Sunday, October 24 at 8 p.m. ET
Hosted by Oliver North
In October 1944, Americans fought the ultimate battle on the high seas. The Battle for Leyte Gulf was a desperate gamble by the Japanese navy to stop America’s march towards Tokyo. This battle would mark the moment when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (search) was truly avenged, when like ghosts rising, some of the ships resurrected from the bottom of Pearl Harbor took on the Japanese fleet with devastating results.
In this compelling episode of “War Stories with Oliver North,” you’ll meet some of the men who landed on the beaches at Leyte with General Douglas MacArthur (search). Two years after his humiliating retreat, MacArthur made good on his vow to return to the Philippines. You’ll hear about the army’s brutal jungle fighting against crack Japanese troops. You’ll meet some of the sailors who faced unbelievable odds against a Japanese navy that had them totally out-gunned. And you’ll hear harrowing tales of survival from sailors whose ships were sunk from underneath them, only to have to fight off shark attacks.
Legendary Admiral James Holloway (search) talks about wreaking havoc on part of the Japanese fleet at Suriago Strait (search), using a textbook maneuver taught at every naval school. And find out how Japanese Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa used one of the oldest tricks in the book against the revered commander of the Third Fleet, Admiral William “Bull” Halsey.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the last great naval battle of World War II, and when the smoke cleared, the once invincible Japanese Imperial Navy lay in ruins.
Staff for Episode:
Senior Producer: Pamela K. Browne
Produced and Written by: Steven Tierney
Editor: Todd Zelin
Designer: Greg Van Why
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