Down to the Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster and Heroism in World War ll
Admiral William “Bull” Halsey, USN, remains one of the most revered naval officers of the Second World War. He was a highly skilled professional famous more for his iron will and stubbornness than for any intrinsic genius in strategy and tactics. While he led his battle fleets to numerous victories over the Imperial Japanese Navy he was also responsible for amazing blunders at the Battle of Leyte Gulf and in the face of a typhoon in the Pacific. The former is well known to historians; most are still unaware of the latter. Bruce Henderson has constructed a history of Halsey’s stupidity in leaving his Third Fleet squarely in the face of a deadly typhoon rather than taking the prudent tack of moving to safety. In doing so he has written a long-delayed epitaph for the 756 officers and men from the USS Hull, USS Monaghan, and the USS Spence as well as seamen from the other 28 warships damaged.
