Oct. 4 German forces launch strong counterattacks against XIX Corps units assaulting West Wall defenses. The U.S. 1st Inf. Div calls for the surrender of Aachen within 24 hours. American units retake the lost ground later in the day, and take the city of Germeter without opposition. The U.S. Sixth Army invades Leyte in the Philippine Islands, landing at two locations on the island's east coast at 1000 hours.
Additional forces land throughout the day, and progress is generally good.
During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, U.S. Seventh Fleet units decisively defeat Japanese forces moving to attack Leyte. AN article in your June edition about a language barrier affects my household. It was about sign language and how more hearing-impaired people are involved in military life. My wife is hearing impaired and is with me in Naples, Italy, where I am assigned to the U.S. Army Element under the NATO Command. We have found that people here have little contact with the hearing impaired and that causes some concern, particularly by barriers put up by people who fail to open their minds to something different.