Leyte: The Return to the Philippines

About this book

This volume is the fifth installment of the United States Army’s official World War II series, specifically the Pacific subseries that chronicles the Leyte campaign. Authored by historian M. Hamlin Cannon, the work opens with a formal foreword that frames Leyte as the turning point where “limited offensives, bypassing, and island hopping was virtually over,” and proceeds to outline the book’s comprehensive scope, ground combat, naval and air support, logistics, and even civilian affairs. The detailed table of contents, ranging from strategic planning to the final liberation of Leyte, signals a methodical, document‑based narrative that draws on official Army records, maps, and photographs, while also acknowledging the contributions of Filipino guerrillas and the Japanese perspective.

Cannon’s voice is that of a mid‑century military scholar, precise and exhaustive, reflecting the era’s emphasis on official historiography and exhaustive footnotes. The prose is dense but clear, interweaving operational details with occasional personal acknowledgments. Readers with an interest in rigorous military history, World War II scholars, or anyone seeking an in‑depth account of the Pacific theater’s largest amphibious operation will find this book’s thoroughness and balanced coverage most rewarding.