MacArthur Returns at Dulag, Leyte

Book excerpt: In perhaps the most dramatic and well-remembered event of the Leyte campaign, General Douglas MacArthur, Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña and the Philippine Cabinet returned to the Philippines at Red Beach on the northeastern coastline of Leyte Island on A-Day (October 20, 1944). In 1949, The Philippine Historical Committee (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines) installed the Official MacArthur Leyte Landing Marker at Palo Beach (the Northern beachhead). For nearly 75 years, the citizens of Leyte debated the site of MacArthur's return. My research suggests MacArthur made his initial return at Dulag Beach (the Southern and Central Beachhead). The first half of this book (titled "Before the Return") discusses the outbreak of WWII in the Philippines and the events leading up to MacArthur's return. With great sentiment, this portion of the narrative shares my own account of WWII in Dulag. Furthermore, the latter half of the novel (titled "Red Beach, Dulag") presents the case that MacArthur made his return to the Philippines at Dulag Beach.