After the tremendous naval victory in Leyte Gulf, it was time for General Douglas MacArthur to keep his promise and return to the southern Philippines. In late October 1944, the American GI's finally landed in full force. Through the Filipino archipelago, through 7,000 islands, through jungles and swamps, the Allies marched north towards Manilla and the liberation of the island country. The liberation movement took five months, but was crucial in the final push toward Japan.