Vintage matte-finish 10 x 8 U.S. Army photograph of General MacArthur wading ashore Leyte Island in the Philippines in October 1944, signed neatly over his person in fountain pen. Reverse bears U.S. Army photo credit stamp, numbered "CC 349595." In fine condition, with light creasing to the lower right corner. A magnificent photo that commemorates one of the most dramatic moments in the history of World War II.
General Douglas MacArthur had been forced to evacuate the island of Corregidor in the Philippines in advance of encroaching Japanese forces in March 1942. Transported by PT-boat and fighter planes to southern Australia, the commander had made an impassioned speech at the Terowie railway station on March 20, declaring, 'I came through and I shall return.'
MacArthur did return to the Philippines in the fall of 1944. The General, who had been observing military actions from the cruiser U.S.S. Nashville moored in Leyte Gulf, took a landing craft towards the beach on the afternoon of October 20, 1944. The water was too shallow to bring the party completely ashore, so MacArthur, accompanied by an entourage of American and Philippine brass, waded through the 50 yards of silty water to the beach.
MacArthur's personal photographer Gaetano Faillace snapped the iconic photograph of the American commander's return. Other figures who can be seen in the photo include: Philippine President Sergio Osmena (1878-1961), wearing a pith helmet and sunglasses, at MacArthur's left; Philippine Army General Carlos P. Romulo (1898-1985), to the back and right of MacArthur; and U.S. Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland (1893-1966), to MacArthur's right. The photograph immediately captured the public's imagination. Truly a public relations triumph, it increased MacArthur's popularity tenfold.
Later that day, in a message broadcast by radio, MacArthur stated: 'This is the voice of freedom, General MacArthur speaking. People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples.'
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