Leyte: The Return to the Philippines

"Leyte: The Return to the Philippines" by M. Hamlin Cannon is a historical record from the "United States Army in World War II" series, which recounts the military actions of the Pacific War. It zooms in on the Leyte Campaign, telling the story of how American forces returned to the Philippines, what they wanted to achieve, and the important military moves made during that time. The beginning of the book explains why the Leyte Campaign was important, highlighting General Douglas MacArthur's strong desire to return to and free the Philippines after earlier losses. It introduces a detailed plan, showing the preparations needed for American forces to take control of Leyte. The first landings and the anticipated fight from Japanese forces set the scene for what would happen next, giving a big picture of the difficulties faced by American soldiers as they tried to win back a key area in the Pacific.