Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Japanese 14th Army landed on the northeastern shores of Lingayen Gulf at Agoo, Caba, Santiago and Bauang on the 22nd of December 1941. They engaged in relatively minor skirmishes with a poorly equipped contingent of predominantly American and Filipino troops.
Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf commanded the ships of the invasion force that took a lengthy circuitous route through previously captured islands of Leyte Gulf from the 3rd of January 1945. General Walter Krueger led about 68,000 GIs under the U.S. 6th Army who landed at the coast of Lingayen Gulf at 09:30 on the 9th of January 1945.
On the 3rd of January 1945, the escort carrier USS Ommaney Bay was severely damaged by a Yokosuka P1Y kamikaze carrying two bombs. The ship was scuttled later that day after fires and explosions continued until the decision was made to sink it.
Only one mine was encountered initially by Underwater Demolition Teams before Lieutenant Commander W. R. Loud claimed to have found around ten additional mines by end of day the 7th of January. Smith wrote that exploratory sweeps during the morning turned up only two floating mines and none of the moored type for a total of less than 12 mines.
Landing operations came to a halt due to 6 to 8-foot surf resulting from increased swell by mid-morning in January 10. It was not until third day of assault the 11th of January that swell diminished allowing continued landing operations despite strong winds and rough seas recorded on the 6th of January through the 9th of January.