INDEX

Page numbers listed correspond to the print edition of this book. You can use your device’s search function to locate particular terms in the text

Page numbers in italics refer to maps.

Abe, Hiroaki, 69, 77

Abe, Zenji, 450, 482, 483–84

Adachi, Hatazo, 224

Adak Island, U.S. airfield on, 227

Admiralty Islands, 235, 242, 456

King’s proposed Allied offensive in, 223–24, 232

Advance Force, Japanese, 69, 77

African Americans:

and Espiritu Santo base, 15

in San Francisco, 247–48

Afrika Korps, 97

Agano, 413

A-Go battle plan, 447, 449, 451, 459

Aikoku Maru, 407

Ainsworth, Walden Lee “Pug,” 233

Air Command Solomons (AIRSOLS), 222–23, 231, 236, 237, 238, 419, 420

aircraft carriers:

changing tactics of, 387

Combat Information Centers in, 369, 371, 387

conservative deployment of, 373

CVEs, 301

Essex-class, 301–2, 313, 328, 428

in GALVANIC, 340–42

Japanese night attacks on, 373

in Marshall Islands campaign, 373–74

new methods for resupply of, 387

strategic role of, 59, 60

vulnerability of, 59

see also specific ships and task forces

Aircraft Central Pacific, 333

Air Group Five, 330

Akagi, 9

Akigumo, 153

Alabama, 478

Alameda Naval Air Station, 246

Alamo Force, 240

Albacore (submarine), 484–85

Aleutian Islands:

air war in, 226–27

Japanese forces in, 225–31

Japanese supply convoy for, 228

submarine warfare in, 227, 229

Allied conference (August 1943), 436–37

Allied Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), 218

Allies:

Casablanca conference of, 10, 307–11

Germany-first strategy of, xiii, 10–11, 93, 94, 127–29, 307–8, 310–11

London conference of, 95

Quebec conference of, 235

unconditional Japanese surrender demanded by, 537

Washington conference of (1942), 95

Washington conference of (1943), 312

Amatsukaze, 76, 78

Amchitka Island, 227

Americal Division (U.S. Army), 134

amphibious warfare, 17–18

interservice rivalries and, 8–9

marines’ experience in, 17–18, 322

amtracs (LVTs), 347, 348, 351, 364, 390, 391–92, 400

in Tarawa assault, 335

Anderson, George W., 329

Anderson, USS, 153

Annapolis, see Naval Academy, U.S.

antiaircraft fire, radar-directed, 369

antisubmarine warfare (ASW), Japanese inattention to, 259, 282–83

Anzai, Hitoshi, 524

Aoba, 41

Aola, Guadalcanal, xxiv, xxv, xxvii

Apamama, 342

Apra Harbor, 511, 512, 513, 516–17, 518, 519

Arakawa, Hiroyo, 115

Arashio, 225

Arawe, New Britain, 240

Archibald, Katherine, 248, 249

Argenlieu, Georges Thierry d,’ 200

Argonaut, USS, 251

Argonne, USS, 125, 197, 199

Ariyama, Sachi, 532

Arizona, USS, 289, 290, 292

Army, U.S., 500

in interservice rivalries, 5–9, 158

methodical tactics of, 395–96, 499

see also specific units

Army Air Forces, U.S. (USAAF), 6–7, 20, 56, 438

exaggerated claims of, 158

and Germany-first strategy, 127–28

Navy rivalry with, 227, 324

promotions in, 324

Arnold, Henry “Hap,” 56, 125, 223, 324, 434, 438, 441

Germany-first strategy backed by, 127–29, 157–58, 159

King and, 437

Arnold, Jackson D., 490

Asahi Shinbun, 527, 529, 535

Ashford, Bill, 198

Ashizuri, 453

Aslito Airfield, 467, 468, 498

Associated Press, 97

Astoria, USS, 46, 47–48, 51–52, 53

Atago, 147

Atlanta, USS, 155, 162, 165

Atlantic Ocean, German wolf packs in, 278

Attu Island, 417

Japanese forces on, 225–30

U.S. assault on, 229–30, 444

Auckland, New Zealand, 12

Austen, Mount, Guadalcanal, 26, 138, 175

Australia, xxiii, 13

distrust of authority in, 215

MacArthur in, 215–16

sports as obsession in, 212

Australia, U.S. servicemen in, 209–10

in Brisbane riots, 214–15

strained relations between civilians and, 213–15

warm welcome given to, 212

women and, 210–11, 213

Australia, HMAS, 39, 43

B-17 Flying Fortresses, 100, 223

B-24 Liberators, 342

B-29 Superfortresses, 307

Backus, Paul, 478, 495

Badoglio, Pietro, 444

Bagley, 52

Bak, Michael, 364

Baker Island, 342

Baldwin, Hanson, 97, 98

Ballale Island, 157, 203, 205

Ballantine, Robert, 99

Ballentine, John J., 328, 329

Baltimore, 410

banzai charges, 504–6, 510

Barbey, Daniel E., 239

Barton, 163

Bataan Peninsula, Philippines, xxi, 141

“Bat Team” fighters, 374–76, 463

battleships, Iowa-class, 386–87

Beach, Edward L. “Ned,” Jr., 278

Beaurepaire, Frank, 213

Beaver, Floyd, 152, 245

Becker, Adolph E., Jr., 516–17

Belleau Wood, 301, 405, 463, 478, 494, 495–96

Benhaum, 169–70

Betchik, Tony, 141

Betelgeuse, 53

Betio Island, 338, 345, 364, 367

Japanese fortifications on, 320, 321–22, 334, 343, 345–46, 358, 362–63

Japanese troop strength on, 345

naval and air bombardment of, 343–44, 346

rebuilding efforts on, 361

U.S. landings on, 346, 348–49

Biak Island, 456, 462

Japanese determination to hold, 454–55

Bierer, Bion B., 48

Bismarck, Battle of the, 225

Bismarck Archipelago, 11, 235, 242, 418

Blair, Clay, 278

Blanchard, J. W., 484

Blandy, William H. P. “Spike,” 282

“Bless ’Em All,” 212

Bloody Ridge, Battle of, 106, 121, 130

Blue, USS, 43, 45

Bluefish, USS, 453

Bluegill, USS, 453

Board of Information, Japanese, 526, 527, 532

Bode, Howard D., 43, 46, 57

Bogese, George, xxviii

Boise, 135

BOLERO, Operation, 95, 96

Bombing Squadron 10, 404

Bond, Roger, 340, 387

Bonefish, 453

Bonin Islands, 449

Bonis, 235

Bonnell, Lieutenant, 243

Book of Five Spheres (Musashi), 188

Borneo, oil fields on, 282, 285, 416, 448

Bougainville Island, xvii, 13, 30, 37, 76, 99, 157, 184, 203, 205, 224, 232, 233, 238, 262

Buka Airfield on, 62

coastwatchers in, 157

Japanese troops on, xxv, 235

U.S. landings on, 236, 340

Bougainville Strait, 263

Boulier, Kenneth A., 205

Boyington, Gregory “Pappy,” 408

Bradlee, Ben, 501–2

Briggs, Laura, 247

Brisbane:

MacArthur’s headquarters in, 217

New Farm Wharf in, 264–65

1942 riots in, 214, 265

Brisbane Courier-Mail, 214, 215

British Empire, racism in, xx

Brooke, Alan, 10, 95–96

central Pacific offensive opposed by, 307–12

Brown, Julian, 198, 199

Browning, Miles, 198, 200–201

Bryan, Joseph, III, 323

Buell, Harold, 105, 191, 305, 386, 463–64, 490–91, 492, 494, 495

Buin, Bougainville, xxv, 62, 157, 179, 203, 206, 234, 235, 419

Japanese airstrip at, 122

Buka Island, xxvi, 37, 38, 157, 235

Buka Passage, xxv, 37

Buna, 220

Bunker Hill, USS (CV-17), 328, 405, 530

Bureau of Aeronautics, U.S. Navy, 301, 304, 305, 323

Bureau of Ordnance, U.S. Navy, 255–56, 277, 278, 279, 281–82

Burke, Arleigh “31-Knot,” 233, 236, 389, 476–77, 479, 494

appointed Mitscher’s chief of staff, 436

Burma, 418

bushido, 186–87, 507

Butaritari Island, 320, 361–62

Cabot, 405, 478

Cactus Air Force, 71, 103, 166, 222, 458

daily missions of, 135–36

in dogfights with Japanese, 100–101

Enterprise and Saratoga squadrons in, 82, 103, 105

Japanese troop transports attacked by, 167–68, 172–73

night missions of, 104

October 13–14 decimation of, 140

reinforcements for, 102–3, 135

see also Marine Aircraft Group 23

Cairo Allied conference (November 1943), 437, 438

Calhoun, C. Raymond, 162

Calhoun, William L., 198, 333, 440

California, USS, 291, 292

Callaghan, Daniel J., 22, 160, 161

in Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 162, 164

Camp Cable, 209

Canberra, HMAS, 45–46, 51, 53

cannibalism, xviii, 191

Canton Island, 124, 144, 342, 389

Cape Esperance, 164, 178, 184

Cape Esperance, Battle of, 135

Cape Gloucester, New Britain, 240

Cape Moira, Bougainville, 206

Cape St. George, New Ireland, 41

Cape Torokina, Bougainville, 235, 236

Carney, Robert B., 146, 201, 222, 232, 440

Carney Field, 190, 242

Caroline Islands, 116, 312, 449

Carpender, Arthur S., 218

carrier bombers, Japanese, 470

Carrier Division 1, Japanese, 419, 448, 473, 482

aircraft of, 420

Carrier Division 2, Japanese, 486

aircraft losses of, 420–21

aircraft of, 419

Carrier Division 3, Japanese, 473

CARTWHEEL, Operation, 224, 241, 313

air campaign in, 231, 236–39

Bougainville landings in, 236, 340

Emirau Island landings in, 242

Green Islands landings in, 240, 242

leapfrogging strategy in, 232, 240, 242

morale and discipline problems in, 231–32

naval battles in, 233–35, 236–37

New Britain campaign in, 239–40

New Georgia campaign in, 222, 231–32

Rabaul bypassed in, 232, 235, 240

Casablanca conference (1943), 10, 307–11

CATCHPOLE, Operation, see Eniwetok, Battle of

Cavalla (submarine), 471, 473, 475, 485

Cavite Naval Base, Manila Bay, 254–55

Cawley, David, 404

Central Pacific Fleet, see Fifth Fleet, U.S.

