Admiral "Bull" Halsey: The Life and Wars of the Navy's Most Controversial Commander - Hardcover

Wukovits, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0230602843 ISBN 13: 9780230602847

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2010

Synopsis

The definitive biography of America's best-known naval officer, who commanded the legendary fast carrier force during WWII.

From the tragic aftermath of Pearl Harbor, when he fashioned America's first response to the attack, to the war's final day in Tokyo Bay when he witnessed Japan's surrender, Admiral William F. Halsey stamped a mighty imprint on the Pacific during World War II. He led or participated significantly in the Navy's first offensive strikes against the Marshall Islands and Wake Island, the Guadalcanal campaign, and the offensive toward Japan. As a commander, he never shied from engaging the enemy, but boldly entered into battle, ready for a fight. As a consequence, Halsey became the face of the Navy and its most attractive public relations phenomenon. Due to his bold tactics and quotable wit, Halsey continues to be a beloved and debated figure.

In this balanced biography, historian John Wukovits illuminates the life of a man who ultimately deserves recognition as one the great naval commanders in U.S. history. Europe had Patton; the Pacific had Admiral William "the Bull" Halsey.

About this title

About the Author

John Wukovits is the author of Pacific Alamo, One Square Mile of Hell, and Eisenhower. His writings have appeared in numerous publications including The Washington Post and The Chicago Tribune. He lives in Trenton, MI.

Reviews

Popular military historian Wukovits economically and convincingly refurbishes a WWII hero inappropriately grown unfashionable. Contemporary evaluations of Adm. William F. Halsey present him as a media creation, whose heroic words and posturing camouflaged mediocrity. Wukovits, in contrast, describes the early career that persuaded Halsey of the sovereign importance of acting promptly, and with decision. The author stresses Halsey's ability to inspire loyalty and respect in his men, his skills as a trainer, and his success in developing harmonious interservice and interallied relationships. All were vital in the war's early stages, when odds were even and resources limited. Halsey's aggressive command style gave momentum and structure to the vital South Pacific campaign—where, the admiral said, we broke their backs. Halsey then became, with Raymond Spruance, part of naval history's greatest operational command team. By 1945 he brought the war to the home islands of Japan with devastating surface/air bombardments. His mistakes at Leyte Gulf, while not trivial, reflected commitment to decisive action. Wukovits fully justifies Bull Halsey's place among America's greatest admirals. (July)
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A seasoned writer on WWII in the Pacific now turns his attention to one of its most controversial figures. Bull Halsey was a navy brat and a latecomer to naval aviation, although distinguished as a destroyer officer before the war. He successfully commanded the early carrier raids into Japanese waters, missed the Battle of Midway due to illness, then achieved his greatest distinction as commander in the South Pacific, beginning with turning Guadalcanal around. Moved into command of the Third Fleet, he was less successful, as his overwhelming aggressiveness led him astray twice. First was leaving the Leyte beaches unprotected while seeking the Japanese carriers, an effort that might have led to a major disaster; second was leading the Third Fleet into a typhoon while trying to keep in supporting range of General MacArthur. The author argues persuasively that these errors are not the sum of Halsey's career, however, and that his strategic and tactical judgments were more often sound than not. With his aggressiveness and charisma added in, he emerges as one of the great sea warriors in American history. --Roland Green

Edition details

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0230602843
• ISBN 13: 9780230602847
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304