tired shoulders. Many never lived to hear the accolade, like the twenty-one-year-old sergeant from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, who despite being severely wounded, remained fully exposed to enemy fire in a Leyte stream shouting orders to his men, until killed. Or the perennial troublemaker in garrison who turned into a soldier in battle, protecting the beachhead from a battalion-sized attack after all his buddies had been killed or wounded, until he, too, was finally


4

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

overcome. Or the radio operator who could have remained in the rear but chose to take command of an infantry assault and led it to its objective at the cost of his own life. There were many others, only some of whom are mentioned in this history. Leyte was also the test of naval and air support for a sustained ground campaign in the Southwest Pacific. Rarely had American naval aircraft been available for support to an ongoing land campaign. Until Leyte,MacArthur's forces usually relied on land based air support, but Leyte was different in that such air support could not be supplied in either sufficient numbers or with sufficient speed. And so the air battle became one of joint army-navy forces, unusual in the Pacific. And finally, the use of sea power to provide continual support for a campaign lasting more than three months was yet another change in the situation, which had earlier faced the Southwest Pacific Theater forces before Leyte. It was at Leyte that General MacArthur redeemed his famous "I shall return" promise of 1942. And although his return was widely publicized, his interest in the campaign quickly waned in favor of planning his return to Manila. Yet for the three thousand American soldiers who died on Leyte, and the ten thousand who were wounded or injured during the campaign, Leyte was the most important battle of their war. It deserves study as a significant campaign that led directly to the fall ofJapan at the end of World War II.


INDEX

Abrego, PFC Gerald S., 170 Adams, Capt. George E., 84, 91, 93,202 "Alamo Force," 23 Alamo Scouts, 66 USS Allen M. Sumner, 179 Amato, Sgt. Ignazio, 45 Ammerman, Pvt. Mort, 228 Anderson, Pvt. Francis, 122 Andrew, Cmdr.]. D., 168 Area, Southwest Pacific, 18 Army Service Forces, 7 Arnold, Gen. Archibald v., 19, 54, 80, 82, 89,130-131,182,185-186,189,192, 194,199-200,209,250,258,331 Arnold, Gen. Henry H., 7 Arnold, Gen. William H., 316, 319, 321 Arson Hill, 122-123 USS Aulick, 168-169 Austin, Capt. Paul, 41-42, 76, 102 Baker, Pvt. Louis, 305 Balud, Leyte, 106 Barbey, Admiral Daniel E., 18 Barstein, PFC Morris, 169 Barton, Maj. Claude D., 282 USS Barton, 233 Baser, Sgt. Raymond, 167; Distinguished

Batkies, Pvt. Richard, 153 "Battle of Bloody Hill, 200-201, 204, 240 "Battle of the Airstrips," 231 Baybay, Leyte, 96, 107, 111, 121, 125, 130-132,143,171,176,179-180,183, 185-186,189,192-193,198,213-214, 246-247,249,263,216-217 Bayug Airfield, Leyte, 11, 80-81, 108 Bean, Lt. Walter D., 247 "The Bend," 192, 194-196, 198 Benjamin,Jr., PFC George, 282; Medal of Honor, 283 Bentley, Lt. William C., 191 Bevis, Pvt. Harold T., 284 Biliran Strait, 10 Billingsley, Lt. Col. Robert H., 48 Bjork, Lt. Col. Delbert, 83, 89 Blackmore, Gen. Philip G., 329 Blair, III, Lt. Jack D., 170 "Bloody Knob," 120 Blucas, SSgt. Michael, 305 Blue, Lt. Daniel E., 89 Blue-Orange Plans, 5 Boardman, Pvt. Fred N ., Distinguished Service Cross, 205

Bollinger, Capt. Willard, 169 Bong, Maj. Richard Ira, USAAF, 187,

Service Cross, 168

275; Distinguished Service Cross, 187;

375


376

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

A1edal~}{ono~188,274

Bostock, Air Vice Marshal William D., 18,333 Bosworth, TSgt.Johnny H., 87 Bourdeau, Lt. Cledith W., Distinguished Service Cross, 183

Bourke, Gen. Thomas E., USMC, 331 Bowman, Sgt. Robert, 104 Bradley, Gen. James L., 20, 49-50, 65, 69, 125,226,331 Brady, Capt. Thomas, 224 Breakneck Ridge, 107, 113, 115-119, 121-122,124,132-133,135,140, 143-144,147-148,150,159,162-164, 250,264,295,300-301 Brogger, Lt. Cmdr. L. C., USNR, 236 Brooks, PFC William D., 265 Brostram, PFC Leonard, A1edal ~ }{onor, 92 Brough, Jr., Maj. Robert G ., 323 Brower, Cpl. Arlton, 153 Brown, Capt. Samuel H., 170 Bruce, Gen. Andrew D., 21,175,209, 213,237-238,240,242,245,249, 251-252,255,269,271,273-274,278, 280-282,288-292,331 Brust, Capt. Robert P., 203 Buna, New Guinea, 110,299 Burauen Airfield, 182, 186,200,206,210, 213,215-219,221,223,230,251,259, 279,298 Burauen, Leyte, 27-28, 80-83, 85, 130, 132 Buri Airfield, 81, 85-86, 89-90, 108, 175 Buri, Leyte, 11 Burns, Lt. Col. James P., 144 "Busyman's Ridge," 151, 153 Byrum, SSgt Leon, Distinguished Service Cross, 268 Cabalian Bay, 10 USS Caldwell, 245-246 Calubian, Layte, 162 USS Calv ert, 174

Camotes Sea, 143, 177-178,201 Camp Adair, Oregon, 19, 127 Camp Downes, 238-240, 242 Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, 24 Camp Stoneman, California, 21 Campbell, Cmdr. E. G., 234-235 Cannon, PFC Donald]., 35 Capoocan, Leyte, 111, 113, 147-148,316, 322 Carberry, Lt. Cmdr. William, 38 Carfield, Sgt. Paul, 117 Caridad, Leyte, 130, 183, 193, 197-198 Carigara Bay, Leyte, 11,27,64-65,73,75, 96-97,99,102-104,111,114,147, 165,248 Carigara, Leyte, 105-107, 110-111, 113, 115,143,214,285,301 Carrasquillo, Sgt. Jose, 151 Carruth, Capt. James E., 257; Distinguished Service Cross, 270 Carter, Capt. George W., 184; Distinguished Service Cross, 185

Casey, Maj. Gen. Hugh]., 21 Cassidy, Lt. Col. John G ., 69, 127 Castilla, Leyte, 100 Castro, Sgt. Dominic, 118 Castro, PFC Eugenion, 286 Cataisan Peninsula, 11,40 Catmon Hill, 27-28, 48-49,64-65,6770,73-74,85 Central Mountain Range, 215-218, 220, 258 Central Pacific Command, 315 Central Pacific Theater, 17,26 Chalgren,Jr., Lt. Col Edward, 256 Chapman, Jr., Lt. Col. George H., 78, 100 Cheatham, Cmdr. B. B., 246 Clark, Sgt. Forest, 157 Clark, Capt. (Chaplain) Lamar, 136 Clark, Gen. Mark W., 328 Clark, PFC Odell, 96 Clifford,]r., Lt. Col. Thomas E., 99,111113,147-162,295,310-313;


