Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Ọ kwagara na Leyte Gulf na 18 Ọktọba, ụbọchị abụọ tupu ọdịda ahụ n'ezie, iji kpuchie preinvasion minesweeping and underwater demolition team operations. Mgbọ ya nyekwara aka n'ịgba bọmbụ tupu mwakpo nke ebumnuche ahụ. Mgbe ọ kwụsịrị n'Ọktoba 20, ụgbọ agha ahụ gbara ọkụ na-akwado ndị agha na-aga n'ikpere mmiri ma chebe ndị agha mwakpo ahụ megide mwakpo ikuku nke ndị iro na-ebute megide ya. N'ọrụ nke abụọ, o kwuru na ya gburu otu onye na-enweghị enyemaka. Mgbe ndị Japan malitere mwakpo elu ala ha nke nwere akụkụ atọ iji mebie
Na mwakpo Leyte, "Welles" sonyere na ihuenyo nke Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf nke ochie nke agha nke bibiri ndị iro nke nwara ịkwanye site na Surigao Strait n'ebe ndịda Leyte n'abalị nke 24/25 Ọktọba. N'oge na-adịghị anya mgbe nke ahụ gasịrị, ọ kwụsịrị ọrụ ya na Philippines wee laa ezumike nká na Ulithi Atoll ebe ọ sonyeere ihuenyo nke Fast Carrier Task Force.