central Pacific offensive, 237, 314, 320

Brooke’s opposition to, 307–12

conservative deployment of carriers in, 373

interservice sensitivities in, 321

King’s advocacy of, 235, 306–7, 308, 313

Kwajalein landing in, see Kwajalein, Battle of

leapfrogging strategy in, 384, 401, 403

MacArthur’s opposition to, 306, 313

Marianas in, see Marianas campaign

Nimitz and, 312–13, 317

Spruance placed in command of, 315–16

submarine warfare in, 368–69, 402, 413

central Pacific offensive, air war in, 368–83

airfield attacks in, 388

Bat Team tactics in, 374–76

dogfights in, 371, 388

Japanese losses in, 456

Japanese night attacks in, 369–70, 381–82

U.S. night attacks in, 412

Chambers, Justice, 21, 36

Chambers, USS, 50

Chambliss, William C., 110, 111

Chamorros, 511, 517, 521

Charan Kanoa, 465, 468

Cheetah Shoals, 23

CHERRY BLOSSOM, Operation, 236

Chevalier, USS, 234–35

Chiang Kai-Shek, xxii, 437

Chicago, USS, 36, 43, 45–46, 53, 57, 60, 183

Chichi Jima, 440, 449, 463, 464

Chikuma, 69, 78, 150

Childs, Marquis, 87

China:

basing of B-29s in, 437–38

in war with Japan, 437

China Air Fleet, 447

China Incident (1937), 429

Chinese air force, Japanese superiority over, xxii

Chitose, 69, 453

chivalry, modern warfare and, 204

Chiyoda, 257–58, 491

Choiseul Island, 42

Chokai, 41, 42, 45, 46, 48

Christie, Ralph, 278

as Southwest Pacific Area submarine commander, 280

torpedo performance defended by, 280–81

Chuo Koran, 528–29

Churchill, Winston, 9, 94, 128n, 308, 311, 390

map room of, 93

TORCH proposed by, 97

and U.S. pressure for invasion of France, 95, 96

CINCPAC, 297–98, 477

CINCPAC Hill, 519–20

Civilian Conservation Corps, 88

Clark, Joseph J. “Jocko,” 327, 368, 370, 371, 382, 388, 463, 472–73, 474, 477

Cherokee ancestry of, 326

competitiveness of, 329

conservative deployment of carrier criticized by, 373

and Japanese Kwajalein counterattack, 379–80

in Kwajalein raid, 377

in Operation TORCH, 327–28

personality and appearance of, 326–27

Pownall and, 341

and Pownall’s refusal to order second strike in Kwajalein, 379, 381, 382–83

in race to beat Essex to Pearl Harbor, 328–29

SB2Cs rejected by, 331–32

as stern taskmaster, 326–27, 330–31

as Yorktown (CV-10) commander, 328–29

as “Young Turk,” 326

Clarke, Charles P., 44

Clemens, Martin, 141, 156

as Guadalcanal district officer, xxiv–xxviii

in Guadalcanal campaign, 66–67, 71, 72, 73, 107, 140

in move to Palapao, xxviii

in move to Vungana, xxix–xxx

native constabulary of, xxviii, xxix, 72, 74

coastwatching service, xxiv–xxv, xxvi, xxvii, 37–38, 66, 99–100, 157

Cogswell, USS, 253

Colorado, USS, 301, 343

Columbia University, xv

Combat Information Centers (CICs), 233, 369, 371, 387, 480–82

Combat Intelligence Unit (“Station Hypo”), 203

Combined Chiefs of Staff (CCOS), 232, 235, 307, 309, 312, 437, 438

Combined Fleet, Japanese, 9, 68, 82, 105, 118, 122, 147, 201, 202, 224, 368, 403, 404, 416, 418, 446, 454, 531

restructuring of, 447

COMSOPAC staff:

esprit de corps of, 198–99

in move to Noumea quarters, 199–200

Conger, Jack, 101

Congress, U.S., partisanship in, 87–88

Conolly, Richard L., 390, 391–92, 458, 511

Cooke, Charles M., Jr. “Savvy,” 325

Cooperman, Al, 380

Coral Sea, xvii, xxix, 13, 23

Coral Sea, Battle of, xxvi–xxvii, 7, 59, 79, 83, 102, 124, 154, 186, 220, 301

Corlett, Charles H., 396

Corregidor Island, Philippines, xxi

MacArthur’s escape from, 216–17

Cowpens, USS, 368, 405, 411, 495

Creehan, E. P., 153

Creswell, L. B., 73

Crevalle, USS, 453

Crommelin, Charlie, 370

Crossing the Line (Kernan), 374

Crowe, Henry P., 355, 358

Cruiser Division 6, Japanese, 41

Cruiser Division 8, Japanese, 154

Crutchley, Victor A. C., 20, 42, 455

Cruz Point, Guadalcanal, 190

CUB-1 (navy construction team), 71–72, 103

Curtin, John, 216

Curtiss, Glenn, 323

Curtiss, USS, 148

Cushing, USS, 163

Daijo Zen, 538

Daimler-Benz, 427

Dale, USS, 14, 110

Daly, Joseph R., 32

Dashiell, USS, 344

Davis, Arthur C., 79, 107–8

Davis, Bill, 296, 303–4

Dealey, Samuel D., 453

defense industry:

African Americans in, 247–48

in Hawaii, 295–96

in San Francisco, 246–49

unions in, 249

women in, 248

de Gaulle, Charles, 200

Democrats, 88

Depression, Great, 85–86

Destroyer Division 45, 236

Dewey, 22

DeWitt, John L., 444

Dickson, Donald, 26, 35

Diller, LeGrande “Pick,” 219

Dirty Tricks Department, 232, 235

Doak, Ralph, 354

Dodson, Ken, 396–97

Dolphin, 92

Domei News Service, 536–37

Doolittle, James H., 7

Doolittle Raid, 7

Dower, John, 507

Duncan, Donald, 300–301, 302, 329

Duncan, USS, 135

Dutch East Indies, xxiii, 441

oil fields of, 449

dysentary, 64

East Brother Island Station, 252

Eastern Solomons, Battle of the, 77–82, 80

East Indies, 255, 418

Edson, Merritt, 104, 106, 156, 359

Efate, 11, 13, 14, 15, 60, 70, 132

Eichelberger, Robert L., 220

Eighteenth Army, Japanese, 224

Eighth Area Army, Japanese, 179, 224

Eighth Base Force, Japanese, 40

Eighth Fleet, Japanese, 29, 40–41, 67, 105, 189

in Battle of Savo Island, 43–51

8th Infantry Brigade Group (New Zealand), 236

8th Marine Regiment, 352, 354

Eisenhower, Dwight D., 10

elections, U.S., of 1942, 86–87, 97, 146

Eleventh Air Fleet, Japanese, 105, 122, 189

ELKTON offensive, see New Georgia campaign

Ellice Islands, 333, 389

U.S. invasion of, 315

Elliott, USS, 51

Emirau Island, U.S. landings on, 242

Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, 235, 340

Engebi Island, 399, 400

English, Robert Henry, 255, 257, 260, 278, 280

Eniwetok, Battle of, 389–90, 400, 441

captured Japanese documents in planning of, 399–400

Eniwetok Atoll, 398–99, 418, 460

Japanese forces on, 399

Eniwetok Expeditionary Group (Task Group 51.11), 399

Enterprise, USS, 7, 17, 20, 21, 33, 59, 76, 77–80, 83, 107, 127, 146, 149–50, 151, 154, 166, 167, 168, 186, 193, 194, 340, 373, 374, 376, 404, 405, 407, 484, 493, 495

in Battle of Eastern Solomons, 79–83

in Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 149–52, 160

casualties on, 83–84

Escort Carrier Group, 364

Espiritu Santo, 13, 43, 62, 70, 76, 83, 102, 108, 125, 132, 142, 167, 172, 191, 193

primitive conditions at, 129

Seabees on, 14–15

Essex, USS, 300, 381, 388, 404, 405, 412, 428

Everton, Loren D. “Doc,” 70, 73

Ewa Field, 70

F4F Wildcats, 32, 79, 303

in dog fights with Zeros, 31–34, 100–101

F6F Hellcats, 302–4

“face”, loss of, in Japanese Navy, 447

Fahey, James J., 194, 211, 212, 236–37, 480, 501, 509

Farragut, David, 145

Fast Carrier Force, see Task Force 58

Felt, Harry D., 76–78

Fife, James, Jr., 264, 265, 271, 278

5th Marine Regiment, 34–35, 73, 156

5th Naval Construction Brigade, 517

Fifth Air Attack Force, Japanese, 67

Fifth Air Force, U.S., 223, 224, 236, 238, 420, 438

“skip-bombing” technique of, 224–25

Fifth Amphibious Corps (VAC), 317, 321, 434, 458, 459, 468

H. Smith as commander of, 317

Fifth Amphibious Force, 333

Fifth Fleet, U.S., 237, 242, 313, 315, 316, 339, 373, 384, 386, 402, 419, 436, 438, 449, 453, 456, 531

amphibious fleet of, 317

Spruance appointed commander of, 315, 325

Fifty-First Division, Japanese, 179

Fiji Archipelago, 11, 20, 21, 125, 190

Finschafen, New Guinea, 239

fire control systems, 49, 153, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 186

1st Marine Division, 12, 15–16

in assault on Cape Gloucester, 240

in evacuation from Guadalcanal, 209

in Guadalcanal campaign, see Guadalcanal campaign

in Marshall Islands campaign, 313

in Melbourne, 209–10, 212

Tulagi landing of, 26, 29

1st Marine Engineer Battalion, 69

1st Marine Raider Battalion, 21, 104, 106

1st Provisional Marine Brigade, 512

First Air Fleet, Japanese, 449, 452, 463

First Battleship Division, Japanese, 450, 473

First Marine Amphibious Corps, 236

First Mobile Fleet, Japanese, 447, 461–62, 469–72, 473, 497, 530, 531

in A-Go battle plan, 449

crude oil employed as fuel for, 451

fuel shortages of, 448

inexperience of pilots in, 447–48

submarine threat and, 448

U.S. submarine tracking of, 453

Fitch, Aubrey “Jake,” 129, 158

Flatley, Jimmy, 167, 330

Fleet Radio Unit Pacific (FRUPAC), 284

Fletcher, Frank Jack, 108, 220

and Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 77–79, 83

in Guadalcanal campaign, 20, 22, 23, 30–31, 34, 37, 43, 51, 57–58, 60, 61–62

and KA-Go counteroffensive, 75–76

in Solomons offensive, 107–8

Fletcher, USS, 161

FLINTLOCK, Operation, see Kwajalein, Battle of

Flying Fish, USS, 253, 471

Fomalhaut, USS, 61

FORAGER, Operation, see Marianas campaign

Forrestal, James V., 325, 398, 436

Forty-Seventh Independent, 459

Forty-Third Division, 459, 460

Foss, Joe, 100, 137

442nd Regimental Combat Team, 295

475th Fighter Group, 223

4th Marine Division, 457, 468, 498–99, 510, 512–13

in Kwajalein battle, 390, 391–95

Fourth Infantry Regiment, Japanese, 156

Fox, Clifford, 102

France, Vichy regime in, 200

France, Finley, Jr., 380

Franks, USS, 364

Fraser, Peter, 197

Fraser, Thomas E., 169

Free French, 200

Freemantle, 255

Fujita, Iyozo, 157, 425

Fukudome, Shigeru, 405, 446

Fulton, USS, 265

Funafuti atoll, 333, 342, 370

Furlong, William R., 292

Furutaka, 41, 46

Galvan, David, 71, 106

GALVANIC, Operation, 315, 317, 320, 325, 333, 345, 364, 367, 499

carrier operations in, 340–42

chain of command in, 318–19

Ellice Islands landings in, 315

Funafuti atoll as forward base for, 333

interservice rivalries in, 362, 434

land-based air support for, 333

logistics of, 332–33

Nauru landings in, 315

Nimitz and, 325

Spruance and, 325

Towers and, 325

Turner and, 325

see also Tarawa, Battle of

Gard, Ray, 339

Garrett, Vern, 355

Gavutu Island, xxiii, 25, 75

Japanese resistance on, 36–37

Geiger, Roy, 103, 106, 130, 136, 138, 458, 497–98, 511, 513

in Guadalcanal campaign, 140

George, Flavius J., 161, 163

George III, King of England, 253

George F. Elliott, USS, 39, 45

Germany, Nazi, xiii, 94

air campaign against, 128

eastern front and, 11, 94, 96, 308–9, 530

Getting, Frank, 45

Gettysburg, Battle of, 366

Ghormley, Robert L., 12, 15, 16–17, 20, 56, 198, 199, 514

appointed COMSOPAC, 12

deteriorating health of, 125, 143

FDR and, 143

and Guadalcanal campaign, 18, 22, 43, 57, 58, 60, 62, 83, 109, 123, 125–26, 134, 142