INDEX

Distinguished Service Cross, 152 Cochran, Cmdr. D. E., 168 Codena, PFC Decidero, 92 Coder, Pvt. Nelson, 155 USS Cofer, 236 USS Coghlan, 246 Cogswell, TSgt. Benton W., 287-288 Cohn, Capt Hans, 229 Cole, Capt. W. M., 247 USS Conyngham, 246 Coolidge, Lt. Col. Joseph B., 283 USS Cooper, 179 Corkscrew Ridge, 116, 124, 143-145 Cotelo, PFC Melchor 1.; Distinguished Service Cross, 161 Coune, Capt. Felix H., 229 Craighill, Cmdr. R. S., 247 Cramer, Gen. Kenneth F., 102 Crandall, Jr. PFC LeRoy R., 170 Crawford, Lt. Col. William, 223 Crist, Lt. Thomas, 38 USS Crosby, 34, 235 Cunningham, Gen. Julian, 330 Dacone, Cpl. Ponciano, 41 Dagami, Leyte, 46, 70, 89-91, 93-96, 121, 125-129,169,176 Daguitan River, 51, 54, 82 Dahlen, Lt. Col. Chester A., 105, 147148,159 Damulaan, Leyte, 131, 186-187, 189, 192, 196-198 Dao, Leyte, 51, 54 Davis, T 4 Boyd]., 79; Distinguished Service Cross, 80 Davis, Lt. Col. Charles 1.,273 Davis, Lt. Col. Douglas C., 221, 224, 229 Davis, Lt. Norvin 1.,260 Davis, Capt. William R., 205 Dawson, TSgt. Marvin A., 169 Dencker, PFC Donald 0., 127,230 Denman, Sgt. Theodore, 286 USS Denver, 34

•

377

Deposito, Leyte, 211, 234, 236, 240, 250251,260 Desolation Point, 35 "Dick Hill," 202-203 Dick, Lt. Dallas, 47 Dilg, Lt. Frederick H., 169 Dill, Col. Marcy L, 49-50, 127 Dinagat Island, 26, 168 Distinguished Service Cross Baser, Sgt. Raymond, 168 Boardman, Pvt. Fred N., 205 Bong, Maj. Richard Ira, USAAF, 187 Bourdeau, Lt. Cledith W., 183 Byrum, SSgt Leon, 268 Carruth, Capt. James E., 270 Carter, Capt. George W., 185 Clifford, Jr., Lt. Col. Thomas E., 152 Cotelo, PFC Melchor L, 161 Davis, T 4 Boyd]., 80 Ghents, PFC Fred M., 273 Humfreville, Lt. Thomas, 84 Jackman, SSgt. Sail E., 317 Jeffers, PFC Edward F., 85 Jezyk, Sgt FrederickJ., 272 Kellogg, SSgt. Walter B., 193 Kite, PFC Samuel B., 125 Krueger, Gen. Walter, 327 Lauderdale, TSgt Hanford B., 203 Lauie, PFC Walter F., 111 Lopez, PFC Margarito G., 286 Martin, Pvt. William R., 316 McInnis, PFC John 1.,320 Medina, Sgt. Joseph N., 243 Mendoza, PFC Samuel, 68 Newman, Col. Aubrey S., 105 Raabe, TSgt Marvin H., 196 Rea, TechSgtJohn C., 70 Reinartz, Jr., Lt. Leo F., 146 Retzlaff, PFC George T., 183 Robinson, PFC Frank B., 44 Spragins, Lt. Col. Robert B., 142 Szymanski, PFC Teddy, 100 Szymko, TSgt Michael, 157 Thompson, SFC Francis H., 126


378

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

Tweed, TSgt. Glen E., 256 Young, Lt. Tracy W., 241 Dixon, Capt. Roy F., 82, 189, 196 Dodd, SSgt Lloyd E., 170 Dorame, PFC Philip, 203 Doty, SSgt. Paul, 92 Dow, Lt. Clarence P, 213 Drake, Col. Royce A.; Silver Star, 41 USS Drayton, 247 Duane, Cpl. Irving, 76 Duchow, Lt. Arthur, 199,206 Dulag Airfield, 108, 113, 125, 143, 182, 187,215-219,224 Dulag, Leyte, 11, 17,27-28,32,37-38, 48,51,54-55,73,82 Duncan, Lt. Col. William A., 144 Dunn, Col. Floyd E., 319 Easley, Gen. Claudis M., 127 Edbert, SFC Russell T., 45 Eddleman, Gen. Clyde D., 329 Edge, Pvt. Marvin, 302 Edmonson, Lt. Col. Harmon L., 49 USS Edwards, 236 Eichelberger, Gen. Robert L., 3,212, 299-300,309,314-315,325-326 Eisenhower, Gen. Dwight D., 163 Engley, Lt. Robert E ., 196 Ening, Lt. John R., 51 Erickson, Sgt. Eric, 63 Evans, PFC Howard]., 92 Farren, Lt. Col. James, 221, 229 Farwell, Lt. R. E., USNR, 234-235 Feeback, Pvt. Charles, 116-117 Finke, Pvt. Fred, 153-154, Finn, Lt. Col. John M., 86, 88, 130, 182, 185-186,189-190,192-194,197-199 Finnegan, Col. Walter, 74 USS Flasher, 207-208, 215 Flint, TSgt. William A., 201 USS F/usser, 236 Fogg, Capt. James, 318 Foldoe, Pvt Kenneth, 302

Formosa, 7-9,25,58-59,173 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 24 Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 24 Foster, Cmdr W. M ., 179 Foulston, Jr., Maj. Robert C., 86 Fouts, PFC Earl J., 170 Franklin, PFC Clyde 0., Silver Star, 67 Frazee, Capt. Charles T., 90-91, 95-96 Freeman, Col. Paul L., 255, 257 Freppoli, Lt. Aldo]., 95 Frost, TSgt. Truman, 129 Frusto, PFC Philip A., 199 Fryar, PFC Elmer, 260-261 Fukue, Gen. Shimpei, 308, 335 Fulkerson, Lt. Floyd, USAAF, 187 Galotan, Leyte, 102 Gary, Lt. Robert L., 198 Gatlin, Sgt. James H., 203 Gauthler, Sgt. Edward, 137 Geis, Sgt. Karl, 63 Ghents, PFC Fred M .; Distinguished Service Cross, 273

Gill, Gen. William H., 20,144,158-159, 161-162,265,295,331 Giordano, Lt. Joseph, 264 Glaess, PFC Harvey, 128 Gomolchak, Pvt. Leo, 301 Gonzales, TSgt. Frank]., 95 Goode, Lt. Lemuel, 213 Grantham, Lt. Alfred E., 54 Gray, Lt. Leslie M., 34 Graybill, Lt. Col. Russell, 69 Greenback, PFC Charles A., 128 Greenberg, Sgt. Irving, 160 Greenbowe, Lt. Tower W., 103 Greer, Sgt. Wesley, 136 Grider, Cmdr. G . W., 207-208 Grigg, Maj. Martin C., 230 Gross, PFC Joel M., 169 Grove, PFC Kenneth W.; Silver Star, 75 Guinnee, Ensign John W., 38 Gullickson, PFC Warren L.; Silver Star, 68


INDEX • 379

Gutheridge, Capt. Walter]., 66 Hagen, Capt. Rudolph, 88-89 Hagins, Col. William A., 329 Hakko Maru, 208

Halloran, Col. Michael E., 69 Halsey, Adm. William F., 9-10,18,2526,87,114 Hamilton, Lt. Marshall]., 87 Hamilton, Col. Stephen S., 238, 283 Hammock, Sgt. William, 303 Hanks, Capt. William R., 134-137 Hansel, Sgt. Louis H., 104 Hartle, Lt. Col. Albert v., 202-203 Hartzer, PFC Frank, 128 ' Harwell, Lt. Warnock D.; Silver Star, 286 Haskett, PFC Woodrow W., 124 Haugen, Col. Orin D., 221-223, 262264,267 Hawes, Lt. R. K., USNR, 236 Hays, Gen. George P., 328 Herman, Capt. William]., 46 Hettinger, Col. John A., 144-145 Hewette, Capt. James B., 84 Hewitt, SSgt. Barney, 67 Highway 1,27-28,39,45,47,50-51,54, 77,108 Highway 2, 77, 97, 99,103,111,113,115, 121-123,144-145,147,165-166,207, 210-211,241-243,253,255,265, 268-269,271-272,278,281,283,285, 287-288,293-294,297,316 Hildebrand, Col. Harry D., 221 Hill 120, 50 Hill 215, 41, 74-75 Hill 380, 200, 203-205 Hill 400, 266 Hill 522, 45-47, 55, 63, 75-76, 96 Hill 918, 185, 187, 189,200-202 Hill 1525, 118-120, 133, 140-141 Hill B, 79, 97 Hill C, 79, 97 Hindman, Lt. Thomas, 131 Hinson, Capt. Louis, 256

