World War II Database

William Frederick Halsey, Jr. was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Master William F. Halsey, Sr. of the US Navy. Growing up hearing his father's stories, he attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated 43 out of 62. During his early career he served aboard battleships and torpedo craft.

During WW1, he was a lieutenant commander who commanded the USS Shaw in 1918 and also saw action as the commander of Atlantic Fleet's Torpedo Flotilla; he earned a Navy Cross before the end of WW1. In the interwar years, Halsey served as Naval Attaché to Germany, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. After several sea-going commands, he attended Naval War College and then learned to pilot an aircraft in 1935, which changed the direction of his career. He went on to command the carrier USS Saratoga and then commanded the Naval Air Station at Pensacola, Florida, United States. He trained pilots who were destined to fill squadrons for the modern carriers Enterprise and Yorktown. In 1938, when the war had already broken out in Asia, Halsey was promoted to the rank of rear admiral and commanded carrier divisions. In 1940 he was promoted vice admiral.

Vice Admiral Halsey was at sea in his flagship USS Enterprise when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor. He was overseeing a mission to deliver Marine Corps fighters to bases in the Pacific, and luckily evaded the devastating Japanese raid. His carrier task force took parts in raids to deter further Japanese advance in the early stages of the Pacific War, as well as transporting James Doolittle's raiders on their famous raid on Tokyo. Halsey was absent from the major battle at Midway due to skin disease, which built up his later aggressiveness to hunt down Japanese carriers to avenge the deaths of so many American lives at the hands of Japanese naval pilots. Promoted to admiral in Nov 1942, Halsey was instrumental in both King/Nitmiz's island hopping campaign and MacArthor's "hit 'em where they ain't" campaign. During the Guadalcanal Campaign, Halsey's forces were credited with sinking two Japanese battleships, two destroyers, and six transports at the loss of two cruisers and four destroyers.

Halsey led a raid to Taiwan with the target being the land-based aircrafts that might be used by the enemy during the subsequent Allied invasion of the Philippines. During an engagement that the Japanese lost 312 fighters, the exaggeration of damage inflicted on Halsey's fleet soared as high as eleven carriers and two battleships sunk. Halsey, upon hearing enemy propaganda based on the exaggerations, being true to himself sent Nimitz the sarcastic radio message "the Third Fleet's sunken and damaged ships have been salvaged and are retiring at high speed toward the enemy.

From Sep 1944 to Jan 1945, Halsey led the US Third Fleet to assist Douglas MacArthur reclaim the Philippines. His fleet participated in the campaigns to take Palaus for staging the Philippines invasion, and then the Philippines campaign itself. During the Leyte Gulf Campaign, after launching a successful air strike that sunk the superbattleship Musashi, Halsey's aggressiveness and personal ambition to sink Japanese carriers was taken advantage upon by Japanese admiral Jisaburo Ozawa, who baited Halsey with a decoy force successfully, allowing Takeo Kurita's Center Force of heavy surface ships to attack American Task Force 34 consisted of destroyers, destroyer escorts, and escort carriers. Task Force 34's message "Where is [repeat] where is Task Force 34" became a motto for those who criticized Halsey's over-aggressiveness that cost American lives unnecessarily. Despite heroic efforts by American destroyers, the Japanese fleet overwhelmed the outgunned American ships, though Kurita's over-carefulness in withdrawing the attack earlier than necessary saved the doom of entire American task forces. Halsey's subsequent run-in with typhoons, which resulted in loss of ships and lives, again put him in scrutiny.

Halsey was onboard the USS Missouri, his flagship, when the Japanese delegation signed the surrender document in Tokyo Bay.

In MacArthur's Reminiscences, the general wrote

MacArthur regarded Halsey very highly for his aggressive style, ranking him among one of the very few naval personnel that he trusted.

