Given the geography of the war in the Pacific in WWII, the United States adopted a strategy of island-hopping. This strategy called for gaining control of islands that were occupied by the Japanese and then using these islands as staging areas to prepare for the next invasion. The Allied strategy in the Pacific was successful because it allowed for the U.S. to achieve the main goal of an attack on mainland Japan. The Battle of Midway was a critical U.S. victory. Japan lost about 3,000 men, planes, and ships, resulting in Japan giving up the idea of Pacific expansion and from this point on, Japan was placed on the defensive. American general, Douglas MacArthur, had command of the southwest Pacific theater in WWII. In 1935, MacArthur had helped create armed forces for the Philippines. In December 1941, President Roosevelt ordered MacArthur to vacate the island, resulting in MacArthur and his staff fleeing the Philippines. MacArthur had stated that the 'Gateway to Asia' was now in the hands of the enemy and he promised, ''I shall return.'' MacArthur was responsible for the operation that freed the Philippines in 1944 and MacArthur went on to lead an island-hopping campaign in the Pacific, returning to the Philippines two and half years later where he landed on Leyte and liberated the Philippines. Jaydn learned about the Bhatan Death March and the great suffering of American POWs and the people of the Philippines until the U.S. was able to return and liberate the country from Japanese occupation during WWII.