Hirohito, Emperor, 29 Hodge, Gen. John R., 18,96,121,125, 130,201,207,209,217-218,220-221, 226,242,269,274,278,289,309,315, 325,331 Hodges, Maj. Gen. Courtney H, 24 Hojo, Gen. Tokichi, 336 Holcombe, Maj. Frank S., 262 Holdeness, Cpl. Eugene, 78 Hollandia, New Guinea, 109 Homonhon Island, 26, 35 Honnen, Gen. George, 329 Hoode, Capt. Henry W., 285; Silver Star, 286 Hoska,Jr., Lt. Col. Lukas E., 229 Howard, Maj. Elmer C., 100 Huber, Sgt. Frank, 152 Hughes, Gen. Robert P., 14 USS Hughes, 236, 247 Humfreville, Lt. Thomas, 83; Distinguished Service Cross, 84

Imahori, Col. (-),251-253,258,278 Inada, Gen. Masazumi, 334 Ipil, Leyte, 237-239, 242 Irving, Gen. FrederickA., 19, 105, 111, 115,121,124,147,149,163-164,330 Isackson, Maj. Charles, 137-138 Jack Hill, 195-196, 198-199 Jackman, SSgt. Sail E., Distinguished Service Cross, 317

Jackson, SSgt. Lester c., 196 Jackson, Lt. Robert, 231 Japanese Military Units 1st Artillery Regiment, 122,265,268 1st Combined Signals Unit, 98 1st Division Transport Regiment, 265 1st Engineer Regiment, 265, 335 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 335 1st Guerrilla Company, 181-182 1st Infantry Division, 64, 98, 103, 113-114,116,118,121-122,124, 145,149,151,159,164,173,250-


380 • LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

251,264,266-267,269,281,297, 307,334 1st Infantry Regiment, 160, 162,265, 297,335 1st Raiding Group, 174,219 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, 265, 335 2nd Air Division, 59, 71 2nd Field Artillery Battalion, 124 2nd Raiding Brigade, 206, 219,228, 250 3rd Airborne Raiding Regiment, 216 3rd Infantry Regiment, 30 3rd Maritime Transport Command, 334 3rd Raiding Regiment, 219 4th Air Raiding Landing Unit, 252 4th Airborne Raiding Regiment, 216, 278-279 4th Infantry Division, 31 5th Infantry Division, 29 5th Infantry Regiment, 252, 279, 281, 291,297 5th Regimental Combat Team, 335 7th Air Division, 59 7th Independent Tank Company, 82, 85,87 8th Division Signal Unit, 291 8th Engineer Regiment, 291 8th Field Artillery regiment, 291 8th Infantry Division, 252, 279, 281, 335 8th Transport Regiment, 291 9th Infantry Regiment, 32, 48, 50, 65, 68,85,91,335 10th Infantry Division, 269 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 335 11th Independent Infantry Regiment, 132 11th Infantry Regiment, 335 12th Independent Infantry Regiment, 201,234,238-241,251,253,278279 12th Infantry Regiment, 132, 335

13th Independent Infantry Regiment, 132,180,182,186,199,234,335 16th Engineer Regiment, 85, 91, 335 16th Infantry Division, 16-17, 32, 46, 58,64,70,85,125-126,128,173174,216,218,226,229,232, 250--251,308,335 16th Reconnaissance Regiment, 335 16th Signal Unit, 335 16th Transport Regiment, 335 17th Independent Infantry Battalion, 97 18th Army, 299 20th Anti-tank Battalion, 74 20th Infantry Regiment, 83, 85-86, 91,335 22nd Field Artillery Regiment, 65, 85, 335 25th Army, 31 26th Engineer Regiment, 335 26th Infantry Division, 64, 98, 113114,120--121,131-132,143,173, 180,182,185-186,200,206,216, 218,232,243,250--251,264,335 26th Reconnaissance Regiment, 335 26th Signal Unit, 335 26th Transport Regiment, 335 30th Engineer Regiment, 335 30th Field Artillery Regiment, 335 30th Fighter Group, 59 30th Infantry Division, 32, 64, 73-74,97-98,113,173,237,239, 335 30th Reconnaissance Regiment, 335 30th Signal Unit, 335 30th Transport Regiment, 335 33rd Infantry Regiment, 32, 40, 44-45,60,74,76-77,85,91,99,335 35th Army, 17, 32-33, 46, 64--65, 71, 97,101,103,113,121,172-173, 176,178-179,207,214--216,232233,237,243,250--252,264--265, 269,279,284,289,291,296-297,


INDEX • 381

306,308-309,319,324,334 35th Army Shipping Unit, 237-238, 241 39th Infantry Regiment, 269 40th Infantry Brigade, 31 41st Infantry Regiment, 74, 97,103105,335 44th Infantry Regiment, 99 49th Infantry Regiment, 164,265,335 54th Airfield Company, 86 54th Independent Mixed Brigade, 173,336 54th Independent Mixed Brigade Artillery Unit, 336 54th Independent Mixed Brigade Engineer Unit, 336 54th Independent Mixed Brigade Signal Unit, 336 55th Independent Mixed Brigade 64, 73,173,336 55th Independent Mixed Brigade Artillery Unit, 336 55th Independent Mixed Brigade Engineer Unit, 336 55th Independent Mixed Brigade Signal Unit, 336 57th Independent Mixed Brigade, 64, 73,103,116-118,120,122,124, 145 57th Infantry Regiment, 164,265, 297,335 58th Independent Mixed Brigade, 252 68th Independent Mixed Brigade, 6465,74,98,103,113,216,297, 307-308,336 74th Infantry Regiment, 335 77th Infantry Brigade Labor Unit, 335 77th Infantry Brigade Signals Unit, 335 77th Infantry Brigade, 335 77th Infantry Regiment, 252, 278281,335 78th Infantry Brigade, 335 78th Infantry Brigade Labor Unit, 335

78th Infantry Brigade Signals Unit, 335 98th Airfield Battalion, 85-86 100th Infantry Division, 32, 173, 335 102nd Artillery Battalion, 335 102nd Engineer Battalion, 335 102nd Infantry Division, 32, 64, 74, 97,103,113,164,173,264,269, 297,308,335 102nd Signal Company, 335 102nd Transport Battalion, 335 126th Infantry Regiment, 265 169th Independent Infantry Battalion, 74,97 169th Independent Infantry Battalion, 103,335 170th Independent Infantry Battalion, 335 171st Independent Infantry Battalion, 74,335 172nd Independent Infantry Battalion, 335 173rd Independent Infantry Battalion, 335 174th Independent Infantry Battalion, 335 355th Independent Infantry Battalion, 335 360th Independent Infantry Battalion, 336 361st Independent Infantry Battalion, 336 362nd Independent Infantry Battalion, 114, 336 363rd Independent Infantry Battalion, 336 364th Independent Infantry Battalion, 131,336 365th Independent Infantry Battalion, 336 Central Area Unit, 91 China Garrison Mixed Brigade, 31 Combined Fleet, 29, 59-60 First Air Fleet, 29, 33