KA-Go counteroffensive and, 75

relieved of command, 143–44

in Solomons offensive, 107

Gilbert Islands, 13, 237, 319, 333, 419

aerial and submarine reconnaissance of, 321–22

lack of accurate charts for, 321

U.S. airfields in, 389

U.S. invasion of, 314–15, 342

Ginder, Samuel P., 399

Gizo Harbor, 105

Goettge, Frank, 65–66

Goto, Aritomo, 135

Great Britain:

buildup of U.S. forces in, 95, 96

Germany-first strategy of, 306, 308, 310–11

Mediterranean operation advocated by, 309, 311

Great Depression, 85–86

Green Islands, U.S. landing on, 240, 242

Greenman, Captain, 51–52

Greenman, William G., 47

Grider, George W., 257, 258, 259, 260, 262, 265, 267, 268, 272, 273

Grumman Corporation, 304

Guadalcanal, Naval Battle of, 174

Japanese defeat in, 174

Phase One of, 162–66, 164

Phase Two of, 168–73, 171

Guadalcanal campaign, xxxi, 16, 17–18, 27, 58, 95, 97, 123, 130–31, 142, 257, 317, 318, 416, 417, 458, 501, 514–15

aerial reconnaissance for, 19

aftermath of, 189–90

army reinforcements as lacking in, 131–32, 159

chain of command in, 20, 60

coastwatchers and, 99–100

as decisive conflict in Pacific War, 120

deteriorating Japanese morale in, 175

disease and, 64, 131, 175

“Dugout Sunday” (October 25) in, 156

Edson’s Ridge (Bloody Ridge) in, 104, 106, 121, 130

1st Marine Division evacuated from, 209

first Japanese counterstrike against, see Savo Island, Battle of

food supplies in, 61, 99, 132

Halsey’s appointment as morale booster in, 145

Hirohito and, 122

inadequacy of maps for, 18–19

intelligence on Japanese troops as lacking in, 65–66

Japanese airstrikes in, 30–34, 38–39

Japanese bombing and strafing in, 62–63, 65, 156

Japanese caught by surprise by, 29

Japanese contemplation of withdrawal from, 179–80

Japanese estimates of U.S. troop strength in, 121–22

Japanese evacuation (Operation KE) in, 183–85

Japanese food shortages in, 125, 174–76, 178

Japanese mortality in, 175–76

Japanese naval bombardments in, 63, 102

Japanese reinforcements in, 63, 72, 105, 133, 141, 147, 155, 156, 167–68, 174, 176

Japanese strategic and tactical blunders in, 188–89

Japanese supply problems in, 121, 155, 174–77, 183

Japanese troop strength in, 174, 176

Japanese underestimation of Marine troop strength in, 68, 155

Japanese vs. U.S. troop losses in, 187

King’s deadline for, 12, 15, 19, 20, 21

Koro rehearsal in, 21–22, 26

landing of munitions and supplies in, 39–40, 53–54

McCain and, 124–25

morale issues in, 62, 63–64, 65, 71, 131–32, 141–42

mutilation of Japanese dead in, 196

naval losses in, 186

“The Night” (October 13–14) in, 137–41

164th Infantry in, 134

press coverage of, 97–98

reinforcements for, 107

Seabees in, 70, 103, 135, 190

2nd Marine Division in, 53

submarines and, 261, 262, 263

Task Force 16 in, 33

Task Force 61 in, 20, 23–24, 37, 43, 51

Task Force 62 in, 20–21, 23–24, 43, 52–53

Task Group 62.6 in, 20, 42–43

Tenaru River battle in, 73–76, 121

Tulagi landings in, 26, 29, 35–36

25th Infantry Division in, 183

Ugaki’s strategy for, 120–21

unburied Japanese dead in, 130, 131, 184, 189–90

U.S. landings in, 26–28, 34–35, 102, 120

U.S. naval barrage in, 29, 35–36, 155

U.S. perimeter in, 64–65, 72, 104, 130, 147

U.S. supply operations in, 19, 60–61, 83, 107, 125–26, 132–33, 160–61, 175

Guadalcanal campaign, air war in, 22, 31–34, 37, 38–39, 43, 53, 59, 98–104, 160–61, 304

aircraft losses in, 186

air search radar in, 100

aviator losses in, 186–87

Cactus Air Force in, see Cactus Air Force

dogfights in, 100–101

fighter losses in, 34, 58, 59

inexperience of Japanese pilots in, 156–57

Japanese losses in, 157–58

Marine Aircraft Group 21 in, 61

Marine Aircraft Group 23 in, 70–71

McCain and, 102–3, 124–25

pilot fatigue in, 125, 130, 136–37, 156

scouting patrols in, 103–4

Ugaki and, 121

U.S. fuel shortages in, 133, 140

U.S. reinforcements for, 102–3, 135

Guadalcanal Diary (Tregaskis), 97

Guadalcanal Island, xviii, xix, xxiv, 13, 14, 19, 22, 23–24, 26, 27, 49, 60, 108, 514

Carney Field on, 190

geography of, xxvii–xxviii, 34–35

Henderson Field on, see Henderson Field

“Hotel De Gink” on, 190

I-Go aerial attack on, 203

Japanese landing on, xxviii–xxix

Japanese withdrawal from, 444

Lever Brothers plantation on, 64

Tatvu Point in, 105

unfinished Japanese airstrip on, xxix, xxxi, 24, 25, 35, 37

“Guadalcanal twitch,” 63

Guam Island, 13, 307, 437, 438, 441, 451, 456, 458, 459, 461, 462, 467, 470, 474, 478, 497–98, 506, 511–12, 516–19, 530

American personnel on, 520

CINCPAC on, 519–20

Japanese holdouts on, 521–22

landing on, 512–13

naval bombardment of, 511–12

rebuilding of, 517–21

Guimaras Strait, 456

Gwin, USS, 169–70

HAILSTONE, Operation, see Truk Atoll, carrier raid on

Hale, Willis H., 7, 434

Haley, Alex, 211

Halsey, William F., Jr., 7, 125n, 168, 172, 240, 261, 317, 324, 340, 399, 420, 440, 515

Admiralty Islands offensive and, 223–24

anti-Japanese rhetoric of, 146, 159, 194–95

appointed COMSOPAC, 144, 145

atomic bombing of Japan criticized by, 195

Bougainville assault and, 236

CARTWHEEL and, 224

chain of command and, 220

and death of Yamamoto, 204–5

“Dirty Tricks Department” of, 232, 235

Guadalcanal campaign and, 183, 184, 185, 186

Guadalcanal trip of, 159–60

interservice rivalry detested by, 199

leadership qualities of, 197–98

MacArthur’s relationship with, 221–22

press and, 194, 197

in rash prediction of war’s end, 197

“rough brush” style of, 145

Solomons offensive and, 313

transfer of forces to central Pacific opposed by, 313

Hampton, Woodward M., 409–10

Hanks, Ralph, 368, 371

Hara, Tameichi, 150, 154, 181, 188, 234

Harder, USS, 453

Hardison, Osborne B., 152

Harmon, Millard F., 125, 134

Harper, John A., 494, 496

Harrill, William K., 463, 472–73, 478

Hart, Thomas C., 255

Haruna, 122, 137–38, 491

Hashimoto, Shintaro, 184

Hata, Shoryu, 527

Hatanaka, Shigeo, 528–29

Hawaii:

CINCPAC headquarters in, 297–98

defense workers in, 292–93, 295–96

interracial dating and marriages in, 296

Pacific War as gold rush for, 293–94

servicemen in, 296

USO clubs in, 294–95

Hawkins, William D., 355

Hawkins Field, 355

Hayanami, 453

headhunting, xviii, 191

Hearst, William Randolph, 87, 94, 366

Hedding, Truman J., 341, 369, 370, 372, 390, 436, 476, 489

Helena, USS, 155, 163, 165, 166, 255

Henderson Field, 62, 64, 65, 70–72, 75, 76, 80, 82, 83, 147, 156, 166, 175, 179, 189, 190, 203, 205, 353

Air Control at, 99–100

as AIRSOLS headquarters, 222

Japanese bombing of, 63, 78, 98–100, 105, 133, 135, 138, 156, 183

Japanese failure to recapture, 120

Japanese snipers at, 98

Japanese strafing of, 101–2, 135

naval bombardment of, 98, 122, 135, 137–39, 155, 167

primitive conditions at, 72

race to finish, 69–70

upgrading of, 103

Henderson, Lofton R., 63

Henkel, 427

Hepburn, Arthur J., 56–57

Hersey, John, 97

Hiei, 69, 416

in Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 163–65

sinking of, 166

Higgins, Andrew, 317

Higgins boats (LCVPs), 335, 347, 348–49, 391

Hill, Harry W., 55, 338, 343, 361, 362, 365, 398, 399, 400

in Tarawa assault, 333–34, 346–47

Hirohito, Emperor of Japan, 195, 417, 530, 531, 538

decisive fleet battle urged by, 417–18

Guadalcanal campaign and, 122

and Guadalcanal withdrawal, 182

and possible peace overtures, 536

public appearances of, 113–14

Tojo and, 422–23

Hiroshima, atomic bombing of, 195

Hiryu, 9

Hitler, Adolf, 11, 95

Hiyo, 419, 428, 491, 530

Hobart, HMAS, 43

Hogan, Thomas W., 453

Hokkaido, 226

Holland, F. L. G., 322

Hollandia, New Guinea, 242, 441, 453

Holmes, Jasper, 203

Holtz Bay, Attu, 230

Honolulu, Hawaii, servicemen and defense workers in, 292–93

Hoover, Gilbert, 166

Hoover, John H., 333, 389, 434, 517

Hopkins, Harry, 92, 94, 95, 128

Horaniu, Vella Lavella, 234

Horikoshi, Jiro, 424, 426

Hori, Teikichi, 416

Hornet, USS (CV-8), 7, 21, 59, 83, 103, 107, 108, 109, 110–11, 127, 146, 150

sinking of, 150–51, 154, 158

Hornet, USS (CV-12), 201, 301, 327, 383, 387, 478, 493

Hosogaya, Boshiro, 225, 227, 229

“Hotel De Gink,” 190

Hoyo Maru, 407

Hull, 22

Hunters Point, San Francisco, 246

Huon Gulf, 239

Huon Peninsula, New Guinea, 239

Hurlbut, James, 35, 98

Hyakutake, Harukichi, 133, 224

Hynes, Samuel, 293, 304–5

I-19 (Japanese submarine), 110–11

I-26 (Japanese submarine), 108

Ichiki, Kiyonao, 72, 74, 104

I-Go, Operation, 202–3

Ijuin, Matsuji, 234

Ilu River, 34, 35, 65

Imamura, Hitoshi, 179, 181, 224

Imperial General Headquarters (IGHQ), 67, 122, 174, 181, 187, 227, 346, 421, 454, 530

press releases from, 527–28

U.S. losses on Savo Island inflated by, 67

Imperial General Staff, British, 307

Imperial Japanese Army:

banzai charge as main tactic of, 106–7

Imperial Navy’s rivalry with, 6, 179–80, 181–82, 188, 534

kodo faction of, 533–34

as unconcerned about U.S. Solomon campaign, 68

Imperial Japanese Navy, 9, 174, 236, 385, 404, 461, 514

A-Go battle plan of, 447, 449, 451, 454

aircraft of, xxii

antisubmarine warfare ignored by, 282–83

battleship strategy of, 119–20

captured war plans of, 446

crude oil employed as fuel for, 449, 451

“decisive fleet battle” strategy of, 415–16, 429, 449, 450

fuel shortages of, 416

fuel supply problems of, 121, 201

Imperial Army’s rivalry with, 6, 179–80, 181–82, 188, 534

importance of airpower and submarines downplayed by, 416

loss of “face” and chain-of-command in, 447

night-combat expertise of, 41–42

pilot exhaustion discounted by, 430

pilot training program of, 428–32

possibility of Marianas fleet battle discounted by, 449

shuttle-bombing tactic of, 451–52, 470

Yokaren program of, 430, 431–32

Inazuma, 453

Independence, USS (CVL-22), 301, 370

Indiana, 480

Indianapolis, USS, 245, 339, 343, 344, 458, 471, 500, 513

Indispensable Strait, 147

Inland Sea, 69, 75, 120, 419, 531

Instructions for American Servicemen in Australia, 209–10, 213

International News Service, 97

Intrepid, 405, 412, 413

Iowa-class battleships, 386–87, 410

Ironbottom Sound (Savo Sound), xxiv, xxix, xxxi, 19, 25, 31, 34, 35, 41, 43, 49, 50–51, 52, 55, 63, 67, 68, 69, 72, 98, 101, 102, 104, 107, 132, 133, 134–35, 137–38, 155, 160, 161, 165, 174, 176, 178, 183, 189, 243, 261

