The Historical MacArthur Landing Memorial – Site of Battle of Leyte

MACARTHUR LANDING MEMORIAL

Photo from: http://www.wazzuppilipinas.com/2013/05/douglas-macarthurs-landing-at-red-beach.html

The Leyte Landing Memorial in Red Beach, Palo, marks the spot where American liberation forces of General Douglas MacArthur landed.

The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of Leyte in the Philippines by the United States and Australian forces and allied Filipino guerrillas under the command of General Douglas MacArthur and waged against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita from 17 October 1944 to 31 July 1945. The battle launched the Philippines campaign of 1944-45 for the recapture and liberation of the entire Philippine Archipelago and to end almost three years of Japanese occupation.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, was the largest naval battle in modern history. It was fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II, in the seas surrounding the Philippine island of Leyte from 23 October to 26 October 1944 between the Allies and the Empire of Japan. Read More: http://www.tourisminthephilippines.com/city/Tacloban/leyte-landing-memorial/leyte-landing-memorial.php

Photo from: http://leylander.net/macarthur-park-leyte/

The MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial National Park (also known as the Leyte Landing Memorial Park and MacArthur Park) is a protected area of the Philippines that commemorates the historic landing of General Douglas MacArthur in Leyte Gulf at the start of the campaign to recapture and liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation on 20 October 1944. This event led to the largest naval battle of World War II and Japan’s eventual defeat and surrender after almost three years. The war memorial is located in the municipality of Palo on Leyte island in Eastern Visayas and is one of the region’s major tourist attractions.

The MacArthur Landing site sits on a 6.78 hectares (16.8 acres) coastal plain in the barangay of Candahug, some 5 kilometers south of Leyte’s provincial capital Tacloban. The park’s focal point are the seven double-life-sized bronze statues on a shallow manmade pool depicting MacArthur and his entourage during the historic A-Day Landing.

The statues mark the spot where MacArthur fulfilled his promise of “I shall return” at Red Beach, so-called for the blood spilled on it during the war. In front of the statues, two historical markers in English and Filipino can be found explaining the significance of the scene being depicted. A museum stands adjacent to the site which contains historic photographs and other memorabilia of General MacArthur including a copy of his speech upon landing and a bronze cast of his footprints. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacArthur_Landing_Memorial_National_Park

Photo from: https://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/gen-macarthur-landing-memorial-unusual-perspective/

Indeed, the iconic bronze statues, done by sculptor Anastacio Caedo are larger than life; like almost two times larger than an average Filipino’s height. Standing at ten feet tall, the scene portrays Gen. MacArthur’s landing at the Red Beach (red, not because of the blood shed during the invasion, but due to U.S. military’s color code) as captured by his personal photographer Gaetano Faillace.

The A-Day Landing, as it was named, has actually gotten a lot of flak, especially as its 70th anniversary was celebrated. MacArthur, as unbeknownst to most Filipinos, isn’t as highly regarded as most thought he is. Mockingly called Dugout Doug by not a few of his own troops in the U.S. military, he is criticized for the way he handled the Philippines during the Second World War, especially the retaking of Manila which practically led to the leveling of Intramuros to the ground. Read More: http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2016/04/macarthur-landing-memorial-national-park-leyte.html