382

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

First Area Army, 31 Formosa Army, 29 Fourteenth Area Army, 28-29, 31, 33, 46,73,103,172-174,269,297, 314,334, Fourth Air Army, 29, 39, 59, 71,174, 181-182,206,334 Imperial General Headquarters, 30, 32,58-59 Imperial Japanese Army, 59, 64, 70 Ito Naval Landing Force, 279 Kaoru Airborne Raiding Detachment, 181 Korea Army, 29 Kwantung Defense Army, 31 Mitsui Shipping Unit, 279 Nakano Intelligence School, 181 Northern China Area Army, 31 Northern Leyte Defense Forces, 85 Ormoc Defense Headquarters, 238 Second Air Fleet, 33 Southern Area Army, 29,172,334 Southern Leyte Defense Forces, 85 Southwest Area Fleet, 29,97-98 Special Naval Landing Force, 252, 279 Takahash Infantry Detachment, 279 Jaro, Leyte, 100, 103-104, 114, 117, 121, 129,172,316 Jarrett, Lt. Clyde r., 247 Jean Hill, 190, 194, 196, 198,201 Jeffers, PFC Edward E; Distinguished Service Cross, 85

Jerma, PFC Samuel, 61-62 Jezyk, Sgt FrederickJ.; Distinguished Service Cross, 272

Johnson, Sgt. Leroy; Silver Star, 266; Medal ofHonor, 267 Jones, Gen. Henry L. C ., 332 Jones, Capt. Rolin T, 86 Judd, SSgt. Herman, 92 Kaessner, Lt. Col. Pal V., 232 Kakuda, Lt. Col., 91 Kamikaze, 3, 71, 174, 181

Kane, Lt. Col. O'Neill K., 201 Kangleon, Lt. Col. Ruperto K., 12 Kataoka, Gen. Tadasu, 264, 307, 334 Kelley, Pvt. Ova A.; Medal ofHonor, 231 Kellogg, SSgt. Walter B., 192; Distinguished Service Cross, 193

Kenney, Gen. George C., 18,26,98, 187, 332 Kilay Ridge, 122, 138, 143-144, 147-150, 153,155,157-162,310 Kilay, Henry, 152 Kilgo, Capt. Robert, 120 Kimbrell, Lt. Col. Gordon T, 253, 273 King, Admiral Ernest, 7 King, Maj. Byron E, 67 Kinkaid, Admiral Thomas C., 18, 87, 177, 207,240,289 IJNS Kishinami, 207 Kite, PFC Samuel B.; Distinguished Service Cross, 125

Kmiecik, PFC Arthur, 45 Kretzer, Capt. RobertJ., 86 Krueger, Gen. Walter, 3, 18,23-25,7374,97-99,104,106-107,109, 113-114,121,125,132-133,143, 163-164,174-176,178,206-207, 209-210,213,215-216,218,220,230, 248,254,269,278,289,309,314,325326, 329; Distinguished Service Cross, 327 Kubitz, Cpl. Charles J., 129 Kuczynski, PFC Victor, 128 Kurisu, Gen. Takeo, 336 Kurland, Lt. Stan, 213 Kuroda, Gen. Shigenori, 29-30, 173, 334 Labir Hill, Leyte, 48, 66, 69-70 Labiranan River, 65-66 USS Laffey, 233, 247 LaFlamme, Lt. Col. Ernest, 221-222 USS Lamson, 235-236 Landrum, Lt. Col. James E., 289 Larkin, Maj. George T, 283 Larson, Sgt. Leland A., 93


Lauderdale, TSgt Hanford B.; Distinguished Service Cross, 203 Lauie, PFC Walter F.; Distinguished Service Cross, 111 Lehner, Gen. Charles R., 329 Leonard, Lt. William F., 204 Lewis, SSgt.JackT, 95-96 "Leyte Scouts," 15 Leyte Campaign (land action), 1-4,4, 910,19,21,32,41,58,71,250, 314-315,322,324 Leyte Gulf, battie of (naval action), 1-2, 33,-34,39,59,70,103,114,168,172, 177 Leyte Valley, 10-11, 27-28, 47, 55, 65, 74-75,79,96-97,99,106,110-111, 115,119,121,125,131,143,145,164, 210,233,251 Leyte, island of, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15-16, 18, 21,26-27,30-33,37,49-50,55-56, 63-64,73-74,85,97-98,107-110, 114,121,131,133,143-144,171-176, 182,187,207-209,211,213,219,224, 243,284 USS Liddle, 236 Limon, Leyte, 122, 132-133, 144-146, 150-151,158,164,166,264-266 Lingren, Lt. Lester 0., 90 Lipscomb, Lt. Paul, 276-277 List, Lt. Col. Edwin 0.,65-66 List, Cmdr F. V., 245 Locke, MSgt. Wayne, 286 Logie, Col. Marc J., 51, 85-86 Lomko, Pvt. John, 304 Loomis, Capt. (-),242 Lopez, PFC Margarito G .; Distinguished Service Cross, 286 Lopez, SSgt Tim E., 95 Lowe, SSgt. Harold, 170 Lowery, Sgt. Henry M., 285 Luzon, battie of, 2-3,7-8, Luzon, Philippines, 9-10, 17,25,30,33, 110,114,133,173,182,208,216,226, 274,279,307

MacArthur, Gen. Arthur, 15 MacArthur, Gen. Douglas, 3-5, 7-10, 1213,18-21,23,47-49,67,73-74,98, 110,132-133,163,175-176,187,207, 209-210,230,250,274,290-291, 299-300, 309, 314, 326-327; A1edal0f Honor, 22 MacCleave, Lt. Col. Robert, 226 Madigan, T4 James J., 267 Madison, TSgt.James M., 93 USS A1ahan, 234-235 Mahoney, Col. WilliamJ., 316 Mainit River, 101-102 Makino, Gen. Shiro, 32-33, 41, 46, 85, 174,216,218,226,232,308,335 Manila, Philippines, 6, 17, 110, 182 Mann, Maj. Carl E., 141 Mann, Sgt. Everett C., 93 Mann, PFC Paul, 199 Marabang River, 27 Marasgaras, Leyte, 27 Marshall, Gen. George c., 7, 25 Martin, Sgt. Thomas, 301 Martin, Pvt. William R.; Distinguished Service Cross, 316 Martorelli, TSgt. Philip A., 128 Mason, Col. Charles W., 329 Mason, Sgt. Donald P, 149 Mason, TSgt Donald T, 156 Mathias, Maj. Leigh H. , 86-87 Mauldin, Sgt. William, 25 May, Col. Edwin T, 48, 65 Maybury, Lt. Col. Daniel c., 197198 McCorlew, Lt. Thomas J., 158,311 McCornock, Cmdr. S. A., 245 McCray, Lt. Col. James 0.,49, 67-69 McDonnell, PFC Leo, 155 McFarland, Sgt. James, 155 McGuin, Lt. Frances M., 81 McGuire, Maj . Thomas B., USAAF, 187, 274 Medal of Honor, 275 McHenry,Jr., SSgtJohn M., 129


384

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

McInnis, PFC John L.; Distinguished Service Cross, 320

McPeek, PFC Clive, 90 McQIarrie, Col. Claude M., 319 McRunnels, SSgt. Charles D., 84 McWhorter, PFC William A., 265 Medal ofHonor, 266 Benjamin,Jr., PFC George, 283 Bong, Maj. Richard Ira, USAAF, 188, 274 Brostram, PFC Leonard, 92 Johnson, Sgt. Leroy, 267 Kelley, Pvt. Ova A., 231 MacArthur, Arthur, 21 MacArthur, Douglas, 22 McGuire, Maj. Thomas B., USAAF, 275 McWhorter, PFC William A., 266 Moon Jr., Pvt. Harold H., 61 Mower, Sgt. Charles E., 112 Nett, Lt. Robert P, 258 O'Kane, Cmdr. Richard H., 34 Shomo, Capt. William A., USAAF, 277 Thorson, PFC John F., 94 Vlug, PFC Dirk]., 268 Wai, Capt. Francis B., 43 Medina, Sgt. Joseph N., 242; Distinguished Service Cross, 243 Mendoza, PFC Samuel; Distinguished Service Cross, 68

