Annika Cordero
OCTOBER 20, 2024
General MacArthur and American forces (center) arrive in Leyte.
Photo from Fine Art America.
On October 20, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise to return to the Philippines, landing on the shores of Leyte.
Forced to leave the Philippines for his safety in 1942, MacArthur vowed, "I shall return." This declaration served as a hope of liberation for the Filipino people, who endured three years of Japanese occupation.
The Philippines fell under Japanese rule after American forces were ordered to withdraw. Japanese troops would arrest, kill, and rape innocent people, leading to an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Filipino casualties. Despite the lives lost, the Philippines refused to surrender to Japan, and instead retaliated through guerilla warfare.
Three years after his departure, General MacArthur waded ashore in Leyte, declaring, "People of the Philippines, I have returned!" The Battle of Leyte, which took place from October 23 to 26, 1944, ultimately led to the liberation of the Philippines and the downfall of Japanese rule.
To the world, General MacArthur’s return is a symbol of the success of the Allies over Japan. But to the Philippines, it is a testament to Filipino resiliency in the face of oppression.
REFERENCES
Kevindupuy. (2024, October 14). MacArthur returns to the Philippines. The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/macarthur-returns-philippines\
James, D. C. (2024, September 13). Douglas MacArthur | Biography, Command, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Douglas-MacArthur
FDR Library. (2018, August 23). “I have returned!” – General MacArthur and FDR. Forward With Roosevelt. https://fdr.blogs.archives.gov/2015/10/20/i-have-returned-general-macarthur-and-fdr/
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I, Annika Cordero, declare that I have used an AI tool responsibly in completing this article. The AI tool helped me with creating the citation format of the references, but the work is my own. I understand the importance of academic honesty and journalism principles. I confirm that I have used AI only to support my writing, not to do the work for me.
AI CITATION
Scribbr (2024), AI Writing Tool, https://www.scribbr.com/