Halsey retired from the US Navy in Mar 1947 and became director of several large corporations. He passed away in Pasadina, California in 1959 and was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

Famous Quote(s)

• "Before we're through with them, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell."
      » 8 Dec 1941

William Halsey Timeline

Photographs

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. picuri says:
   19 Mar 2007 10:39:41 AM
   
   tere is no mentioin of halsy relieving spruance at okinawa because of heavy ship losses to japanese kamikazes
2. Anonymous says:
   25 Jun 2010 12:37:34 AM
   
   This needs to be rewritten. TF34 was 3rd Fleet battleline under VADM Lee.Halsey had said he was forming TF34.Nimitz/King were under impression that TF34 was guarding the S.B Straits exit.Halsey had taken TF 34 with him chasing the decoy jap fleet. Where is TF34 was sent by Nimitz the coding officer had put padding around the message.Turkey trots to water (the message) The whole world wonders? Halsey was given the message with the whole world wonders still attached. He threw a tamtrum, jumped on his cover, etc. The Taffie's 1,2,and 3 were part of the 7th Fleet not the 3rd.MacArthur comments about Halsey were self serving. He was jealous of Nimitz and that the Central Pacific was a higher priority, and drew the publicity with the island fighting and naval battles. MacArthurs SouthWest Pacific was the back water theater with lowest priority. The 7th Fleet was assigned to him. It was mostly older ships, no large or medium carriers. It was not the A team that the 3rd/5th Fleet was. Also if you notice Nimitz gave command of almost all landings to Spruance. He did not trust Halsey to be rational.Halsey proved Nimitz right when he went after the bait carriers and leaving the Army landing at Leyte to the mercy of the **** Fleet. Nimitz/King would rather have seen Spruance get the 5th star, but Halsey was good press and had the support of Congress.Spruance made it clear he would not accept the 5 star if Halsey did not get it also. Halsey had been there for Spruance over the years. Basically Spruance was a thinking man, no one accused Halsey of being that.
3. Anonymous says:
   25 Jun 2010 12:44:19 AM
   
   Nimitz took Halsey to task when he came aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay.Halsey did not break out Nimitz's flag. Nimitz being senior his flag should of been flying. I guess you could also conclude that it was Nimitz's flagship as long as he was on it.
   It is interesting that Halsey's flagship had been the New Jersey until Truman from Missouri became president. Kind of sounds like someone was a Kiss Ass?
4. AS James Johnson says:
   30 Jun 2010 01:32:22 PM
   
   I was on the USS Hornet CV-8 and was on the Island New Caledonia where Admiral Husley had his COMCOPAC headquarters. I joined the Navy May 3rd 1942 made Midway battle, Santa Cruiz aborad the Hornet. When she was sunk Oct. 26, 1942 I was in the water when a **** plane drop a bomb missing the Hornet and hit the water near the gun crews in the water. We were the last to leave the Hornet. I was knock out and was hauled up to the deck of the USS Barton DD-599. I was in sick bay when they tranfered the Hornets crew at Noumrea. New Caledonia. The Barton was nine hours underway when It was discovered I was Still Aboard. The captain came down and ask me how I felt.I said my stomach was a little sore but ok. He said welcome aboard your now a crewmember of the USS Barton. He asked me if I knew any thing about a 20MM dun. I mentioned I shot one during the time in Pearl Harbor when the Navy and Marines were given training at Pearl Harbor. I told him I could shoot one but I couldnt load one. I only weighed 130 Lbs. I was assigned to a 20MM gun on the port side. This was not original place fo9r a 20MM gun I was told. On the night of Nov.13 when the battle at Guadalcanal the Barton took 2 torpedos amid ship. She broke into and the steel plate the 20MM gun was broke loose sending me and the loader to safety. We were picked up by boats and take to Guadalcanal. Later we were taken to New Caledonia. I was working on the docks when a chief ask me if any could type on a typewriter. I said I could. He told me to shower and get into clean uniform and report to a chief in the Supply Office. I srarted to work for Cat. Nuber the supply officer. Our office was in the area where Admiral Hausley usually walk to work. One morning I walked out of the office with two buckets of dirty coffee cups and a cigar in my mouth. Admiral Hausley walked by about this time. I dropped one bucket and saluted him. He asked me "sailor do you usually salute a Admiral with a cigar in your mouth. I dropped the cigar and the other bucket of cups and saluted him. He mention to Capt. Knuber. if he could check the incoming ships to see if they had any Fancy Tail Cigars. No kidding.Apparently there was such a cigar. Capt. Knuber said he waould have a Chief check it out. Admiral said "why not Johnson". If I found some at least he would get them". Can you guess what the people on the ship thought when a Admiral boat came along side and I stepped off requesting to see the Captain. I didn't get many at first. BUT EVERY SHIP COMING IN FROM THE sTATES HAD A GOOD SUPPLT WHO WOULD ME GIVEN TO HIM BY THEIR SKIPPER. There were a lot of things that happened there in Noumea and nothing has been found on the internet. Its a shame.

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