Merritt, Lt. Harrison I., 263 Mesereau, Capt. Thomas, 221 Mikawa, Adm. Gunichi, 97 Miller,Jr., Fletcher D., USMC, 248 Miller, Pvt. John, 136 Miller, Col. Marcus P., 14 Mindanao, Island of, 9-10, 17, 32, 97, 173,176 Mindanao, Philippines, 209 Mindoro, Philippines, 207 Miranda, Gen. BIas E., 12 USS Moale, 179 "Mole Hill," 150-151, 154

Moon Jr., Pvt. Harold H., 60, 62; Medal of Honor, 61 Moore, Lt. Col. William B., 91, 93,201202,205 Morales, SSgt. Arthur D., 198 Morgan, Cmdr. C. c., 38 Moro Rebellion, 15 Morozumi, Gen. Gyosaku, 335 Mount Laao, 176 Mount Lobi, 176 Mount Majunag, 176 Mount Minoro, 165 Mower, Sgt. Charles E.; Medal ofHonor, 112 Mucci, Lt. Col. Henry A., 20 Mudge, Gen. Verne D., 19,74-75,115, 165,330 Mueller, Gen. Paul, 323 USS Mugford, 247 Murphy, Lt. Desmond M, 197 Muto,Gen.Akira,31,173,334 Naka, Lt. Shigeo, 181 Neff, Lt. Donald E., 222-223 Nelson, Col. Glen A., 52, 88, 131, 189, 197 Nelson, CWO William G., 218, 259 Nesbitt, Sgt. James, 122 Nett, Lt. Robert P, 257; Medal ofHonor, 258 Newman, Col. Aubrey S., 42, 76, 101, 103-105; Distinguished Service Cross,

105 Newman,Jr. Capt.J. F., 245-246 Nichols, Cpl. Albert, 101 Nieman, Sgt. George, 78 Nimitz, Adm. Chester, 7-8,10,17,26, 315 Northern Attack Force, 27, 39 Nourse, Ensign Donald E., 38 USS O'Brien, 233, 235 Odom, Pvt Kelcie, 302-303 Okabayashi, Col. Junkichi, 334


INDEX • 385

O'Kane, Cmdr. Richard H., 33-34 "Old Bastards," 212,214,236,239-240, 245,249,255,278,284,287,294 O'Neill, Capt. Robert B., 129-130 O'Neill, Lt. Owen R., 68 OP Hill, 124 Operation TA, 98 Operation GI, 182 Operation Sho, 59 Operation Te,219 Operation Wa,219 Ori, Capt. George, 259 Ormoc Bay, 11,64-65,73-74,96-98, 103,107,111,113,121,125,130,176179,182,211-212,234,236-237,239, 243,245-246,248-249,254,261-262, 317 Ormoc Valley, 10-11, 16,28,96,99,103, 106-107,110,113-115,119-121,125, 134,145,150,162,164,206,210,233234,250-251,269,278-279,289-290 Ormoc, Leyte, 111, 114-115, 117, 120, 130,132,147,151,171,175,178,182183,185-187,200,205-207,209-211, 213-214,216,232-233,239-242,252, 254-255,258,262,264,278-279,288, 293,297,310,316 O'Sullivan, Col. Curtis D., 51, 54-55, 199-200,205 Outerbridge, Cmdr. William W., 235 Pachler, Lt. Col. Francis T., 82-84, 89-90, 94-95,204 Palanas River, 131, 185-186, 188, 193194,196,199-200,204 Palo, Leyte, 27, 32, 45-47, 63, 73, 75-77, 79,96-97 Palompon, Leyte, 10,252,269,290 Panalian River, 238-239 Panaon Strait, 27, 55, 97,106-107 Panzer, PFC George 0.,265 Parish,]r., Lt. Leslie A., 127 Pastrana, Leyte, 100 Pate, PFC Rufus F., 196

Patton, Maj. Gen. George S., 25 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 6, 33 Pearsall,]r., Lt. Col. James F., 60, 63, 99 Pearson, Lt. Col. George, 227 Peckman, PFC Harold R., 95 USS Pennsylvania, 37 Penry, Lt. Keith D., 203 Pergamo, Lt. Paul J., 229 Perkins, PFC Warren G., 231 Peterson, Cmdr. Mel A., 179 Philippine Civil Mfairs Units, 21 Philippine Constabulary, 12 Philippine Guerrillas, 67 Phipps, PFC William, 123 Pierson, Gen. Albert, 220, 263 Pilliod, Lt. Col. Dallas A., 323 Pizio, Pvt. Rudolph N., 129 Postlethwait, Lt. Col. Edward M., 43, 105 Presidential Unit Citation

2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 147 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, 162 1st Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 268 3rd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 266 G Troop, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 167 USS Tang, 33-34 Price, Col. George S., 329 Price, Col. Kenneth, 329 USS Pringle, 169 Pullen, Lt. Weston C. (USNR), 309 Pulver, SSgt. Lewis v., 195 "Purple Heart Hill," 259,263 Puryear, SSgt Carl G., 213 Pyle, Lt. Russell, 154-155 Qyandt, Lt. Col. Douglas, 223 USS Quapaw, 247 Qyery, PFC Andrew B., 169, Qyintana, PFC Ben; Silver Star, 165


386

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

Raabe, TSgt Marvin H., 194-195; Distinguished Service Cross, 196

Randle, Gen. Edwin H., 283-284 Rapin, Capt. Edger W., 153 Ray, PFC John w., 62 Rea, TSgt.John c., 69; Distinguished Service Cross, 70

Read, PFC Loren, 128 Reckman, Sgt. Ernest, 102 Reichelderfer, Col. Harry, 329 USS Reid, 245-246 Reinartz,Jr., Lt. Leo F.; Distinguished Service Cross, 146

Retzlaff, PFC George T.; Distinguished Service Cross, 183

Reuter, Jr., Capt. Louis, 169 Rhem, Lt. Thomas, 157-158 Ridge Number 2, 151, 154 Ridge Number 3, 151-153 Ridings, Gen. Eugene W., 321 Rittenhouse, Cmdr. E. B., 247 Ritter, Pvt. Donald, 313 Rittmayer,Maj.Jack, USAAF, 187,275 Rizal, Leyte, 101 Robinson, Cmdr. D. R., 245 Robinson, PFC Frank B, Distinguished Service Cross, 44

"Rock Hill," 261-262,264 Rockafellow, Col. Hoyt, 329 Rodman, Lt. George B., 94 Rojo, PFC Albert D., 322 Roosevelt, President Franklin D., 8 Rosenblatt, Lt. Benjamin, 123 Rovinski, Capt. (Chaplain) Sigmund, 170 Royal Australian Air Force, 18 Ruth, TSgt.James J., 169 Ruzycki, TSgt. Alexander, 223; Silver Star, 224

"Saddle Hill," 137-138 Saida, Maj. Chisaku, 219 Saito, Col. Jiro, 132, 186, 188-189, 194,

196,199-200,204-206,216 Sampson, Cmdr. N. J., 179

San Isidro, Leyte, 162 San Jose, Leyte, 40-41, 48-50, 65, 74,

270,290 San Juanico Strait, 27,74-75,96,106-

107 San Pablo Airfield, 82-83, 85, 87, 108,

175,210,216-219,221,224,227,229, 298 San Pablo, Leyte, 11, 80-82, 85 San Pedro Bay, Leyte, 11, 113,211-212, 233,236,247,255 San Ricardo, Leyte, 41 San Roque, Leyte, 55, 66 San Vincente Hill, 65, 68-70 USS Saujley, 168-169 Schade, Lt William J., 93-94, 201-202 Schmid, PFC William, 93 Scott, Capt. Bruce B., 81 Self, Sgt. Alonza, 66; Silver Star, 67 Shellabarger, Cmdr. M. A., 247 Shipley, Lt. Col. Norman M., 258 Shirai, Maj. Tsuneharu, 219 Shoestring Ridge, Battle of, 176, 180,

184-186,188,190,192,194-196, 198-200,206,209,217,242,258,300 Shomo, Capt. William A, 276; Medal of Honor, 277 Sibert, Gen. Franklin C., 18, 102, 104, 106,111,114-115,118,121,144,147, 269,325,330 Silver Star

