MacArthur Returns: Philippines Liberation Begins
Douglas MacArthur waded ashore at Red Beach on the island of Leyte on October 20, 1944, fulfilling the promise he made upon leaving Corregidor in March 1942: 'I shall return.' The War Department had wanted him to say 'We shall return,' but MacArthur refused to dilute the personal commitment. Photographers captured him striding through knee-deep surf, a staged image that became one of the most iconic photographs of World War II. MacArthur later repeated the wade-in multiple times for different camera crews. The Leyte landings were the beginning of the Philippines liberation campaign that would last until August 1945. The Japanese responded with the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history, losing most of their remaining fleet and introducing kamikaze attacks for the first time.
October 20, 1944
82 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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