personality profile 69

Admiral William Frederick Halsey by Ruben Pang

Introduction Early Years Fleet William Halsey was born in Elizabeth, Frederick Halsey (30 October New Jersey to a family of naval 1882 – 16 August 1959) was a tradition. His father was a captain Navy (USN) officer in the USN. Hasley naturally who served in both the First and followed in his footsteps, Second World Wars (WWI and enrolling in the United States WWII). He was of (US) Naval Academy in 1900.3 the South Pacific Area during As a cadet, he held several the early years of the Pacific extracurricular positions. He War against and became played full-back for the football http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Halsey.JPG commander of the Third Fleet team, became president of the Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey for the remainder of the war, Athletic Association, and as during which he supported First Classman “had his name General Douglas MacArthur’s engraved on the Thompson advance on the in Trophy Cup as the Midshipman 1944. Over the course of war, who had done most during Halsey earned the reputation the year for the promotion of of being one of America’s most athletics.”4 aggressive fighting admirals, often driven by instinct over From 1907 to 1909, he gained intellect. However, his record substantial maritime experience also includes unnecessary losses while sailing with the “Great at Gulf and damage to his White Fleet” in a global Third Fleet during the circumnavigation.5 In 1909, of 1944 or “Hasley’s Typhoon,” Halsey received instruction in the violent tempest that sank torpedoes with the Reserve three and swept Flotilla in Charleston, away 146 naval aircraft. Today, Carolina and commenced his Admiral Halsey is remembered service aboard his first torpedo as a “first to last” combatant of boat, USS Du Pont.6 WWII.1 He led raids on Japanese bases at the Gilbert, Marshall First World War and Wake islands in response to During WWI, Halsey served the attack and was with the Force in also present at the Japanese Queenstown, . He surrender aboard his flagship, temporarily served aboard USS Missouri in Bay, where USS Duncan before assuming hostilities were brought to an command of the USS Benham 2 end. (February 1918) and USS Shaw

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(May 1918). For his courageous Interwar Years for the highest qualification leadership in commanding both possible, opting for the twelve- During the interwar years, he destroyers through treacherous week pilot course instead of represented the US Navy briefly waters, Halsey was awarded the the abridged Aviation Observer as an attaché in Denmark, Navy Cross with the following program. Upon graduation from Germany, Norway and .8 citation: the course in May 1935, Halsey’s By 1932, Hasley had been the new aviator wings and command For distinguished service in captain of twelve different experience opened new doors.11 the line of his profession as torpedo boats and destroyers, He went on to take command Commanding Officer of the commanded three destroyer of the carrier USS Saratoga. USS Benham and the USS Shaw, divisions, and served as the Soon, in 1937, Halsey returned engaged in the important, Executive Officer of the USS to shore and assumed position exacting, and hazardous duty of Wyoming.9 as the commander of Naval Air patrolling the waters infested Station, Pensacola.12 By this with enemy and In 1934, responding to time, he had made a name for mines, in escorting and the shortage of naval aviator- himself as one of the leading protecting vitally important qualified , Hasley commanders convoy of troops and supplies attended a condensed naval and was awarded the rank of through these waters, and in aviation course catered to rear admiral on March 1, 1938, offensive and defensive action, senior officers in Pensacola, effectively proving his worth to vigorously and unremittingly Florida, at the age of 51.10 With those who had initially doubted prosecuted against all forms of the aid of a waiver allowing him his ability to convert to naval enemy naval activity.7 to fly bespectacled, he strived aviation.13 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Gambier_Bay_%28CVE-73%29_and_escorts_making_smoke_off_Samar_1944.jpeg

USS Gambier Bay and her escorts amidst a smoke screen off Samar

POINTER, Journal of the singapore armed forces Vol.38 No.4 personality profile 71 US Navy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Cowpens_%28CVL-25%29_during_Typhoon_Cobra.jpg