Drake, Col. Royce A., 41 Franklin, PFC Clyde 0.,67 Grove, PFC Kenneth W., 75 Gullickson, PFC Warren L., 68 Harwell, Lt. Warnock D., 286 Hoode, Capt. Henry W., 286 Johnson, Sgt. Leroy, 266 Qyintana, PFC Ben, 165 Ruzycki, TSgt. Alexander, 224 Self, Sgt. Alonza, 67 Weaver, TSgt. Floyd A., 285 Simons, Capt. Arthur D., 35 Slavinsky, Sgt. Peter R., 134


INDEX • 387

USS Smith, 236, 245 Smith, Lt. Col. Edward, 93 Smith, Lt. Col. Herbert A., 145 Smith, Capt. Norville H., 198 Smith, Capt. Robert H., USN, 176 Soderholm, SSgt. Leroy R., 195 Somervell, Gen. Brehon B., 7 Sorenson, PFC Eldridge V., 92 Southern Attack Force, 27,39 Southwest Pacific Theater, 2-5, 9-10, 18, 20-21,23-24,26,110,163,299,315, 325 Spanish American War, 24 Spragins, Lt. Col. Robert B., 77, 79, 118120,133-141,150; Distinguished Service Cross, 142

Stadler, Jr., Col. John H., 287 Stanton, Col. Raymond G., 266 Stare, Lt. Col. Edward W., 67 "Starvation Hill," 262 Steele, Lt. Rolland L., 203-204 Stein, Lt. Maurice, 66 Steinbach, PFC Henry, 167 Stepleton, SSgt. Lyle V., 319-320 Sterner, Lt. Col. Cyril D., 127 Stillman, Capt. Myron L., 170 Stilwell, Gen. Joseph W., 328 Stofft, Col. Frederick R., 266 Storey, Lt. Oakley W., 311-312 Streett, Gen. St. Clair, 18,26,333 Stretch, SSgt. Halan E., 169 Struble, Adm. Arthur D., 211, 234-235 Sturgis, Jr., Gen. Samuel D., 329 Suber, Capt. Thomas, 116 Sueper, PFC Silvester H., 199 "Suicide Hill," 120 Sullivan, Capt. James K., 267 Suluan Island, 26, 35, 39, 59 Surigao Strait, 176 Suuzuki, Col. Tatsunosuke, 77-78 Suzuki, Lt. Gen. Sosaku, 32, 34, 64-65, 74,97-98,103,105,113,117,121, 125,128,131-132,143,164,169,174, 176,178-179,185-186,200,206-207,

210,214-215,232,236-237,250-252, 264,269,278-279,281,289,291, 297-298,305-309,314,322,334 Suzuki, Gen. Tetsuzo, 336 Swing, Gen. Joseph M., 217, 220-224, 226,229-230,250-251,258,263-264, 332 Szymanski, PFC Teddy; Distinguished Service Cross, 100 Szymko, TSgt Michael; Distinguished Service Cross, 157

Tabgas River, 200 Tacloban Airstrip, Leyte, 11,40,55,74 Tacloban, Leyte, 11, 17,27,32,47,64,70, 74-75,96-97,108,187,206,215,219, 233,292,324 Tagbong River, 281 Talisay River, 51 Tanauan airfield, 108, 142, 175 USS Tang, 33-34 Tanzola, Col. Vincent J., 239, 272 Tarragona, Leyte, 212, 214, 233, 245 Taylor, PFC Dee, 195 Taylor, Pvt. Melvin, 118 Terauchi, Field Marshal Count Hisaichi, 29,31,173,334 Thomas, PFC Edward R., 102 Thomas, Capt. Jesse, 68-69 Thomas, PFC Silas, 41 Thomas, PFC William, 102 Thompson, SFC Francis H.; Distinguished Service Cross, 126

Thompson, Jr., Cmdr. H. L., 177 Thomson, Capt. David W., 248 Thorson, PFC John F.; Medal ofHonor, 94 Tinagan, Leyte, 194 Tipton, Lt. Col. Norman E., 222-223 Todd, Capt. (Chaplain) Leonard F, 128 Tojo, Gen. Hideki, 29, 31 Tokunaga, Col. Kenji, 219 Tolan, Sgt. Charles, 199


388

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

Tom and Dick Hills, 185, 189, 194,202203 Tominaga, Gen. Kyoji, 39, 219, 334 Tomochika, Gen. Yoshiharu, 73, 251, 297, 308-309,324,334 Toste, Lt. Salvatore A., 88 Toyoda, Adm. Soemu, 29 Trahan, PFC Harry, 96 Turner, PFC John W., 126 Tuttle, Lt. Col. Elbert P., 272 Tweed, TSgt. Glen E.; Distinguished Service Cross, 256 Ufford, Capt. Richard c., 66 Underwater Demolition Team, 37-38 United States Army Air Force 9th Fighter Squadron, 187 21st Observation Group, 276 22nd Replacement Depot, 332 54th Troop Carrier Wing, 332 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 276 85th Fighter Wing, 333 86th Fighter Wing, 333 91st Photo Reconnaissance Wing, 332 308th (Heavy) Bomber Wing, 332 308th Bombardment Wing, 117 309th (Heavy) Bomber Wing, 332 310th (Medium) Bomber Wing, 332 322nd Troop Carrier Wing, 332 341st Fighter Squadron, 234 347th Fighter Squadron, 234 360th Air Service Group, 332 431st Fighter Squadron, 187 475th Fighter Group, 187 475th Fighter Squadron, 275 5289th Air Service Area Command (Provisional), 332 FEAF Air Service Command, 332 FEAF Weather Group, 332 Fifth Air Force Service Command, 332 Fifth Air Service Area Command, 332 Fifth Army Air Force, 9,17-18,26,

108-109,114,121,175,178,187, 210,212,217-218,220,226,234, 276,290,332 Fifth Bomber Command, 332 Fifth Emergency Rescue Group, 333 Fifth Fighter Command, 333 Fourth Air Service Command, 332 Thirteenth Air Service Command, 333 Thirteenth Army Air Force, 18,26, 333 Thirteenth Bomber Command, 333 Thirteenth Emergency Rescue Group, 333 Thirteenth Fighter Command, 333 United States Army Units 1st Cavalry Brigade, 39, 97, 330 1st Cavalry Division, 18,27,39,41, 47,57,74,78-79,97,103,111,133, 143-144,165,206,210,250,269, 282-284,289,293-295,327,330, 337 1st Cavalry Regiment, 75,121 1st Medical Squadron, 330 2nd Cavalry Brigade, 103, 330 2nd Engineer Special Brigade, 55-57, 290,309-310,329 2nd InfantryDivision, 163 2nd Joint Assault Signal Company, 331 3rd Engineer Combat Battalion, 99, 330 3rd Joint Assault Signal Company, 331 4th Infantry Division, 327 5th Cavalry Regiment, 40-41, 75, 106, 285,295,330 6th Ranger Battalion, 20, 26, 34-35, 39 6th Support Aircraft Party, 292 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, 254 7th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, 130,143


INDEX • 389

7th Cavalry Regiment, 75,103,286287,295,330; 1st Squadron, 40; 2nd Squadron, 40; 2nd Squadron, 74,166 7th Infantry Division, 19-20,28,5051,55,58,65,79,81,85,96,111, 121,125,129-130,143,170-171, 176,182,200-201,205-206,209, 212-214,216-217,220,234,236238,242,250,255,262,300,315, 331,337 7th Medical Battalion, 193 7th Reconnaissance Troop, 96, 186, 192,331 8th Aviation Signal Battalion, 232 8th Cavalry Regiment, 41, 75, 103, 250,284,330 8th Engineer Battalion, 330 10th Antiaircraft Artillery Group, 329 10th Infantry Regiment, 252 11th Airborne Division, 133, 174, 176, 182,200,210,212-214,217,220221,223,226,228-230,242, 250-251,258,264,319,332,337 11th Airborne Division Artillery, 229 11th Field Artillery Battalion, 100, 105,113,330 12th Cavalry Regiment, 40, 75,165, 285-287,294-295,330 13th Anti-Aircraft Group, 329 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 83, 91,185,331 13th Field Artillery Battalion, 46, 77, 100 14th Field Artillery Battalion, 100 15th Anti-Aircraft Group, 329 16th Infantry Division, 65 17th Infantry Division, 125-126 17th Infantry Regiment, 81, 84-85, 96,170,176,183,200,203,242, 331; 1st Battalion, 82, 93, 95, 202; 2nd Battalion, 82-83, 89-90, 9495,201,205; 3rd Battalion, 54 19th Infantry Regiment, 43,101-102,

