Ormoc

Next, it would push through the Leyte Valley, a coastal plain near the landing beaches, advance over a line of uncharted mountains into another coastal plain known as the Ormoc Valley, and capture Ormoc, the island’s largest port on the west coast.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

The 11th Airborne Division fought a bitter battle of attrition in the middle of the island, slogging over uncharted mountains toward Ormoc.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

A series of heavily defended ridges and mountains guarded the main Japanese supply trail to Ormoc.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

Once the units were ashore, General Walter Krueger, the Sixth Army commander, launched a double envelopment attack to surround the Japanese at Ormoc.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

As the 11th Airborne Division slowly advanced west toward Ormoc, they were confronted by elements of the Japanese 26th Division entrenched along a series of steep ridges that were separated by gorges several hundred feet deep.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

After the division broke through and linked up with other units on the other side of the island near Ormoc, we came down from the mountains and went to our base camp near the beach.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

Several infantry divisions formed the outer prongs of the attack, while the 11th Airborne Division struck the middle, slogging over the mountains toward Ormoc.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

The day after the Japanese airborne attack on San Pablo, the 2nd Battalion of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment moved out of Mahonag located in the central mountainous area of Leyte, continuing the advance toward Ormoc by moving west toward the tiny village of Anas.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

As the Americans advanced on Ormoc, between 250 and 300 Japanese paratroopers mainly from the 3rd Airborne Raiding Regiment landed near the San Pablo airstrip and began destroying American equipment.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002

Then, in the early morning hours of December 22, the men of D Company made a crucial breakthrough that led to the ultimate link-up between the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment and the 32nd Infantry Regiment at Albuera, near Ormoc.

Into the Rising Sun Patrick K. O’Donnell 2002