Ishida, Sumio, 541

Ishida, Yahachi, 184–85

isolationism, 87, 88

Italy, capitulation of, 444

Iwakuni Naval Air Station, 423

Iwo Jima, 440, 449, 463, 531

Izumi, Toru, 524

Jackson, Robert H., 85

Jaluit Atoll, 368, 384, 385

Japan:

aircraft production in, 423–25

black market in, 539, 540, 541

class antagonisms in, 540

conscription of labor in, 445–46

contrast of old and new in, 113

cremated remains of soldiers returned to, 523–25

critical lack of oil reserves in, 284–85

“dark valley” period in (1930–45), 117

declining steel production in, 285

deteriorating living conditions in, 114–15

expanded draft in, 115, 446

food shortages in, 539, 541

increasingly dark mood in, 443–46

new operational policy of, 418

Pacific and Southeast Asian conquests of, 114, 119

rise of crime in, 541

shipping losses of, 283, 413, 417, 423, 452, 539

undercurrents of dissent in, 539–41

in war with China, 437

Japan, press in:

censorship of, 525–26, 527–28

consolidation of, 529–30

government reprisals against, 526–27

Imperial General Headquarters and, 527–28

liberal and intellectual papers in, 528–29

newsprint shortages and, 527, 529

propaganda in, 114, 116, 180, 187, 196, 443–45, 507–8, 526, 527, 529, 532, 538

references to Hirohito in, 528

reports of American savagery played up in, 196

Saipan battle reports in, 532

war dead stories in, 525

Japanese fleet, destruction of, as primary U.S. goal, xiv

Japan Times and Advertiser, 445

Jarman, Sanderford, 499

Jarvis, USS, 39

Java, xxiii

Jett, Charlie, 77

Jintsu, 68–69, 83

Johore Strait, xxiii

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), 6, 12, 16, 91, 92, 157, 192, 196, 220, 227, 312, 313, 319, 342, 434, 438, 440, 441

central Pacific offensive backed by, 306

Leahy as de facto chairman of, 93

Solomons offensive and, 223, 224

Joint Expeditionary Force, 457

Jones, John Paul, 145

Jones, Louis R., 394

Juneau, USS, 163

sinking of, 165–66

Junyo, 147, 155, 419, 428, 450, 491

jushin (senior statesmen), 533–34

Jutland, Battle of, 252, 415–16

Kaga, 9

KA-Go offensive, 68–69, 75–83

Kahili, 157

Kaiser, Henry, 247, 248–49

Kaiyo, 531

Kako, 41

Kakuta, Kakuji, 452, 454, 456, 463, 470, 488

kamikaze (divine wind) attacks, 537–38

Kangu Beach, Bougainville, xxv

Kanto Plain, 514

Kasumigaura Naval Air Training Center, 429, 432

Katori, 410–11

Kauffman, J. L. “Reggie,” 373, 378, 383

Kavieng, New Ireland, 41, 62, 235, 399

Allied bypassing of, 240, 242

Kawachi, Uichiro, 525, 527, 528

Kawaguchi, Kiyotake, 174, 187

Edson’s Ridge attack of, 106, 121, 130

at Taivu Point landing, 105

Kawaguchi, Taro, 505

KE, Operation (Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal), 183–85

Kempeitai (security service), 527, 535, 540, 541

Kennedy, Marvin G. “Pinky,” 251, 252, 260, 265

cautious tactics of, 258, 262, 264, 266

in first Wahoo patrol, 157–58

reassignment of, 265–66

in second Wahoo patrol, 262–64

Kenney, George C., 125, 126–27, 217–18, 219, 221, 223, 236, 438, 440

Kernan, Alvin B., 151, 374–75

Kido, Marquis Koichi, 533, 534, 536

and possible peace overtures, 537

Kido Butai, 41, 428, 459

King, C. S., 387–88

King, Ernest J., 6, 9–10, 91, 92, 96, 97, 102, 109, 143, 158, 197, 201, 220, 235, 279, 317, 324, 332, 386, 434, 435, 436, 459, 461, 502, 514–15, 516

Admiralty Islands offensive proposed by, 223–24, 232

Arnold and, 437

Battle of Savo Island and, 55–56, 57

belligerent personality of, 10

at Casablanca Conference, 307–8, 309–11

central Pacific offensive and, 235, 306–7, 308, 313, 320

GALVANIC and, 367

and Ghormley’s relief of command, 144

Guadalcanal campaign and, 19, 20, 21, 60, 97, 123, 142, 185–86

interservice rivalries and, 434

Marianas campaign and, 436, 440, 441

Marshalls invasion deadline of, 313

Pacific counteroffensive urged by, xiii, 10, 11–12

personality of, 193–94

Solomons offensive ordered by, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17

Tarawa battle and, 366

on unrestricted submarine warfare, 253

at Washington conference, 312

King, Richard, 468, 499–500

Kingman, Howard F., 365

Kinkaid, Thomas C., 146, 160, 161, 166, 221, 440, 442, 453

appointed commander of Allied Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), 218

in Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 148–49, 152

MacArthur and, 218–19

in Guadalcanal campaign, 33–34

Kinryu Maru, 83

Kinugasa, 41

Kirishima, 69, 171, 172, 416

Kiriwina Island, 239

Kiska Island:

Japanese forces on, 225–31

U.S. landing on, 230–31, 445

Kittredge, George, 36

Kiyosawa, Kiyoshi, 207, 432, 444, 535, 539

Kiyozumi Maru, 407

Knox, Frank, 7, 57, 142, 197, 201, 317, 436

Kobayashi, Masami, 407

Kodiak, Alaska, 226

Koga, Mineichi, 206, 224, 237, 242, 346, 368, 402, 405, 406, 415, 416, 420

death of, 446–47

Operation Z planned by, 418–19

Koiso, Kuniaki, 534, 535–36

Kokumbona, Guadalcanal, 105, 183

Kokusai Shashin Joho, 114, 180

Koli Point, 155, 190

Kolombangara Island, 232–33

Japanese evacuation of, 233, 234

Komatsu, Sakio, 484

Kommandorski Islands, Battle of the, 228–29, 233

KON, Operation, 454, 456

Kondo, Nobutake, 69, 77, 147, 188, 447

Kongo, 122, 137–38

Konoye, Prince Fumimaro, 533–34, 536

Korea, natural resources of, 284

Koro Island, 20

landing rehearsal on, 21–22, 26

Kossler, Herman J., 471, 485

Koyanagi, Tomiji, 183, 185

Krishima, 170

Krueger, Walter, 240

Kukum, Guadalcanal, 25, 27–28, 35, 63, 64, 107, 141

Kula Gulf, Battles of, 233

kunai grass, xx, 24

Kurile Islands, 226, 418

Kurita, Takeo, 237, 447, 473, 480, 482, 531

Kusaka, Jinichi, 122, 224, 233, 234, 236, 238

Kwajalein, Battle of, 384, 386, 390, 393, 405, 441, 459, 499

aftermath of, 397–98

Kwajalein Island landings in, 395–96

landing craft problems in, 391–92

pre-landing bombardment in, 389–90, 392–93, 401

Roi-Namur landings in, 390–95

Task Force 58 in, 386–87

Kwajalein Atoll, 389, 455

Japanese airfields on, 368

Japanese troops on, 385

planned U.S. landings on, 384–85

Kwajalein Atoll, U.S. carrier raid on, 373, 377–78

Japanese counterattacks in, 379–80, 381–82

Pownall’s refusal to order second strike in, 378–79, 381, 382–83, 389

Kwajalein Island, 389, 395, 400

Lae, New Guinea, 62, 157, 239

Laffey, USS, 163

Lamar, Arthur, 129, 130, 297, 298, 362, 442, 519–20

Langley, USS, 323, 399

Lapon, 453

Larsen, Harold H. “Swede,” 103–4, 136, 137

Larson, Harold O., 234

Lasswell, Alva B., 203

La Vallette, USS, 234

Lawrence, James, 145

Lawrence, John E., 141–42

Lawton, E. J., 494

Layton, Ed, 203–4

LCTs, 361

Leahy, William D., 94, 95, 158, 306, 312

as de facto Joint Chiefs chairman, 93

FDR’s relationship with, 92–93

Leckie, Robert, 210

Lee, Fitzhugh, 237, 371

Lee, Willis A. “Ching,” 160, 168, 171–72, 464, 478

Lengo Channel, 177

Lennons Hotel, Brisbane, 217

Leonski, Edward Joseph, 213

Lewis, Don, 489–90, 491

Lexington, USS (CV-2), 59, 124, 327

Lexington, USS (CV-16), 301, 328, 368, 370, 371–72, 379, 382, 488, 495

Leyte Gulf, Battle of, 145, 266, 515

Life, 90, 97, 196, 380, 538

Lillibridge, G. D., 339, 348, 351–52

Lingayen Gulf, 155

Lingga Roads, 448, 453, 455

Lion Six, 516–17

Lippmann, Walter, 86

Liscome Bay, USS (CVE-56), submarine attack on, 363–64

Lockwood, Charlie, 277, 278, 279, 286, 402, 471

appointed Pacific submarine force commander, 280

torpedo failures and, 280, 281–82

London Conference (July, 1942), 95

London Naval Conference (1935), 118

London Naval Treaty (1930), 253

Long Island, USS, 70

long pig, 191

Los Negros, 242

LSTs, 335

LST tank carriers, 392

Lucas, Jim, 359

Lukanai Field, 205

Lundstrom, John B., 58

Lunga Plain, 155, 189

Lunga Point, 25, 26, 42, 44, 49, 64, 104, 107, 132, 160, 175, 190

Lunga River, 24, 26, 131, 142

Lunga Roads, 44, 53, 60

LVTs, see amtracs

MacArthur, Douglas, 5, 7, 91, 103, 215–16, 235, 240, 420, 438, 456, 462, 514

Admiralty Islands offensive and, 223–24

Brisbane headquarters of, 217

CARTWHEEL and, 224

central Pacific offensive opposed by, 306, 313

chain of command and, 220

in escape from Corregidor, 216–17

Germany-first strategy disdained by, 128–29

Guadalcanal campaign and, 18, 20, 57, 123, 125, 126–27

Halsey’s relationship with, 221–22

“I shall return” declaration of, 219

Kinkaid and, 218–19

Marianas campaign opposed by, 439–40

as military leader, 217

New Britain campaign of, 239–40

in New Guinea campaign, 441, 453–54

New Guinea offensive and, 239

Nimitz’s meeting with, 442–43

in Philippines campaign, 440

and planned Mindanao invasion, 438–39

press and, 219

RECKLESS and, 242

Solomons offensive and, 16–17

on Tarawa battle, 366

undue credit taken by, 219–20, 232

Mackenzie, Hugh, 99

Madang, New Guinea, 239

Madison, James, 253

Mahan, Alfred Thayer, 5, 415, 417, 476

Maikaze, 410–11

Mainichi Shinbun, 421–22, 541

Majuro Atoll, 398, 413, 455

assault on, 398, 405

as Fifth Fleet forward base, 398

Japanese troops on, 386

as U.S. forward supply base, 385

Makalapa Hill, Oahu, navy and marine officers’ quarters on, 296–97

Makigumu, 153

Makin, Battle of, 320–21, 333, 342, 352, 361–62, 368

Makin Atoll, 319, 325, 361, 389

Malaita Island, xxiii, 13, 27

malaria, 64

Malay Peninsula:

Japanese invasion of, xxii–xxiii

natural resources of, 282

Maloelap Atoll, 384

Manchester, William, 25, 500–501, 506

Manchuria, natural resources of, 284

Mangrum, Dick, 71

Manus, 242

Marcus Island, 341

Mare Island Navy Yard, 249–50

Marianas campaign, 436–37, 455, 457–513

aftermath of, 513, 514, 530–33

Combined Chiefs’ approval of, 437, 438

MacArthur’s opposition to, 439–40

Nimitz’s conference on, 440

Marianas Islands, xiv, 13, 307, 333, 400, 418, 419, 423, 514

as bases for B-29s, 438

geography of, 459

“Marianas Turkey Shoot,” see Philippines Sea, Battle of the

Marine Aircraft Group 21, 61

Marine Aircraft Group 23, 82

in Guadalcanal campaign, 70–71

Marine Corps, U.S., 500

aggressive offense doctrine of, 364, 499

amphibious warfare experience of, 17–18, 322

in interservice rivalries, 6, 8, 40

Japanese fear of, 507–8

see also specific units

Marine Fighter Squadron 223 (VMF-223), 100, 101, 103

in Guadalcanal campaign, 70–71

Marpi Point, 509, 510

Marquana Bay, Vella Lavella, 234, 235

Marshall, George C., 5, 6, 10, 11, 16, 17, 56, 91, 92, 192, 220, 235, 312, 434, 440, 441, 514

at Casablanca Conference, 309–11

central Pacific offensive and, 306–7, 320

English Channel invasion as priority of, 308

invasion of France urged by, 95–96

Marshall Islands, 13, 194, 325, 333, 367, 368, 389, 400, 419

King’s deadline for invasion of, 313

Pearl Harbor’s distance from, 385

U.S. bases in, 402

Marshall Islands campaign, 377

carrier raids in, 373–74

Martin, William I., 412

Maryland, USS, 301, 334, 343, 347, 350, 352, 354, 390

Mason, Charles P., 222

Mason, Paul, 30, 38, 157

Mason, Theodore C., 245–46, 292–93

Masuda, Reiji, 225

Matanikau River, 141, 156

Maya, 228

McCain, John S. “Slew,” 12, 14, 15, 22, 43, 57, 69–70, 76

Guadalcanal campaign and, 102, 124–25

McCampbell, David S., 388, 483

McCandless, Bruce, 164

McCawley, USS, 26, 30, 43, 49, 60

McCormick, Robert, 87

McCrea, John L., 56, 93, 94, 95, 143

McIntire, Ross T., 92, 94

McKinley, Don, 479–80

McMorris, Charles “Soc,” 228–29, 440

McPherson, Robert, 352, 358

Mears, Fred, 7–8, 81, 83–84, 139

Mediterranean, British advocacy of operation in, 309, 311

Meiji Shrine National Athletic Games, 114

Melanesia, Melanesians, xviii, 27

Melbourne, Australia, 209

1st Marine Division in, 209–10

Melbourne Cricket Grounds, 210

Menzies Hotel, Melbourne, 215

Merillat, Herbert L., 24, 98, 130, 138

Merrill, Aaron Stanton, 192, 233, 236

Michener, James, 190–91

Micronesia, 418

Midway, Battle of, xiv, 7, 9, 31, 41, 51, 59, 70, 75, 82, 83, 94, 102, 110, 117, 119, 124, 147, 187, 202, 207, 225–26, 292, 301, 304, 316, 416, 419, 427, 459, 470, 493–94

Mikawa, Gunichi, 29, 40–41, 67

in Battle of Savo Island, 41–42, 43–51

Mikuma, 9

Military Academy, U.S., 5

Mille Atoll, 368, 384, 385

U.S. bombing of, 370

Miller, Bob, 97

Millican, William J., 281

Milne Bay, New Guinea, 126, 203, 224, 239

Minazuki, 453

Mindanao, 454

invasion of, 442

planned invasion of, 439

Mindanao Island, 446

Minneapolis, 177, 178, 410–11, 480

Mitchell, John, 205

Mitchell, Ralph J., 238

Mitscher, Marc “Pete,” 323, 383, 398, 404, 405, 436, 441, 446, 457–58, 461, 462, 463, 469, 472, 473–74, 475, 476–77, 478, 479, 487, 488–89, 490, 492–93, 494, 495

appointed Task Force 58 commander, 383

as Task Force 58 commander, 388–89

in Truk raid, 410–11, 413

“Mitscher shampoo,” 397

Mitsubishi, 376, 423–25

Miyazaki, Shigetoshi, 29

Monssen, USS, 23

Montechamp, Henri Ferdinand Auguste, 199–200

Monterey, USS, 405

Montgomery, Alfred E., 412, 477

Montpelier, USS, 194, 211, 236, 501

Moody, Fred, 50

Moore, Charles J. “Carl,” 320, 344, 411, 435, 436, 471, 477, 500

GALVANIC and, 318–19, 336–37

Marshall Island campaign and, 339

as Spruance’s chief of staff, 315

Moore, Samuel N., 44, 48

Moore Dry Dock Company, 248, 249

Moosbrugger, Frederick, 233–34

Morinda (coal steamer), xxiii

Morison, Samuel Eliot, xiv, 178, 281

Fletcher’s withdrawal criticized by, 58

Morriss, Mack, 98

Morton, Dudley W. “Mush”:

aggressive tactics of, 262, 266, 268, 271, 277

appointed Wahoo commander, 266–67

in attack on Wewak harbor, 268–71

audacious periscope use by, 268

background of, 260

O’Kane and, 262, 265, 267

as Wahoo PCO, 260–62

in Wahoo’s third patrol, 267–76

Moulton, Doug, 198

Mugford, 33

Mullinnix, Henry M., 364

Munda Point, New Georgia, 182, 221, 222

Allied assault on, 231–32, 233

Murmansk, Allied convoys to, 95

Musashi, 119–20, 201, 206, 403, 405, 446, 450, 452, 455, 471

Musashi, Miyamoto, 188, 189, 538

Mussolini, Benito, 444

Mustin, USS, 110, 153

Mutsuki, 83

Muzzim, USS, 211

Nachi, 228–29

Nafutan Point, 498

Nagano, Osami, 67–68, 182, 423

Nagasaki, atomic bombing of, 195

Nagoya, 423–24, 425, 428

Nagumo, Chuichi, 41, 69, 75, 419, 428, 459, 504

in Battle of Eastern Solomons, 78–82

in Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 149, 154

KA-Go counteroffensive and, 82

Nakajima, Chikataka, 385, 456

Namur Island, see Roi-Namur Islands

Nanomea Island, 342

Nassau Bay, New Guinea, 239

National Youth Administration, 88

Nauru Island, 319, 342, 455

U.S. invasion of, 315

Nautilus, USS, 321

Naval Academy, Japanese (Etajima), 415, 429

enlisted aircrews disdained by graduates of, 431

Naval Academy, U.S., 5, 9

Naval Air Transport Service (NATS), 519

Naval General Staff (NGS), Japanese, 67–68, 119, 283, 415, 451, 452

Naval Staff College, Japanese, 415–16

Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, 280, 282

Naval War College, U.S., 306

Navy, U.S., 5, 6–7, 104

Army Air Forces rivalry with, 324

“brownshoes” vs. “blackshoes” in, 323–25, 373, 383, 387, 435–36

Bureau of Aeronautics of, 301, 304, 305, 323

Bureau of Ordnance of, 255–56, 277, 278, 279, 281–82

FDR and, 91

intelligence division of, 284

interservice rivalries in, 5–9, 40, 158

and need to integrate aviators into command structure of, 435–36

Pacific War as primary focus of, 128

rivalry between USAAF and, 227

War Plans Orange and Rainbow of, 306, 436

see also specific ships and units

Navy, U.S., air forces of, 6–7

“brownshoe” culture of, 323–24

“Young Turks” in, 324, 326

see also specific aircraft carriers and units

Navy General Staff, Japanese, 447

Navy Ministry, Japanese, 283

Ndeni Island, 76, 77, 133, 134, 149

Nelson, Horatio, 476

Nelson, R. S., 488, 489

Nevada, USS, 292

New Britain Island, 13, 40, 203, 224, 267, 418

Japanese capture of, xxi

Japanese troop strength on, 240

U.S. landings on, 239–40

New Caledonia, 11, 13, 14, 23, 75, 190, 200

New Deal, 85–86, 87, 88

New Georgia, 182, 221, 238

New Georgia campaign, 222, 231–32

New Guinea, 13, 16, 157, 182, 188, 222, 267, 418, 419, 440

“Bird’s Head” peninsula of, 454

Japanese troops in, 224

New Guinea campaign, 239, 346, 420, 441, 453–54

New Hebrides, 11, 13, 14, 75, 190

New Ireland, 13

New Jersey, 405, 410–11

New London, Conn., 250

New Orleans, 177, 178, 381, 410–11

New York Times, 97, 98, 142, 367, 535

New Zealand, 197

New Zealand Herald, 197

Nggela (Florida) island group, xix, 13, 24, 27, 38, 161

NHK (Japanese radio network), 206–7

Nimitz, Chester W., 12, 15, 16, 60, 70, 91, 103, 107, 109, 111, 122–23, 178, 196, 198, 200, 362, 364, 373, 438, 459, 461, 472, 477, 497–98, 500, 502, 511, 513, 516, 519, 520, 521

Aleutian strategy of, 225–26

Argonne conference of, 125–26

athletic prowess of, 298–99

bureaucratic bloat as anathema to, 432–33

central Pacific offensive and, 312–13, 317

chain of command and, 220

CINCPAC headquarters of, 297–98

command style of, 384, 433

and death of Yamamoto, 203–4

FDR and, 297

GALVANIC and, 325

Ghormley relieved of command by, 143–44

Guadalcanal campaign and, 123–24

Guadalcanal visit of, 129–31

interservice rivalries and, 433–34

on Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal, 185–86

Kwajalein battle and, 397

Kwajalein landings ordered by, 384

leapfrogging strategy of, 401

MacArthur’s meeting with, 442–43

Makalapa Hill residence of, 296–97

Marianas campaign and, 440

personality of, 123, 297, 298

Pownall relieved of command by, 383

and raid on Truk, 403

social role of, 299

Solomons inspection tour of, 124–31, 143

Spruance and, 315

submarine warfare and, 255, 257

Tarawa battle and, 366

Towers and, 435

Vandegrift’s meeting with, 129–31

Nishizawa, Hiroyoshi, 31–32

Nisshin Maru, 453

Nogi, Maresuki, 417

Nomura, Kichisaburo, 114, 515

Nomura, Minoru, 448

Normandy invasion, 530

North Africa, Allied invasion of, 97, 158, 308, 328

North American Newspaper Alliance, 98

Northampton, USS, 110, 152, 178

North Carolina, USS, 21, 108, 109

Northern Amphibious Group, 333

Noshiro, 455

Noumea, New Caledonia, 13, 14, 15, 20, 56, 60, 61, 108, 125, 132, 143, 144, 160, 197