105,111,143,147,330; 1st Battalion, 41, 44-47, 55, 63; 2nd Battalion, 45, 76-77, 79, 118, 120121,133,139,142,144,146, 150-152; 3rd Battalion, 44, 76, 100,117 20th Armored Group, 330 21st Infantry Regiment, 55, 96, 111, 115,119,121-122,133,144,147, 330; 1st Battalion, 117, 119-120, 122-124; 2nd Battalion, 117, 122; 3rd Battalion, 116, 124 21st Reconnaissance Troop, 318 21st Regimental Combat Team, 19,27 23rd Infantry Regiment, 15 24th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, 151 24th Infantry Division, 19,27,41,4748,55,57-58,66,75,78-79,81, 96-97,99-100,103-104,106-107, 111,113,115,121,124,133,143147,149,163-164,258,289, 295-296,300,330,337 24th Reconnaissance Troop, 330 25th Anti-Aircraft Group, 329 31st Field Artillery Battalion, 331 32nd Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, 329 32nd Infantry Division, 20, 28, 51, 54, 79,82,85,124,129-130,133,140, 144-145,153,158-159,162,164, 166-167,182,190,192-194,199, 206,210,250-251,258,262,264269,285-289,294-295,331,337; 1st Battalion, 85-89, 185; 2nd Battalion, 51-52, 81, 87, 89,96, 130-131, 143, 186, 188-189; 3rd Battalion, 52, 54, 87, 131, 186, 188, 192 32nd Reconnaissance Troop, 331 33rd Infantry Regiment, 42 34th Infantry Regiment, 41-42, 75, 79,99-100,102,106,110,140, 160-161,250,296,300-301,330;


390 • LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS ' BATTLE

1st Battalion, 62, 76,105-106,111, 113, 122, 144, 147, 162,295; 2nd Battalion, 60-63, 102, 113, 138, 313; 3rd Battalion, 43, 62, 104, 113 35th Infantry Regiment, 116 38th Infantry Division, 210, 230, 250, 332,337 38th Reconnaissance Troop, 332 40th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion, 329 40th Infantry Division, 322 41st Infantry Division, 144 43rd Infantry Regiment, 15-16 44th Infantry Regiment, 15 44th Tank Battalion, 40,117,123,330 48th Field Artillery Battalion, 82, 331 49th Field Artillery Battalion, 87, 186, 188-189,191-193,331 52nd Field Artillery Battalion, 105, 116-117,330 54th Airfield Company, 85 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 189, 192,331 61st Field Artillery Battalion, 330 63rd Field Artillery Battalion, 46, 63, 99,105,112-113,147,150,330 71st Joint Assault Signal Company, 323 77th Infantry Division, 20, 28, 133, 163,175-176,207,209-214,217, 233-234,236-237,242,248,250, 252,254-255,260,262,269,274, 278-279,284,287-294,296,315316,331,337 77th Reconnaissance Troop, 238, 293, 332 81st Infantry Division, 315, 322-323 81st Reconnaissance Troop, 323 82nd Field Artillery Battalion, 166, 330 85th Chemical Mortar Battalion, 117 88th Chemical Mortar Battalion, 69 238-339,255,288,291 95th Anti-Aircraft Group, 329

96th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop, 129-130,143,171, 96th Infantry Division, 19-20,27-28, 48-52,65,69,85,96,121,125,127, 129,169,176,183-184,210,213, 230,250,315,331,337 96th Reconnaissance Troop, 331 97th Anti-Aircraft Group, 329 98th Field Artillery Battalion, 20, 166, 330 103rd Field Artillery Battalion, 330 108th Infantry Regiment, 322 108th Regimental Combat Team, 337 112th Cavalry Regiment, 286 112th Cavalry Regimental Combat Team, 121, 133, 143-144, 165-166, 269,285,330,337 112th Engineer Combat Group, 55, 330 113th Engineer Combat Battalion, 332 114th Engineer Combat Battalion, 331 116th Station Hospital, 231 120th Anti-Aircraft Group, 329 120th Field Artillery Battalion, 144, 331 121st Field Artillery Battalion, 144, 331 126th Field Artillery Battalion, 331 126th Infantry Regiment, 166-167, 266-267,269,285,331 126th Regimental Combat Team, 144 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 220-221,224,229,263,332 127th Infantry Regiment, 265-266, 268,295,331 128th Field Artillery Battalion, 145 128th Infantry Regiment, 124, 144, 160,162,264-265,295,331; 1st Battalion, 144-145; 2nd Battalion, 145,161; 3rd Battalion, 144-145 129th Field Artillery Battalion, 331


INDEX

132nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 255 132nd Infantry Regiment, 319, 321 138th Field Artillery Battalion, 332 139th Field Artillery Battalion, 332 148th Infantry Regiment, 332 149th Infantry Regiment, 210, 230232 150th Field Artillery Battalion, 332 151st Infantry Regiment, 332 151st Regimental Combat Team, 250 152nd Airborne Anti-aircraft Antitank Battalion, 221, 223, 229, 263,332 152nd Infantry Regiment, 210, 332 154th Engineer Combat Battalion, 323 163rd Field Artillery Battalion, 332 164th Infantry Regiment, 315, 320, 322,294; 1st Battalion, 316-319, 321; 2nd Battalion, 318-319, 321 3rd Battalion, 316-317 164th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 316 182nd Infantry Regiment, 317, 319, 321-322 184th Infantry Regiment, 51, 54, 82, 125,131,194,199-200,255,315, 331; 1st Battalion, 192, 197,204; 2nd Battalion, 83, 90, 186, 192, 198,204,242; 3rd Battalion, 204 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, 221, 226,228,332; 1st Battalion, 218, 224,227,229,263; 2nd Battalion, 218,259,263-264 188th Glider Infantry Regiment, 228, 263 188th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 332 198th Anti-Aircraft Group, 329 198th Field Artillery Battalion, 331 221st Airborne Medical Company, 224

• 391

226th Field Artillery Battalion, 124, 214,330-331 232nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 288 232nd Engineer Shore Battalion, 214 242nd Engineer Shore Battalion, 213 245th Field Artillery Battalion, 316, 320 271st Field Artillery Battalion, 165, 286-287,330 287th Field Artillery Battalion, 331 287th Field Artillery Observation Battalion, 226 292nd Joint Assault Signal Company, 255 302nd Engineer Combat Battalion, 213,257,280,284,288-289,292, 331 302nd Medical Battalion, 280, 284, 289 302nd Reconnaissance Troop, 330 304th Field Artillery Battalion, 272, 283,332 305th Field Artillery Battalion, 240241,257,280,289,332 305th Infantry Regiment, 214, 234, 237-239,252,255,271,274,278279,282,293-295,331; 1st Battalion, 269, 280, 288-289, 290, 292; 2nd Battalion, 257, 269, 289290,292; 3rd Battalion, 254, 269, 289-290,292 306th Engineer Combat Battalion, 323 306th Field Artillery Battalion, 280, 332 306th Infantry Regiment, 176,212, 217,240,255,270,273-274,280, 294,332; 1st Battalion, 239, 241, 253,281-282; 2nd Battalion, 238, 272,281,283-284; 3rd Battalion, 213,241,253-254,281,283-284 307th Infantry Regiment, 213-214, 233-234,238,240-241,252-254,


