He reported for duty on October 2 in time to command his ships—part of Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's bombardment group—during the Leyte invasion and helped to repulse the Japanese southern attack group—Vice Admirals Shoji Nishimura's Force "C" and Kiyohide Shima's 2d Striking Force—in the Surigao Strait phase of the Battle for Leyte Gulf.