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| Location Guinhangdan Hill with an elevation of 522' is located at to the west of Palo and borders the Palo River to the south and is the most prominent terrain feature inland from the eastern coast of Leyte in Leyte Province in the Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) in the Visayas (Visayas Islands) in the central Philippines. During World War II, the U.S. Army designated this feature Hill 522. Wartime History During July 1944, the Japanese Army 16th Division began to fortify Hill 522 using Filipino laborers from Palo as forced laborers. Before the American landing, they had completed five well camouflaged pillboxes made of rock, logs and wood planks covered with earth that were well camouflaged supported by tunnels and communication trenches 7' deep. On October 20, 1944 A-Day, Hill 522 was an objective of the U.S. Army. Before the landing, the hill was subjected to naval bombardment. After landing on Red Beach near Palo, the 19th Infantry Regiment (19th IR) advanced inland with the 1st Battalion advancing toward Hill 522 supported by the 13th Field Artillery Battalion Battery B and 63rd Field Artillery Battalion Battery A provided artillery fire against the feature. When Japanese resistance prevented an advance from the south of Hill 522, the 1st Battalion sent a reconnaissance party to locate a northern route. By 2:30pm they found a route on the northern side and the Battalion began to advance in company columns. As they approached, the were engaged by Japanese fire from the pillboxes pinning down Company A in the lead. The rest moved to the north and attacked from the northeast including Company C on the right and Company B on the left. Advancing with mortars shelling the crest, by dusk Company B reached the hilltop but was stopped by two bunkers and dug in. Meanwhile, Company C reached the central and highest crest and spotted Japanese reinforcements coming up the opposite side and killed approximately fifty. Overnight, the Japanese attempted to infiltrate the American line that were unsuccessful. In total, the 1st Battalion suffered 14 killed and 95 wounded. Because Hill 522 was secured quickly, the Japanese were unable to threaten the landing beachhead. At this location was a church used as a hospital during the Battle of Leyte. A photograph of a wounded and bandaged American soldier with Filipinos praying for him was taken at this location. References U.S. Army in World War II The War in the Pacific Leyte: The Return to the Philippines Chapter V A Day: 20 October 1944 pages 65 (map), 67-68, 70-72, 78 Contribute
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 Map X Corps Oct 20, 1944 Map Mapcarta |
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