During World War II, the United States military faced an awkward problem -- other countries' field marshals outranked its four-star flag officers. As a remedy, Congress authorized four Navy officers and four Army (with Air Corps) officers to be promoted to five-star rank. These were the first Fleet Admirals and Generals of the Army.
As indicated on the cover, this book focuses on Fleet Admirals William Leahy, Ernest King, Chester Nimitz, and William Halsey.
Despite their distinctly different personalities, they had several things in common -- they all graduated from the Annapolis Naval Academy around the beginning of the 20th Century, they became familiar with new developments naval warfare (destroyer tactics, submarines and airplanes), and they all had the luck to be in the right place at the right at the right time.
Nimitz, for example, gained some fame early on by risking his life to save an enlisted sailor from drowning. And by taking a posting on a submarine, he was able to make recommendations on mechanics (like using diesel engines) and tactics (decoy buoys) that established for him a reputation as an expert.
Leahy had actually retired and was serving as the ambassador to Vichy France when the U.S. entered the war. He was recalled to active service and served as President Roosevelt's military advisor and aide. Though not familiar to the public, he was vital to Roosevelt's wartime administration, particularly in the period just prior to Roosevelt's death.
Ernest King, as the Chief of Naval Operations, was responsible for managing a two-front war -- one against Germany that was (at least nomially) of first importance, and a second against Japan that rested squarely on the the U.S. Navy's shoulders. He had an irascible nature and always managed to rub people the wrong way, yet he respected people who stood up to him. His contempt for the blindly conventional got him into trouble on several occasions, but he managed to find mentors who could look past his insubordinate nature and see his administrative talent.
William Halsey is perhaps the most famous of the four (except for Nimitz, maybe). The aircraft carriers under his command escaped destruction at Pearl Harbor because they were training in open water, and proved vital to the early war effort. He kept U.S. morale up during the dark period of early 1942 by conducting raids on Japanese-held territory, and would have led U.S. forces at Midway but for a severe case of dermititis. Though later in the war he made three miscalculations that detracted from his reputation (during two typhoons and the Battle of Leyte Gulf), Halsey's constant aggressiveness helped gain the initiative for the U.S. at a critical period.
Another thing they all had in common is that -- for at least the first 35 years of their careers -- none of them would have ever thought they would one day be a five-star admiral. The implied leadership lesson I got from this is simply to do the best you can for each position you're in.
Granted, these gentlemen had their paths forced on them at certain points, but I think happiness in one's military career is best found by doing the things that interest you rather than trying to achieve a certain rank.
Monday, September 02, 2013
Review: The Admirals
During World War II, the United States military faced an awkward problem -- other countries' field marshals outranked its four-star flag officers. As a remedy, Congress authorized four Navy officers and four Army (with Air Corps) officers to be promoted to five-star rank. These were the first Fleet Admirals and Generals of the Army.
As indicated on the cover, this book focuses on Fleet Admirals William Leahy, Ernest King, Chester Nimitz, and William Halsey.
Despite their distinctly different personalities, they had several things in common -- they all graduated from the Annapolis Naval Academy around the beginning of the 20th Century, they became familiar with new developments naval warfare (destroyer tactics, submarines and airplanes), and they all had the luck to be in the right place at the right at the right time.
Nimitz, for example, gained some fame early on by risking his life to save an enlisted sailor from drowning. And by taking a posting on a submarine, he was able to make recommendations on mechanics (like using diesel engines) and tactics (decoy buoys) that established for him a reputation as an expert.
Leahy had actually retired and was serving as the ambassador to Vichy France when the U.S. entered the war. He was recalled to active service and served as President Roosevelt's military advisor and aide. Though not familiar to the public, he was vital to Roosevelt's wartime administration, particularly in the period just prior to Roosevelt's death.
Ernest King, as the Chief of Naval Operations, was responsible for managing a two-front war -- one against Germany that was (at least nomially) of first importance, and a second against Japan that rested squarely on the the U.S. Navy's shoulders. He had an irascible nature and always managed to rub people the wrong way, yet he respected people who stood up to him. His contempt for the blindly conventional got him into trouble on several occasions, but he managed to find mentors who could look past his insubordinate nature and see his administrative talent.
William Halsey is perhaps the most famous of the four (except for Nimitz, maybe). The aircraft carriers under his command escaped destruction at Pearl Harbor because they were training in open water, and proved vital to the early war effort. He kept U.S. morale up during the dark period of early 1942 by conducting raids on Japanese-held territory, and would have led U.S. forces at Midway but for a severe case of dermititis. Though later in the war he made three miscalculations that detracted from his reputation (during two typhoons and the Battle of Leyte Gulf), Halsey's constant aggressiveness helped gain the initiative for the U.S. at a critical period.
Another thing they all had in common is that -- for at least the first 35 years of their careers -- none of them would have ever thought they would one day be a five-star admiral. The implied leadership lesson I got from this is simply to do the best you can for each position you're in.
Granted, these gentlemen had their paths forced on them at certain points, but I think happiness in one's military career is best found by doing the things that interest you rather than trying to achieve a certain rank.
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