392

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

270,273-274,278,284,332; 1st Battalion, 237, 281; 2nd Battalion, 280-281,283; 3rd Battalion, 239 321st Engineer Combat Battalion, 331 321st Infantry Regiment, 323 361st Field Artillery Battalion, 65-66, 169,331 362nd Field Artillery Battalion, 66, 331 363rd Field Artillery Battalion, 68, 331 381st Infantry Regiment, 28,70,129, 331; 2nd Battalion, 69, 169 382nd Infantry Regiment, 65, 96, 125, 128-129,169,183,227,230,331; 1st Battalion, 49,126-127,184, 226,231-232; 2nd Battalion, 49, 126-127; 3rd Battalion, 49-50, 127-128 383rd Infantry Regiment, 48, 65-66, 70,331; 1st Battalion, 50, 69; 2nd Battalion, 67; 3rd Battalion, 67 408th QIartermaster Company, 264 457th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 332 465th Field Artillery Battalion, 124, 330 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 224 51lth Parachute Infantry Regiment, 221,224,264,332; 1st Battalion, 223,262; 2nd Battalion, 222-223, 258,260-262; 3rd Battalion, 258259,261-262 531st Field Artillery Battalion, 290, 330 536th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 290 536th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 547th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 263 603rd Tank Company, 41,102,330

632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 117, 124,330 674th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 229 674th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 332 675th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 222,332 706th Tank Battalion, 255, 289, 332 718th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 51 718th Amphibious Tank Battalion, 280,290 718th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 727th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 728th Amphibian Tractor battalion, 182 728th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 763rd Tank Battalion, 49, 66, 127128,331 767th Tank Battalion, 52, 55, 79, 8184,89,91,186,217,331 776th Amphibian Tank Battalion, 51, 201,234,238,240,289 776th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 780th Amphibian Tank Battalion, 69 780th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 788th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 826th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, 165 826th Anti-Tank Battalion, 330 902nd Field Artillery Battalion, 234, 238-240,254,283,332 921st Field Artillery Battalion, 66, 331 947th Field Artillery Battalion, 330 1112th Engineer Construction Group, 329 1113th Engineer Construction Group, 329 1118th Engineer Construction Group, 330 1136th Engineer Construction Group, 330


INDEX • 393

1138th Engineer Construction Group, 330 1140th Engineer Combat Group, 55 1140th Engineer Construction Group, 330 5201st Engineer Construction Brigade, 329 5202nd Engineer Construction Brigade, 329 5209th Engineer Service Group, 330 Americal Division, 294, 315-319, 321-322,337 Corps, Army 1,299 V, 325 VII, 163 )(,18,24,26-28,39,41,47,48,55, 57,66,73-74,79,96,99,102, 108,110-111,114-115,121, 125,210,214,220,237,243, 250,284,294,296,314,325, 330,337 :xxIV, 18,26-28,48,52,55,57,70, 74,77,79,96,111,115,121, 125,130,133,143,164,169, 176,201,207,209-210,213214,217,220,226,243,248, 250,258,264-265,269,274, 278,282,284,296-297,314316,325,331,337 Eighth Army, 3,23,212,309,314315,320,323,337 Fourteenth Area Army, 306 Provisional Mountain Force, 292293 Sixth Army Service Command (ASCOM),21 Sixth Army, 3,16-20,23-25,27-28, 49,55,69,74,96,98-99,101,106109,113,121,125,130,132-133, 143,164,168,171,174-175,179, 206,209-210,216-218,220,233, 237,287,289,292,307,309,314, 325-326,329,331,337

Third Army, 23-25, 325 United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, 5-10 United States Marine Corps 5th Howitzer Battalion, 331 11th Gun Battalion, USMC, 186, 191 11th Howitzer Battalion, 131,331 Fighter Squadron (Night) 541,248, 332 Fighter Squadron (VMF) 115,249, 332 Fighter Squadron (VMF) 211,234, 249,332 Fighter Squadron (VMF) 218,249, 332 Fighter Squadron (VMF) 229,234 Fighter Squadron (VMF) 313,234, 245,249,332 Fighter Squadron (VMF) 611,332 III Amphibious Corps, 17 III Amphibious Corps, 21 V Amphibious Corps Artillery, 26 United States Military Academy, 22 United States Navy Central Philippine Attack Force, 18 Close Covering Group, 18 Destroyer Division 120, 178 Escort Carrier Group, 18 Fire Support Group, 18 Flagship Group, 18 Minesweeping and Hydrographic Group, 18 Northern Attack Force, 18 Seventh Fleet, 16, 63, 87, 168, 177, 181,249,292,314 Southern Attack Force, 18 Task Force 77, 18 Task Force 78, 18 Task Force 79, 18 Task Group 77.1, 18 Task Group 77.2, 18 Task Group 77.3, 18 Task Group 77.5, 18 Task Group 77.7, 18


394

• LEYTE: THE SOLDIERS' BATTLE

Task Group 78.3,211 Task Group 78.3,236 Task Group 78.3.8,245 Task Group 78.3.10,246 Third Fleet, 9, 18,26,87,114,168, 181 Valencia, Leyte, 11,237,251-252,269271,274,278-282,288-289,292-293, 296,298,316,323 Van Winkle, Capt. Julian, 124 Verbeck, CoL William]., 105, 118-120, 122 Visayas Islands, 10, 15, 17,26,32,173 Vlug, PFC Dirk]., 267; Medal ofHonor, 268

Whitcomb, Lt. CoL Charles A., 52, 54, 88,186,192 White, CoL Horton v., 329 Whitehead, Gen. Ennis P., 18,26,210, 232,332 Whitney, Lt. George, 133 Wilkinson, Adm. Theodore S., 18 Willets, Maj. George D., 312-313 Wilson, Lt. CoL Arthur H., 263-264 Wilson, Lt. CoL Harry, 222, 258 Wilson, Lt. Jerrel F., 92 Winters, PFC Joseph, 128 Wisnieuski, PFC Frank, 78 Woodruff, Gen. Roscoe B., 19, 163-164, 212,330

Wable, Lt. Benjamin H., 301 Wade, Capt. Hobert B., 260 Waechter, Lt. James A., 156, 159 Wai, Capt. Francis B., 42; Medal ofHonor, 43 USS Walke, 235 Wallace, Lt. CoL Lew, 90 USS Waller, 177 Walsh, SSgt. Malcolm K., 318 Walters, Capt. George, 263 USS Ward, 234 Watkins, Lt. Marvin, 87 Watson, Sgt. Donald, 155 Weaver, TSgt. Floyd A.; Silver Star, 285 Webber, T5 Webber, William B., 170 Weber, Lt. CoL Frederick R., 115-116, 118 Weyler, Adm. George L., 177 Wheat, Sgt. Jack, 304 Wheeler, Capt. Pat, 261-262

"Yamashita Line," 116,133,135,138, 250,266-267,287,288,295 Yamagata, Gen. Tsuyuo, 335 Yamashita, Gen. Tomoyuki, 30-32, 34, 64, 173-174,180,215-216,233,252,272, 279,306-307,314,325, 334Yap Garrison Force, 163 Yap Island, 10,26, 163 Yatsui, Lt. Cmdr. Noriteru, 178 Young, Lt. Cmdr. Donald E., 38 Young, Capt. Hugh D., 65-66 Young, Capt.JohnJ., 188 Young, Sgt. Oliver A., 158 Young, Lt. Tracy W.; Distinguished Service Cross, 241 IJNS Yuzuki,246 Zahm, Cmdr J. C., 178 Zierath, Lt. CoL Frederick R., 44-47 Zufall, PFC Darwin C., 35



Leyte 1944 : D 767.4 .P74 2012

RHC

11111111111111111111111111111111111 ::L7'SS:3

ISBN 978-1-61200-155-5

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