A view from USS Cowpens around the time hit the Third Fleet on 18 December 1944

Second World War several scout aircraft which the Japanese soil after Pearl the carrier dispatched were Harbor. In a one-way trip, the Pearl Harbor caught in the middle of the bombing raiders fanned out, After stints leading two attack and shot down.15 When successful hitting “ten targets carrier divisions, Carrier Division Halsey witnessed the scale of in Tokyo, two in Yokohama, Two aboard USS Yorktown and destruction upon returning and one each in , Osaka, Carrier Division One aboard to Pearl Harbor, true to his , and Yokosuka.”18 The USS Saratoga, Halsey received nature, he promised, “Before aggressive raid substantially his third star in June 1940, we’re through with them, the raised American morale and commanding Aircraft, Battle Japanese language will be also pressured the Japanese Force, Pacific Fleet aboard the spoken only in hell.”16 into redirecting fighter planes aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. to defend their home islands.19 He was on this carrier, returning Dolittle Raid With this successful mission, to Pearl Harbor after delivering In the demoralizing months Hasley spurred his men on with marine fighter planes to Wake after Pearl Harbor, Halsey his slogan “Hit hard, hit fast, hit Island, when the Japanese successfully led often.”20 attacked on the morning of within 800 miles of Japan to 7 December 1941.14 While bad launch the famed Doolittle Campaign weather delayed the Enterprise’s Raid on 18 April 1942.17 The On 18 November, Hasley arrival at Pearl Harbor, sparing audacious raid was the first was promoted to Admiral her from a disastrous fate, American retaliation to reach after replacing Admiral Robert

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Ghormley as Commander South he provided cover for the and dealt just enough damage Pacific Forces and South amphibious assault on Peleliu to cause Vice Admiral Kurita Pacific Area, “contemporary before moving on to support to retreat—he feared and explanations for Ghormley’s Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid’s anticipated a aerial raid from replacement share the Seventh Fleet in the Leyte Gulf.23 Halsey’s carriers to follow.29 common theme that he lacked Halsey realized his mistake and aggressiveness, but this was The Japanese Combined raced his ships back towards really a symptom of defeatism, Fleet’s commander, Admiral Leyte, however his failure a disease that had become Toyoda, planned to counter the to clearly communicate his rampant at his headquarters.”21 US invasion of the Philippines intentions had left the invasion Hasley’s ready-to-fight by using his remaining carriers, fleet vulnerable, severely reputation and instinct was rendered combat ineffective affecting his reputation.30 the remedy that the South due to lack of sufficient pilots Pacific Fleet needed. and aircraft, under Vice Admiral The Storms Ozawa as bait.24 The plan was On 17 December 1944, Hasley During the 26 October 1942 for them to draw US attention once again found himself caught Battle of Santa Cruz, Halsey away from Leyte, while he off-guard—this time by Mother led two aircraft carriers, one summoned his remaining ships Nature. Although worsening (the USS South to attack the landing force— weather had started to cause Dakota) and a few and and it worked.25 problems for his refueling fleet, destroyers against Vice Admiral he chose to remain in position, Kondo Nobutake, who had four Believing that the Japanese ignoring warnings.31 The next carriers, four and forces were retreating after day, the storm had become a several cruisers and destroyers.22 victories over attacking fully-formed typhoon, bringing Although the aircraft carrier USS Japanese surface ships on 23 90-knot winds and forceful Hornet was sunk, leaving the and 24 October, Halsey chased waves. Only then did Halsey USN with only the badly these carriers north without order his fleet to steer away damaged USS Enterprise as properly communicating his from the storm. However, it their sole aircraft carrier in intentions to Nimitz or Kinkaid.26 was too late: 790 men were lost the Pacific, Halsey inflicted Although he was successful in along with three destroyers and crippling damage on the pursing and destroying Ozawa’s 146 aircraft.32 Japanese naval aviation force— carrier force, Halsey found which lost approximately 150 himself too far away from the On 5 June 1945, Halsey aircrews, including nearly every US invasion fleet and landing steered his fleet into another squadron and flight leader forces to provide support.27 typhoon. This storm formed they dispatched. As it would This led to the Battle off Samar, around 1 June north of take several months for the one of the few major battles and was being tracked on 4 Japanese to replace their pilots, where American forces found June as Halsey was refueling. this meant that the Americans themselves unprepared against Halsey refused to believe that had air superiority in following a more powerful opposing force, the storm could speed across engagements. led by Vice Admiral Kurita. The the sea fast enough to cross American forces only had escort paths with his fleet.A s with the Third Fleet carriers and destroyers against earlier storm, it was a terrible After successfully leading the Japanese’s four battleships, misjudgment and he sailed his fleet to victory in the six cruisers and ten destroyers.28 part of his fleet directly into Guadalcanal Campaign, Halsey its path.33 In this encounter, led the US Third Fleet in Admiral During the Battle off Samar, USS Pittsburgh’s bow was ripped Nimitz’s “island hopping” the outgunned American forces off.34 Thankfully, the crew were campaign. In September 1944, managed to sink three cruisers at battle stations and no lives

