Editing Battle of Leyte (section)

==Background==
Japan had conquered the Philippines in 1942. Controlling it was vital for Japan's survival in World War II because it commanded sea routes to [[Borneo]] and [[Sumatra]] by which [[rubber]] and [[petroleum]] were shipped to Japan.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=7}}

For the U.S., capturing the Philippines was a key strategic step in isolating Imperial Japan's military holdings in China and the Pacific theater. It was also a personal matter of pride for MacArthur.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=5}} In 1942, just a month before Japan forced the surrender of all [[USAFFE]] forces in the Philippines, U.S. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] had ordered MacArthur to leave the Philippines and organize the U.S. forces gathering in Australia,{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=22}} which were meant to relieve the USAFFE. Those relief forces were non-existent;{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=22}} Roosevelt's true intentions in ordering MacArthur to flee the Philippines had been to prevent his capture by the Japanese. Still, MacArthur had vowed that he would return to the Philippines. He repeatedly stated that it was a moral obligation of the U.S. to liberate the Philippines as soon as possible.  In March 1944, the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]] ordered MacArthur to plan an attack on the southern Philippines by the end of the year, and Luzon in early 1945.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|pp=7–8}} In July 1944, Roosevelt met with MacArthur and [[Chester Nimitz]] in Hawaii, where the decision was made to invade the Philippines, from which land air bases could be used for the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater of Operations]].{{sfn|Prefer|2012|pp=8–9}}

Over the summer of 1944, planes from the [[aircraft carrier]]s of the [[United States Third Fleet|U.S. 3rd Fleet]] under Admiral [[William F. Halsey]] carried out several successful missions over the Philippines and found Japanese resistance lacking.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=9}} Halsey then recommended a direct strike on Leyte, canceling other planned operations, and the Leyte invasion date moved forward to October.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=10}}

[[File:US Armada moving towards Leyte Island.jpg|thumb|left|Amphibious forces approach Leyte, October 1944]]

Leyte, one of the larger islands of the Philippines, has numerous deep-water approaches and sandy beaches which offered opportunities for [[amphibious assault]]s and fast resupply. The roads and lowlands extending inland from Highway&nbsp;1, that ran for {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=on}} along the east coast between Abuyog town to the north and the [[San Juanico Strait]] between Leyte and [[Samar]] Islands, provided avenues for tank-infantry operations, as well as suitable ground for airfield construction. American air forces based on Leyte could strike at enemy bases and airfields anywhere in the [[archipelago]].{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=10}}

A heavily forested north–south mountain range dominates the interior and separates two sizable valleys, or coastal plains. The larger Leyte Valley extends from the northern coast to the long eastern shore and contains most of the towns and roadways on the island.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|pp=10–11}} The other, Ormoc Valley, situated on the west side, was connected to Leyte Valley by a roundabout and winding road, Highway&nbsp;2; it ran from [[Palo, Leyte|Palo]] town on the east coast, then west and northwest through Leyte Valley to the north coast, it then turned south and wound through a mountainous neck to enter the northern Ormoc Valley. This continued south to the port of [[Ormoc City]], then along the western shore to [[Baybay, Leyte|Baybay]] town. The road then turned east to cross the mountainous waist of the island and it connected with Highway&nbsp;1 on the east coast at Abuyog. Below these towns, the mountainous southern third of Leyte was mostly undeveloped.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=10}} High mountain peaks over {{convert|4400|ft|m|abbr=on}}, as well as the jagged outcroppings, ravines, and caves typical of volcanic islands offered formidable defensive opportunities.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=11}} The timing late in the year of the assault would force combat troops and supporting pilots, as well as logistical units, to contend with [[monsoon]] rains.

Leyte's population of over 900,000 people—mostly farmers and fishermen{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=11}}—could be expected to assist an American invasion, since many residents already supported the guerrilla struggle against the Japanese in the face of harsh repression.{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=12}} Japanese troop strength on Leyte was estimated by U.S. intelligence at 20,000; mostly of the [[16th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|16th Division]]{{sfn|Prefer|2012|pp=16–17}} under Lieutenant&nbsp;General [[Shiro Makino]].{{sfn|Prefer|2012|p=1}}