Noyes, Leigh, 111

Nukufetau Island, 342

Oahu, 287

Ewa Field on, 70

see also Hawaii; Pearl Harbor

Oakland, USS, 381, 496

O’Bannon, USS, 162, 163, 234–35

Obata, Hideyoshi, 513

O’Brien, USS, 110

O’Hare, Butch, 373–74, 375

Bat Team tactics devised by, 374–75

death of, 376

Ohmae, Toshikazu, 46

Oi, Atsushi, 283, 425

Oite, 413

O’Kane, Richard H., 251, 260, 261, 264, 265

in attack on Wewak harbor, 268–71

Morton and, 262, 265, 267

in Wahoo’s third patrol, 267–76

Oklahoma, USS, 289, 291–92

Okumiya, Masatake, 238–39, 420–21, 429–30, 471

Omori, Sentaro, 236

106th Infantry Regiment, U.S., 399

164th Infantry Regiment, U.S., 134

165th Infantry Regiment, U.S., 320–21, 361

Orange, War Plan, 306, 436

see also central Pacific offensive

Orote Airfield, 478, 486–87, 511, 512, 513

Orote Peninsula, 462, 487, 513, 518

OVERLORD, Operation, 457

Owen, Ed, 378

Owen Stanley mountains, 68

oyaku-shinju (parent-child death pact), 506–7

Oyodo, 447, 488

Ozawa, Jisaburo, 419, 423, 427–28, 429, 447, 449, 454, 461, 469–70, 472, 474, 475, 476, 478–79, 484–85, 486, 488–89, 490, 497, 511, 514, 530, 531

promoted to First Mobile Fleet commander, 447

training exercises discontinued by, 449–50

Pacific American Expeditionary Forces Station, 520

Pacific Crucible (Toll), xiv

Pacific Fleet submarines, 460

Pacific War:

bulldozers as weapons in, 190

central Pacific offensive in, see central Pacific offensive

as gold rush for Hawaii, 293–94

Guadalcanal as decisive campaign in, 120

initial Japanese air superiority in, xxi–xxiii

interservice rivalries in, 5–9, 40, 227, 433–34, 437

Japanese advances in, xxi–xxxi, 114, 119

Japanese brutality in, 204

Japanese motives for launching, 282

Japanese-U.S. imbalance of technology in, 426–27

life on rear bases of, 190–93

morale issues in, 192–93

overestimation of enemy losses in, 67

as primarily naval and air campaign, xiii–xiv

as primary focus of U.S. Navy, 128

Pacific War, air war in, 416

and disrepair of Japanese aircraft and airfields, 425–27

inadequate training of Japanese pilots in, 428–32

Japanese losses in, 419

mismatch between Japanese and U.S. technology in, 417

Palapao, Guadalcanal, xxviii, xxix

Palau, 405, 418, 419, 423, 441, 449, 454, 456, 459

Palmyra Island, 124

Paradise of the Pacific, 293, 296

Paria, Gulf of, 330, 331

Parker, Ralph, 298

Patch, Alexander, 183, 185

Patterson, Cissy, 87

Patterson, USS, 45, 46, 51

Patton, George S., 445

Pawnee, USS, 161, 165

Pearl Harbor, 124

ammunition-loading accident at, 458

distance from Marshall Islands of, 385

expanding naval facilities at, 288–89

Japanese attack on, xiv, xxi, 7, 52, 55, 59, 117, 118–19, 142, 180, 195, 246, 253, 288, 306, 324, 419, 429, 459

natural setting of, 287–88

as Pacific Fleet home port, 287

salvage operations at, 289–90

Peck, DeWitt, 197, 198

Peleliu Island, U.S. assault on, 8

Pennsylvania, USS, 339

Pensacola, USS, 177–78

Pentagon, 89–90

Percival, Arthur, xxiii

PESTILENCE, Operation, see Solomons offensive

Pétain, Philippe, 93

Phelps, 392

Philippine Clipper, 279

Philippines, 235, 242, 306, 405, 454, 456

Japanese conquest of, xxi, 7, 254–55

Philippines campaign, 440

Philippine Sea, as site of planned Japanese decisive fleet battle, 419

Philippine Sea, Battle of the, 153–54, 477–97, 481, 493, 516, 530

Phillips, John C., 374, 375, 376, 377

Phillips, Sol, 381

Pickett’s charge, 366

“pidgin,” xviii

pilot fatigue, 125, 130, 136–37, 430

Japanese, 156, 238

Plant, Frank W. J., 338, 340, 347, 349, 350, 356–57, 358

Poha River, 156

Point Cruz, 66, 155, 189

Polhemus, Alan, 256

Popomanaseu, Mount, xviii

Porapora, Bougainville, 37, 38, 99

Portal, Charles, 309, 310–11

Porter, USS, 154

Portland, USS, 163

Port Moresby, New Guinea, 13, 19, 20, 68, 120, 126, 203, 220, 224

Pownall, Charles A. “Baldy,” 368, 369, 372, 380, 418

Clark and, 341

in Kwajalein raid, 377–78

in refusal to order second strike on Kwajalein, 378–79, 381, 382–83

relieved of Task Force 50 command, 383

President Polk, USS, 360–61

Preston, USS, 169–70

Prince of Wales, HMS, xxii, 324

Princeton, USS, 237, 301, 399, 484

propaganda, Japanese, 114, 116, 180, 187, 196, 443–45, 507–8, 526, 527, 529, 532, 538

prospective commanding officers (PCOs), 260

Psalm 23, 3

Puffer, USS, 453

Pyle, Ernie, 192, 519

Quebec Conference (1943), 235

Quincy, USS, 25, 44, 46, 48

Quonset huts, 15, 518–19

Rabaul, New Britain, xxi, xxvi, 9, 13, 16, 20, 29, 33, 38, 40, 53, 59, 62, 76, 78, 98, 99, 100, 101, 121, 122, 156, 157, 179, 181, 182, 202, 205, 222, 224, 311, 340, 368, 401, 408, 412, 419

Japanese evacuation of, 242

Japanese morale problems at, 238–39

U.S. bombing of, 236, 237–38, 240, 420–21

U.S. bypassing of, 232, 235, 240

Rabi, 68

racism, in British Empire, xx

Radar Plot, 233

radar systems:

night attacks and, 412

U.S. superiority in, 233

see also fire control systems

radio packs, 515

Radio Tokyo, 107, 520

Rainbow, War Plan, 436

Raines, James Orvill, 518

Ralph Talbot, USS, 43, 45, 49, 60, 234

Ramage, James D., 404, 407, 408, 410, 411, 489, 495

Ramsey, DeWitt C., 56–57

Rand, Hazen, 374, 375

Rau, Pappy, 272

Raymer, Edward C., 290

Read, W. J. “Jack,” 30, 37, 38, 39, 99–100, 157

RECKLESS, Operation, 242

Red Army, 94–95, 308

Redman, John R., 198

Reeves, John W. “Black Jack,” 477

Reminiscences (MacArthur), 232

Rendova Island, U.S. landing on, 231

Republican National Committee, 87

Republicans, 88

Repulse, HMS, xxii, 324

Rhoades, F. Ashton “Snowy,” xxvi, xxvii, xxviii, 183

Richardson, Robert C., 321, 434, 440

Riefkohl, Frederick Lois, 48–49, 50

Ries, Robert E., Jr., 140

Riley, Herbert D., 305

Riley, Marion, 82

Ringgold, USS, 344

Ring of Fire, xvii–xviii

Rochefort, Joseph, 75, 203

Rocky Mount, USS, 465

Rogal, William, 24–25, 61, 64, 344, 347–48, 353, 354, 508

Roi-Namur Islands, 378, 389, 390, 393, 397, 398, 400, 401

airfield at, 381, 382

landings on, 390–95

Rommel, Erwin, 97

Roosevelt, Eleanor, 94, 328

Roosevelt, Franklin D., 6, 196, 217, 235, 311, 434, 437, 439, 457, 514

as assistant navy secretary, 91

and Battle of Savo Island, 56

chaotic leadership style of, 85–86

as commander in chief, 90–97

Ghormley and, 143

Guadalcanal campaign and, 158–59

Navy given personal attention by, 91

Nimitz and, 297

TORCH and, 97

wartime critics of, 87–88

Rosenblatt, Herman, 382

Rota Island, 461, 462, 470, 474

ROUNDUP, Operation, 95, 308–9

Royal Air Force (RAF), xxii

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), xxvi

Royal Australian Navy (RAN), 20

coastwatching service of, xxiv–xxv, xxvi, xxvii, 37–38, 66, 99–100, 157

Royal Hawaiian Hotel, 259, 287

Royal New Zealand Air Force, 222

Royal New Zealand Army, 8th Infantry Brigade Group of, 236

Russell, Jim, 301–2

Russell Islands, 27, 183, 203

U.S. forces on, 220–21

Russo-Japanese War (1904–5), 204, 536

Ryan, Michael P., 355, 357

Ryujo, 69, 76–77

S-38 (U.S. submarine), 41, 42

Sado Maru, 105

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 87

Saipan, Battle of, 362, 462–65, 500, 530, 532

civilians in, 506–7, 508–9

ground campaign in, 470–76, 497–98, 499, 500–503, 515

landings in, 465–69, 467

mass civilian suicides in, 534–35

surrender leaflets in, 509–10

U.S. casualties in, 466–67, 474–75, 510

Saipan Island, 412, 437, 438, 449, 456, 458, 459–60, 461–62, 516, 531

civilians on, 459

defensive works on, 460

Japanese troops on, 459–60, 466

Saito, Yoshitsugu, 449, 459, 460, 466, 467–68, 503–4, 505, 506, 530

Sakai, Saburo, 115–16, 426, 429, 430–31, 432

in dogfight with Southerland, 32–33

Sakonju, Naomasa, 454–55

Salamaua, New Guinea, 222, 239

Salt Lake City, USS, 135, 228–29

Samoa, 11, 190

Sampson, William, 69

Samurai (Sakai), 32

Sanada, Joichiro, 181, 182

San Bernandino Strait, 456, 469, 471

San Cristobal, 13, 107, 148, 160

San Diego, Calif., 287

San Francisco, Calif.:

African Americans in, 247–48

defense industry in, 246–49

as key supply center for Pacific War, 244

naval facilities in, 246

servicemen in, 244–46

San Francisco, USS, 155, 161, 379, 380

in Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 162–65

San Francisco Bay, 252, 287

San Juan, USS, 25, 35–36, 43, 154

Santa Cruz Islands, 13, 16, 22, 76, 107, 133, 146, 190

Santa Cruz Islands, Battle of the, 59, 148–54, 148, 160, 416, 419

Santa Isabel, 27, 57, 182

Saratoga, USS, 17, 20, 22, 30, 31, 37, 59, 60, 76–77, 78, 103, 105, 107, 143, 154, 237, 340, 387, 399

in Battle of Eastern Solomons, 79–80

torpedo attack on, 108

Sato, Kenryo, 181

Savo Island, 13, 24, 27, 31, 35, 38, 42, 134, 166, 168, 169, 170, 178

Savo Island, Battle of, 41, 43–51, 47, 56

Hepburn’s report on, 56–57

U.S. losses in, 55, 124

U.S. losses in, Japanese exaggeration of, 67

Savo Sound, see Ironbottom Sound (Savo Sound)

