| Original caption: “General Douglas MacArthur wades ashore during initial landings at Leyte, Philippine Islands.” The shore party of United States Army General Douglas MacArthur (January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964) wades ashore from a Higgins Boat (LCVP – Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel) having left light cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43) to land on White Beach, Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines. From left to right: President of the Philippines Sergio Osmeña (September 9, 1878 – October 19, 1961); United States Army Air Forces Brigadier General George C. Kenney (August 6, 1889 – August 9, 1977), Commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), partially hidden; United States Army Colonel Courtney Whitney (May 20, 1897 – March 21, 1969), Chief of the Philippine section of the Allied Intelligence Bureau; Philippine Army Brigadier General Carlos P. Romulo Senior (January 14, 1899 – December 15, 1985), Secretary of Information in Osmeña’s cabinet; General Macarthur; Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland (November 27, 1893 – June 25, 1966), Chief of Staff, SWPA; Bill Dunn (1906 – Sepetember 20, 1992) Columbia Broadcasting Service, carrying typewriter; United States Army Staff Sergeant Francisco Salveron (June 4, 1910 – August 23, 1998), carrying 2 M1 carbines, personal aide to General MacArthur. MacArthur threw 4 divisions onto Leyte; resistance was unexpectedly light. MacArthur had not intended to wade ashore. The LCVP that took his shore party from USS Nashville to the beach grounded some distance out. Requesting assistance, the Beachmaster, very busy with incoming traffic, growled, “Let ‘em walk,” and the brass did come ashore on foot. MacArthur’s countenance was stoic – until he saw the photos. He recognized the public relations value of this photo, with his anger over walking ashore tempered by the realization that he looked determined and resolute. This image countered the “Dugout Doug” epithet of the initial defense of the Philippines in 1942. As MacArthur and his entourage made 1 of his by-then-patented beachhead strolls, a gentle afternoon rain began to fall. Then, Signal Corps troops drove up in a weapons carrier at an appointed place in a little clearing, carrying a portable transmitter. It would relay MacArthur’s soon-to-be-historic words to a larger transmitter on the Nashville, which in turn would broadcast them to the world. “People of the Philippines,” MacArthur began, his voice as well as his hands uncharacteristically shaking with emotion, “I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil.” Rally to me, he went on to admonish. “Let the indomitable spirit of Bataan and Corregidor lead on.” Shrewdly recognizing that in such situations shorter was definitely better than longer, he finished in just 2 minutes. Osmeña then spoke for 10 minutes about restoring civil government in the islands, a task that would prove both complicated and controversial. After the addresses, MacArthur and his party returned to USS Nashville. By then, the Japanese defenders had recovered from their initial shock and were counterattacking. According to Kenney, shortly after MacArthur departed, Japanese troops broke through to the beach and got within yards of the spot where MacArthur had stood. “It was a good thing we left when we did,” Kenney recalled. Photo by United States Army Sergeant Gaetano Faillace (September 17, 1904 – December 31, 1991), MacArthur’s personal photographer. He accompanied MacArthur on 11 SWPA landings. This photo was internationally circulated. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1469.jpg |
| Image Size | 784.82 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2924 x 2192 |
| Photographer | Gaetano Faillace |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | October 20, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Palo |
| State or Province | Leyte |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-407101 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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