As the World War II generation slips away from us, part of the reason I write these great battles series (and am grateful to Ben Shapiro, et. al. for giving them a public platform) is to remind us of our past and the incredible sacrifices and bravery of those on whose shoulders we stand. In mortal combat the essence of the human condition is at its most acute and focused, allowing us to see in clear terms both the best and worst in us.
And so it was at The Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 23-26, 1944. This action fought on the high seas during the height of World War II in the Pacific Theater was by many measures the largest naval battle in history. What better way to honor the over 200,000 seamen and fliers who participated in this fight, then to re-tell the tale? As with all my historical pieces, I find myself wading through mountains of data, anecdotes, timelines, etc., many of which are contradictory as is the fog of history. So if any readers wish to offer commentary or correct my assertions with supporting evidence I not only welcome it but encourage it. I am the writer in these series, but you, the readers, are as much a part of this collective exercise as I am.
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