Today in World War II History—December 5, 1939 & 1944

Patrol of the 307th Infantry at a river crossing near Camp Downes in the approach to Ormoc, Leyte (US Army Center of Military History)
80 Years Ago—December 5, 1939: Fritz Kuhn, leader of the pro-Nazi German-American Bund, is convicted of embezzlement of Bund funds and is sent to Sing Sing; Gerhard Kunze replaces him over the Bund.
75 Years Ago—December 5, 1944: US launches final offensive on Leyte in the Philippines, driving into the Ormoc Valley.
Victory ship SS Red Oak Victory is commissioned into the US Navy as an ammunition ship at Richmond, CA (currently at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Richmond, CA).

Sarah Sundin on board SS Red Oak Victory at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Richmond, CA, May 2014 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)