POINTER, Journal of the singapore armed forces Vol.38 No.4 personality profile 73 were lost. Two other cruisers, a five-star rank, was strongly 8. “William Halsey,” Spartacus a destroyer and four carriers objected to by the survivors Educational, 7 December 2012, incurred damage: six sailors of the Battle off Samar.40 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet. 35 and 76 aircraft were lost. This However, there is no denying co.uk/2WWhalseyW.htm. second blunder almost ended the many successes that his career as the subsequent Admiral Halsey achieved over the 9. tillman, “William Bull Halsey.” court of inquiry recommended course of WWII. When receiving 10. Ibid. that “serious consideration” be his Fourth Distinguished Service given to assigning him to other Medal, he was praised for his 11. Kennedy Hickman, “World War duties and the Secretary of the characteristic aggressiveness, II: Fleet Admiral William ‘Bull’ Navy wanted to retire him.36 precision and persistence—for Halsey,” 7 December 2012, http:// Luckily for Halsey, arguments being the one who first engaged militaryhistory.about.com/od/ that this would boost Japanese and finally finished off the naval/p/halsey.htm. morale and the strong public “remnants of the once mighty 12. Ibid. image that he had built up over Japanese Fleet.”41  the early years of the war kept 13. Ibid. him in service. Endnotes 14. Kent G. Budge, “Halsey, William Post War Years 1. Barret Tillman, “William Bull Frederick, Jr. (1882-1959),” The After the war, on 11 Halsey: Legendary World War II Online Encyclopedia, December 1945, Halsey was Admiral,” Historynet.com, 7 June 2010, http://pwencycl.kgbudge. promoted to Fleet Admiral, 2007, http://www.historynet.com/ com/H/a/Halsey_William_ F_ and made a goodwill circuit william-bull-halsey-legendary- Jr.htm. through Central and South world-war-ii-admiral.htm. 15. Tillman, “William Bull Halsey.” America, covering nearly 28,000 2. ibid. miles and 11 nations.37 He also 16. Hickman, “World War II: Fleet worked special duty within the 3. “Fleet Admiral William Frederick Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey.” Office of the Secretary of the Halsey, Jr., USNR 1882 – 1959,” 17. Kennedy Hickman, “World War Navy before retiring in March 22 December 2012, www.history. II: ,” http:// 1947, becoming a board member navy.mil/bios/halsey-w.htm; militaryhistory.about.com/od/ of the International Telephone Meyer Berger, “Home Town Roars aerialcampaigns/p/doolittleraid. htm. and Telegraph Company and Salute to Halsey; The Commander 18. Ibid. the American Cable and Radio of the Third Fleet Returns to his 38 Corporation. When asked for a Hometown in New Jersey,” New 19. Ibid. comment on his war experience York Times, 8 November 1945. 20. Hickman, “World War II: Fleet and role in defending the US, Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey.” Halsey said, “there are no great 4. “Fleet Admiral William Frederick 21. Joel, “Japan Wins Big and Loses Halsey, Jr.” men, just great challenges which Bigger at Santa Cruz,” Today’s ordinary men, out of necessity, 5. Journalist Second Class Mike History Lesson, 26 October 2009, http://todayshistorylesson. are forced by circumstances to McKinley, “The Cruise of the Great meet.”39 wordpress.com/tag/admiral- White Fleet,” Navy Department william-halsey/. Library, April 1987, http://www. Looking back at the war, 22. Ibid. history.navy.mil/library/online/gwf_ men whom Halsey commanded 23. C. Peter Chen, “William Halsey,” cruise.htm. remain divided in their opinion World War II Database, 7 December of him. Memories of Leyte Gulf 6. “Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey, 2012, http://ww2db.com/person_ bio.php?person_id=54. and “Halsey’s Typhoon” evoke Jr.” disapproval at best. Halsey’s 24. Hickman, “World War II: Fleet promotion to Fleet Admiral, 7. ibid. Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey.”

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25. Ibid. 32. Tillman, “William Bull Halsey.” 38. Ibid. 26. Ibid. 33. Kent G. Budge, “Tropical Cyclones,” 39. James Brady, Flags of Our Fathers The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia, (: Bantom Books, 2000), 27. ibid. http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/ 579. 28. J. Rickard, “Battle of Samar, 25 T/r/Tropical_Cyclones.htm. 40. Tillman, “William Bull Halsey.” October 1944 ,” 7 May 2012, http://www.historyofwar.org/ 34. Ibid. 41. “Fleet Admiral William Frederick articles/battles_samar_sea.html. 35. Ibid. Halsey, Jr.” 29. Hickman, “World War II: Fleet 36. Samuel Eliot Morison, History of Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey.” United States Naval Operations in 30. Ibid. World War II, Volume III: The Rising Sun in the Pacific, 1931 – April 31. Carl M. Berntsen, “Typhoon 1942 (: Little, Brown, and Cobra and Carrier Task Force 38,” Company, 1948). Ussdehaven.org, December 2007, http://ussdehaven.org/typhoon_ 37. “Fleet Admiral William Frederick cobra.htm. Halsey, Jr.”

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