SB2C Helldivers, shortcomings of, 304–5, 331, 424–25

SBD dive-bombers, 304

Schmidt, Harry, 391, 398, 401

Schwartz, Harry, 87–88

Scott, Norman, 134–35, 160

Seabees, 70, 103, 190, 192, 426, 517, 518

and Espiritu Santo base, 14–15

in Guadalcanal campaign, 70, 103, 135, 190

in Solomons offensive, 221

Seahorse, USS, 471

Sealark Channel, 38, 43, 51, 52–53, 161, 165

Sea of Japan, 284

Searaven, USS, 410

2nd Marine Division, 457, 468, 498–99, 508, 510

in Tarawa campaign, see Tarawa, Battle of

2nd Marine Regiment, 133–34

in Guadalcanal campaign, 53

Second Amphibious Brigade, Japanese, 454

Second Division, Japanese, 184, 465, 500

Second Fleet, Japanese, 188, 447, 448, 531

First Battleship Division of, 450

Second Infantry Division, Japanese, 184

Seeadler Harbor, Manus, 242

Segond Channel, 15, 129

Selfridge, USS, 234–35

Senken Butai, 41–42

Senshin (warrior spirit), 430

seppuku, 504

Service Forces, Pacific Fleet (SERVPAC), 333

Service Squadron Four, 333

Service Squadron Ten, 385, 387, 398, 516

708th Provisional Amphibian Tractor Battalion, U.S. Army, 400

Seventeenth Army, Japanese, 40, 41, 122, 176, 183, 224

7th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, 229, 390, 444

in Kwajalein battle, 390, 395–96

7th Marine Regiment, 107, 109, 133

Seventh Air Force, U.S., 342

Seventh Amphibious Force, U.S., 239

Seventh Army, Japanese, 155

Seventh Fleet, U.S., 242

as “MacArthur’s Navy,” 218

Seventh Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force, Japanese, 345

77th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, 511, 512

SG search radars, 168, 177

see also fire control systems

Sheeks, Robert B., 466, 509–10

Sheridan, USS, 338

Sherman, Forrest P., 314, 325, 383

Sherman, Frank P., 109, 111

Sherman, Frederick “Ted” C., 389, 399, 411, 474

Sherman tanks, 351

Sherrod, Robert, 344, 349, 351, 354, 358

Shibasaki, Keiji, in battle for Tarawa, 345–46, 352–53

Shigemitsu, Mamoru, 536

Shima, Kiyohide, 531

Shimada, Shigetaro, 423, 449, 451, 530, 531, 533, 534

Shinyo, 531

shipbuilding industry, Kaiser and, 248–49

Shokaku, 69, 78–79, 82, 147, 149, 150, 155, 419, 423, 473, 485–86

Shortland Island, xxv, 105, 178, 203, 235

U.S. air strikes on, 178–79

Shoup, David M., 352, 357, 358

in Tarawa battle, 349–50, 354, 356, 359

“shuttle-bombing” tactics, 451–52, 470

Singapore, xxii, 447, 448

Japanese capture of, xxiii

Sio, New Guinea, 239

Sixth Division, Japanese, 179

6th Marine Regiment, 352, 357, 359

67th Fighter Squadron (USAAF), 102

SJ radar, 258, 263

Skate, USS, 413, 452

Skon, Andy, 374, 375, 376

SLEDGEHAMMER, Operation, 95–96

Slonim, Gil, 471

“Slot, the,” 38, 42, 43, 57, 83, 103–4, 133, 161, 166, 167, 174, 176, 183, 236

Smith, Harold, 85

Smith, Holland M. “Howlin’ Mad,” 8, 229, 321, 334, 335, 352, 386, 390, 398, 401, 434, 458, 466, 467, 468, 469, 475, 497, 498, 499, 500, 510, 511

Army’s methodical pace criticized by, 396

as Fifth Amphibious Corps commander, 317

in GALVANIC chain-of-command dispute, 318–19

Kwajalein landing opposed by, 384–85

and Makin battle, 361–62

as passed over for promotion, 433–34

Tarawa battle criticisms of, 362–63, 365–66, 367

touchiness of, 317–18

Turner and, 318, 339–40, 433–34

Smith, John L., 70, 100

Smith, Julian C., 320, 322, 352, 354, 357, 359, 360, 362

in Tarawa battle, 334, 335, 336, 338, 366–67

Smith, Ralph C., 320, 321, 362, 364, 458, 498, 499, 500

Smoot, Roland, 23, 24

Snowden, Ernest, 479

Soliloquy (Hirohito), 536

Solomons archipelago, 11, 13, 27, 419, 514

air reconnaissance of, 62, 76

British protectorate of, xviii–xx, xxiii

daily life in, 190–92

disease and dangerous conditions in, xx

exotic beauty of, 191

geology of, xvii–xviii

headhunting and cannibalism in, xviii

illegal slave trade in, xviii

Japanese buildup in, 62

Japanese counteroffensive in, 147–48

Japanese I-Go aerial counteroffensive in, 202–3

Japanese pullback in, 182

Japanese underestimation of U.S. troops in, 68

KA-Go offensive in, 68–69, 75–83

Melanesian inhabitants of, xviii

white exodus from, xxiii, xxv

Solomons offensive, 14, 16–17, 190–91, 223–24, 313, 346

air war in, 222–23, 224–25, 242, 419–21

ammunition shortages and, 12

Bougainville landings in, 236, 340

CARTWHEEL in, see CARTWHEEL, Operation

chain of command in, 220

Espiritu Santo as base for, 14–15, 129, 142

fuel problems and, 12

Guadalcanal and Tulagi landings in, see Guadalcanal campaign

Japanese aircraft losses in, 242

New Georgia campaign in, see New Georgia campaign

political importance of, 158

submarine warfare in, see submarine warfare

Task Force 17 in, 107

Task Force 18 in, 107–8

Task Force 61 in, 107–8, 111–12

Torpedo Junction in, 108, 109–11

U.S. aircraft strength in, 127

Sommers, Sam, 482, 495

Sorong, 454

Soryu, 9

South China Sea, 255

Japanese advances in, 11–12

South Dakota, USS, 56, 81, 146, 151, 154, 160, 478, 480, 495

in Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 168–69, 170–72

Southeast Asia, Japanese conquests in, 114, 119

Southerland, James J., 31–32

in dogfight with Sakai, 32–33

Southern Amphibious Group, 333

Southern Attack Force, 395, 511

Southern Attack Group, 338

South Pacific, 13

Allied counteroffensive in, see Solomons offensive

South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT), 190

South Solomon Trench, xviii

Soviet Union:

Allied convoys to, 95

Nazi Germany and, 11, 94, 96, 308–9, 530

Special Naval Landing Forces, Japanese, 29, 345, 459

Sperry, USS, 265

Spruance, Raymond Ames, 123, 198, 336, 361, 362, 367, 385, 386, 390, 398, 405, 433, 436, 458, 461–62, 463, 469, 471–72, 473, 474, 475–77, 478, 480, 488, 493–94, 497–98, 500, 511, 513, 515, 516, 530

appointed Fifth Fleet commander, 315, 325

carrier operations and, 341–42

central Pacific offensive overseen by, 315–16

command philosophy of, 316

as compulsive walker, 316, 336–37

GALVANIC and, 325

Gilbert Islands invasion proposed by, 314

Kwajalein landing opposed by, 384

Nimitz and, 315

as Nimitz’s chief of staff, 297, 298–300

Tarawa campaign and, 339

Towers’s conflict with, 325

and Truk raid, 410–11, 413

“Spruance haircut,” 397

Stalin, Joseph, 95

Stalingrad, Battle of, 94, 443

Stark, Harold “Betty,” 143

Stassen, Harold, 198

Stearns, Chester M., 110

Stebbins, Edgar E., 377, 378

Sterett, USS, 162, 163

Sterling, Forest, 260–61, 263, 266, 267, 269, 270, 273

Stevenson, Robert Louis, 319

Stimson, Henry L., 5, 91, 96, 434, 439

English Channel invasion as priority of, 308

Stingray, USS, 475

Strategic Bombing Survey, U.S., 67

Stump, Felix B., 328, 329, 371

submarines, U.S., Gato-class, 250, 252, 259

see also Wahoo, USS

submarine warfare, 63, 233, 416

bad torpedoes in, 255

blockade of Japanese home islands in, 284

in central Pacific offensive, 368–69, 402, 413

crew cohesiveness in, 250–52, 256–57

“friendly” attacks in, 253

increased U.S. success in, 452–53

interwar doctrine of, 252, 254–55, 262, 277

Japanese inattention to antisubmarine warfare in, 259, 282–83

King on, 253

merchant shipping attacks in, 253–54

more aggressive tactics demanded in, 255, 262, 283

mounting Japanese shipping losses from, 283–85

Nimitz and, 255, 257

prospective commanding officers (PCOs) in, 260

shore leave and, 259

sinking of Japanese oil tankers in, 285

“skipper problem” in, 255, 256, 277

sonar improvements in, 284

surface-search radar in, 283, 284

in Torpedo Junction, 109–11

U.S. disappointments in, 277–78

U.S. dominance in, 417

U.S. losses in, 285–86

see also specific submarines

Sugiyama, Hajime, 417, 422–23

Sulu Archipelago, 405, 449

Sulu Sea, 447

Sumatra, oil fields of, 282, 285, 416, 448

Sutherland, Richard K., 125, 126–27, 216, 217–18, 219, 221, 439, 440

Suwannee, USS, 327

Suzuki, Hiroshi, 448

Sydney, Australia, 211

Japanese submarine raid on, 114

Taft, Robert A., 87

Taiho, 427, 447, 450, 471, 473, 484–85

Taiyo, 531

Takahashi, Aiko, 443, 446, 513, 532, 535, 540, 541

Takanami, 177

Takasaki, 453

Takashina, Takeshi, 512

Takeyama, Michio, 542

Tales of the South Pacific (Michener), 190–91

Tanaga Island, 227

Tanaka, Raizo, 68–69, 76, 77, 105, 133, 135, 155, 156, 167, 172, 174, 189

“drum method” resupply efforts of, 176–77, 178–79

Guadalcanal troop convoys of, 68–69, 76–77, 82, 105, 133, 135, 155–56, 167–68, 172–73, 174, 176

in KA-Go counteroffensive, 82–83

withdrawal from Guadalcanal urged by, 179

Tanambogo Island, 25, 53

Tanapag Harbor, 500, 510–11

Tanikaze, 453

Tani, Masayuki, 180

Tapotchau, Mount, Saipan, 459, 465, 498, 500

Tarakan, 453

Tarawa, Battle of, 320, 322–23, 333–37, 338–68, 345, 439, 440, 459, 502

aircraft carrier in, 356

air and naval support in, 335–36

banzai attack in, 359

burial of dead from, 360

first day of, 347–53

Japanese losses in, 360, 367–68

landing craft in, 334–35

lessons of, 362–65, 367–68, 400–401

mopping up operations in, 360

operations plans for, 334–37

public response to losses in, 365–66

resupply operations in, 357, 358

second day of, 353–59

third day of, 359–60

U.S. ammunition and equipment shortages in, 354

U.S. losses in, 353–55, 360, 365–66, 367–68

U.S. naval and air bombardment in, 342, 355, 356–57, 364–65, 368

Tarawa Atoll, 319, 320, 322, 325, 389

Japanese troop strength on, 335

see also Betio Island

Tasimboko, 105

Task Force 16, 33

Task Force 17, 107–8

Task Force 18, 107–8

Task Force 39, 236–37

Task Force 42, 264, 280

Task Force 50, 341, 368, 373

Japanese night attacks on, 371

in Kwajalein raid, see Kwajalein Atoll, U.S. carrier raid on

Task Force 51, 229–30, 457, 458

Task Force 58, 388–89, 398, 438, 439, 446, 457–58, 461–63, 464–65, 469, 472–78, 487, 489, 492–93, 494, 497

in Eniwetok battle, 399

in Kwajalein battle, 386–87

Mitscher appointed commander of, 383

size of, 386

in Truk raid, 403–4, 405–14, 409, 441

Task Force 61, 33, 146

in Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 148–54

in Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 77–78

in Guadalcanal campaign, 20, 23–24, 37, 43, 51, 57–60, 61–62

KA-Go counteroffensive against, 68–69, 75–83

in Solomons offensive, 107–8, 111–12

Task Force 62, 56

in Guadalcanal campaign, 20–21, 23–24, 43, 52–53, 60, 61, 107, 132–33

Task Force 64, 160

Task Force 67, 177

Task Force KING, 160

Task Force LOVE, 168

Task Group 50.1, 368, 369, 376

Task Group 50.2, 363, 373, 376

Task Group 50.3, 369, 399

Task Group 51.11, 399

Task Group 58.1, 463–64, 472–73

Task Group 58.2, 412

Task Group 58.3, 389–90, 477

Task Group 58.4, 399, 463, 478

Task Group 58.7, 478

Task Group 62.6:

