WOW! What a story. Thank you so much for sharing. Your father was a genuine hero and I can not thank him, as well as you and his entire family, for his dedication and sacrifice.
On day one the Australian Marines went in and suffered heavy casualties. Pretty much 100%. On day two the US Marines went in and also suffered heavy casualties, but were able to establish a beach head. By the time my father landed it was relatively safe. However, the beach was completely covered in bodies of the Marines that had fallen the previous two days. He stated that he had to walk on the bodies of all those marines. That they covered the sand. They did not have a choice.
My father was a heavy equipment operator. They then brought in bulldozers and dug big pits to bury all the bodies.
Plus, MacArthur did not want those in the picture when he came ashore.
Now, there was a quay there that they could pull up a ship/landing craft to. However, MacArthur did not think it would look as dramatic if he just stepped off the boat onto the pier. So, he had them bring the landing craft up to the beach and he waded ashore to give his famous speech.
“I have returned”
Dad said Dug Out Doug was a great leader, but a tremendous primadonna and self promoter.