in Battle of Savo Island, 44–51

in Guadalcanal campaign, 20, 42–43

Tassafaronga Point, Guadalcanal, 141, 156, 172, 174, 177, 185

Tavurvur volcano, 29

Tawi Tawi, Philippines, 405, 449, 453, 455, 456

Taylor, 234

Tenaru plantation, 64

Tenaru River, 26, 28, 35, 64, 65, 71, 72, 121

Tenaru River, Battle of, 73–76, 104

Tennessee, USS, 292, 392

Tenryu, 41, 46

Tenshin, 187

Teruzuku, 179

Thach, Jimmy, 476–77

Theobald, Robert A., 226, 227

Third Amphibious Force, U.S., 231, 240, 242

Third Fleet, Japanese, 420, 421, 423, 428, 447

air strength of, 419

Third Marine Amphibious Corps, 511

3rd Marine Division, 236, 457, 512

Third Special Base Defense Force, Japanese, 345

37th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, 236

Thirty-Eighth Division, Japanese, 184

Thomas, Gerald C., 104

339th Fighter Squadron (USAAF), 205

Thresher, USS (SS-200), 253, 281

Time, 97, 414

Tinian Island, 307, 436, 437, 438, 452, 459, 464, 511, 513

Tobruk, British surrender of, 97

Togo, Heihachiro, 208, 415, 417, 472

Tojo, Hideki, 114, 180, 182, 418, 422, 530, 531

consolidation of power by, 422–23

fall from power of, 532–35

Hirohito and, 422–23

Tokitsukaze, 76

Tokyo, 514

contrast of old and new in, 113

Tokyo Express, 133, 136, 155, 174

Tomlinson, W. J., 214

Tone, 69, 76

Tonga, 11

Tonoas Island, 403

TORCH, Operation, 97, 158, 308, 328

Torokina, 238

torpedoes, 251–52, 281

Japanese Long Lance, 42, 45, 77, 233, 235, 451

magnetic detonators for, 255, 256, 277, 279, 280

Mark 14, 281, 283

Mark 18, 284

mechanical failures of, 255–56, 277, 278–79, 280–82

Torpedo Junction, 108, 109–11

Towers, John Henry, 314, 323–24, 342, 383, 440, 477

background of, 323

GALVANIC and, 325

Nimitz and, 435

Spruance’s conflict with, 325

Toyoda, Soemu, 447, 449, 454, 455, 456, 488, 531, 533

Toyo Keizai, 532

Transport Group XRAY, 24, 33, 49, 50

Transport Group YOKE, 24, 49, 50

Treasure Island, San Francisco, 246

Treasury Islands, 236, 238

Tregaskis, Richard, 24, 39, 49–50, 97

Trigger, USS, 279

Trinidad, 330

Tripartite Pact, 118, 533

Trobriand Islands, 222

Truk Atoll, 69, 75, 76, 116, 120, 121, 122, 138, 181, 182, 201, 206, 224, 237, 242, 401, 418

geography of, 403

Japanese base at, 436

as Japanese fleet’s major Southern anchorage, 403

Japanese troops on, 405

lack of U.S. intelligence on, 404

mediocre facilities on, 404–5

U.S. air raid on, 242

U.S. submarine patrols around, 257, 260, 277

Truk Atoll, carrier raid on, 399, 403–14, 409, 441

dogfights in, 406, 409–10

Japanese caught off-guard in, 406–7

Japanese reporting of, 421–22

rescue of downed air crews in, 410

symbolic importance of, 413

Trumbull, Robert, 291

Truth, 215

Tsushima Strait, Battle of, 415, 470, 472, 536

Tuananbogo Island, 36–37

Tucker, Joe, 331

Tulagi Harbor, 178, 179

Tulagi Island, xix, xxiii, 12, 13, 19, 22, 24, 25, 27, 42, 49, 61, 75, 77, 167, 168, 178, 179

food supplies of, 61

Japanese bombing of, xxi, xxiv, xxvi

Japanese invasion of, xxvi, 29, 66

U.S. airstrikes on, xxvi–xxvii

U.S. landings on, 26, 29, 35–36

Tunny, USS, 452

Turner, Richmond Kelly, 22, 23, 125, 195, 231, 326, 333, 334, 361, 456, 458, 460–61, 465, 470, 474, 475, 497, 500, 510, 511

in Battle of Savo Island, 43–44, 51, 53, 55, 56

combative personality of, 20–21

as commander of Fifth Fleet amphibious fleet, 317

Fletcher’s withdrawal criticized by, 57–58

in GALVANIC chain-of-command dispute, 318–19

in Guadalcanal campaign, 26, 30–31, 38, 39–40, 49, 60, 61, 103, 107, 126–27, 132, 133–34, 146, 160

H. Smith and, 318, 339–40, 433–34

Kwajalein landing opposed by, 384

and lessons of Tarawa battle, 363

on pilot fatigue, 137

Twelfth Naval District, 246

20th Bomber Command, 438

Twentieth Air Force, 438

21st Bomber Command, 438

22nd Marine Regiment, 399

27th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, 183, 434, 457, 458, 467, 468, 498–99, 505, 510

Twenty-Fifth Air Flotilla, Japanese, 29, 40, 68, 238

Twenty-Sixth Air Flotilla, Japanese, 419

Twining, Merrill B., 19, 25, 36, 71, 102, 104, 139, 141, 142

222nd Regiment, Japanese, 454

U-boats, in merchant shipping attacks, 253, 278

Ugaki, Matome, 116, 122, 146, 147, 180–81, 182, 201, 202, 454, 455, 456, 469–71, 473, 492, 535

and death of Yamamoto, 205–6

diary of, 120

Guadalcanal strategy of, 120–21

pessimistic diary entries of, 450–51

on possible withdrawal from Guadalcanal, 179–80

Ultra (decrypted Japanese radio messages), 62

“Umi Yukara” (Across the Sea), 3

Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), 464

United Press, 97

United States:

internationalism in, 88

isolationism in, 87, 88

U.S. Naval Institute, xv

USO tours, 192, 520

Utah, USS, 289, 300

“Valley of Hell,” 503

Vandegrift, Alexander Arthur, 12, 102, 103, 167, 174, 183, 199, 236, 365, 434, 513, 514

Clemens and, 66–67

Fletcher’s withdrawal criticized by, 57–58

on Japanese refusal to surrender, 74

Nimitz’s meeting with, 129–31

on psychological effects of heavy bombardment, 139

reporters encouraged by, 98

Solomons offensive and, 15–16

on Tarawa battle, 366

Vandegrift, Alexander Arthur, in Guadalcanal campaign, 17–18, 22–23, 26, 34–35, 39, 40, 43, 49, 53, 71, 75, 83, 146, 159, 317

food supplies as concern of, 61

morale issues and, 65

perimeter defenses and, 64–65, 72, 104, 141, 147

Point Cruz offensive ordered by, 155

reinforcements requested by, 133–34

retreat contemplated by, 142

Vanguard Force, Japanese, 69, 77

Vella Gulf, Battle of, 234

Vella Lavella, 238

U.S. assault on, 234–35

Versailles, Treaty of, 506

Vila Airfield, Kolombangara, 232, 233

Vincennes, USS, 27, 46, 48–49, 50

Vincent, Harry, 50

Virginia Military Institute (VMI), 5

Vitiaz Strait, 239–40, 267

Vollinger, John, 192

Vouza, Jacob C., 72, 74

Vraciu, Alex, 101, 357, 406, 462–63, 479, 483, 484, 492

Vungana, Guadalcanal, xxix

Wahoo, USS (SS-238), 250–51, 276–77

in attack on Japanese submarine I-2, 263–64

destroyer sunk by, 270–71

equator-crossing ceremony on, 272

in failed attack on Chiyoda, 257–58

first kill of, 262

first patrol of, 257–59, 260, 275

four-ship Japanese convoy sunk by, 272–75

Japanese troop transport sunk by, 273–75

landing of, 252

mechanical problems of, 258

Morton appointed commander of, 266–67

second patrol of, 261–62, 265, 275

third patrol of, 267–76, 275

torpedoes of, 251–52

in Wewak harbor attack, 268–71

Wahoo Daily Gazette, 261

Wakefield, USS, 15

Wake Island, 7, 132, 141, 314, 453

Walke, USS, 169

Walker, Frank R., 234–35

Waller, Raoul, 329, 332

“Waltzing Matilda,” 212

Wamai River, 206

War Department, U.S., 209

Pentagon building of, 89–90

War Without Mercy (Dower), 507

“Washing Machine Charlie” (Japanese float plane patrol), 63, 72, 98–99, 139, 353

Washington, D.C.:

Allied conference in (1942), 95

Allied conference in (1943), 312

temporary government buildings in, 89

wartime population explosion in, 88–90

Washington, USS, 56, 160

in Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 168–69, 170–72

Washington Post, 86

Wasp, USS, 17, 20, 25–26, 33, 37, 59, 76, 107, 111, 484

sinking of, 109–11, 124

WATCHTOWER, Operation, see Guadalcanal campaign

Watson, Thomas E., 399, 400

Webb, W. B. “Spider,” 487

Wehrmacht, 11, 94

Wellington, New Zealand, 12, 15, 17, 19

Wendy Point, 393

West Point, see Military Academy, U.S.

West Virginia, USS, 291, 292

Wewak, New Guinea, 267

Wahoo’s attack on, 268–71

White House:

Map Room in, 93–94, 95

Oval Study in, 92

Widdy, Charles, 18, 66

Widhelm, William J. “Gus,” 150

William Ward Burrows, 103

Willkie, Wendell, 88, 94

Wilson, Woodrow, 91

Withers, Thomas, Jr., 254, 255, 256, 278

Wolfert, Ira, 97

Woodlark Island, 222, 239

Works Progress Administration, 88

World War I, 253

FDR and, 91

German-Soviet peace treaty in, 95

World War II:

calls for second European front in, 94–95

eastern front in, 11, 94, 96, 308–9, 530

expansion of federal bureaucracy in, 88–89

expansion of presidential power in, 88

Normandy invasion in, 530

see also Pacific War

Wotje Atoll, 379, 384, 385

strike on, 380

Wright, Carleton, 177–78

Yamada, Sadayoshi, 30

Yamamoto, Isoroku, 108, 122, 146, 147, 154, 185, 187, 188, 195, 201–2, 403, 415, 416

death of, 203–6, 207, 446

funeral of, 207–8

Guadalcanal campaign, and, 204

KA-Go offensive of, 68–69, 75–83

luxurious lifestyle of, 116–17

Midway battle and, 119

Operation I-Go and, 202–3

Pearl Harbor attack and, 117, 118–19

political career of, 117–18

strategic failures of, 204

war with U.S. opposed by, 118, 202

Yamato, 76, 116, 119–20, 121, 147, 156, 416, 450, 452, 455, 471

Yamato Damashi (Japanese fighting spirit), 444

Yamauchi, Takeo, 503, 507

Yamazaki, Yasuyo, 230

Yank, 98

Yano Battalion, Japanese, 183, 184

Yarbrough, Tom, 97

Yarnell, Harry E., 435

Yasukuni Shrine, 114

Yokaren pilot training program, 430, 431–32

Yokoi, Shoichi, 521–22

Yokosuka D4Y Suisei (“Judy”), 427–28

Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal, 428

Yomiuri, 529

Yonai, Mitsumasa, 208, 533, 534, 535, 536

Yorktown, USS (CV-5), xxvii, 7, 59, 326

Yorktown, USS (CV-10), 301, 323, 326, 339, 341, 368, 370, 371–72, 373, 377, 379, 381–82, 388, 404, 405, 478

in arrival at Pearl Harbor, 332

commissioning period of, 328–30

FM-1 Wildcat crash on, 372–73

sea trials of, 330

Young, Cassin, 161, 164

“Young Turks,” 324, 326

Yubari, 41, 46, 453

Yugumo, 234

Yunagi, 41

Yura, 147

Z, Operation, 368, 418

Zen-Gen Sakusen (attrition operations), 41–42

“Zero” (A6M) fighters, xxii, 187, 303

alterations to, 425

in Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 149–50

in dogfights with U.S. fighters, 31–34, 100–101

as obsolete, 424

strafing by, 101–2, 135

Zuiho, 149, 419

Zuikaku, 69, 82, 147, 149, 405, 419, 423, 428, 473, 486, 490–91

Zurlinden, Pete, 465