How They Won the War in the Pacific: Nimitz and His Admirals [Paperback]

Edwin P. Hoyt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

A meticulous study of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the principal architect of victory in the Pacific during World War II.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Full of meat for Pacific battle and campaign buffs and essential for research libraries."-- Choice

From the Back Cover

This meticulous study is a concentrated look at Naval Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and his subordinate leaders - fighting men under stress - and the relationship of fighting admirals to their top leaders and each other. 'The Patton of the Pacific,' Bull Halsey could win a battle; ascetic and cultivated Raymond Spruance could win a campaign; but Chester W. Nimitz, the quiet but dauntless battler form the banks of the Pedernales River, could win a war. And the way he did win that war in the Pacific is the center of this excellent and absorbing biography of naval operations and of men in command relationships. How They Won The War In The Pacific covers, at length or briefly, many leaders, including the top fighting ones afloat and ashore, and shows Admiral Chester W. Nimitz as history will record him - as the wise, calm tower of strength in adversity and success, the principal architect of victory in the Pacific during World War II. (6 X 9, 592 pages, b&w photos, maps)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585741485
• ISBN-13: 978-1585741489
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #951,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Story of America's Greatest Admiral and his Men, February 23, 2005

By 

Jeffrey T. Munson (Dixon, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How They Won the War in the Pacific: Nimitz and His Admirals (Paperback)

After the Pearl Harbor disaster, President Roosevelt decided to relieve Admiral Husband Kimmel of his Pacific Fleet command. Many thought that Kimmel was made out to be a scapegoat and did not deserve to be relieved, but Roosevelt felt that a new commander was needed to lift America out of the ashes of Pearl harbor and begin the road to ultimate victory. The man chosen for the task was Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

Nimitz was chosen over many higher-ranking officers, but in the end, Nimitz proved to be the perfect choice to lead the American Navy. Blessed with a keen sense of fairness to his fellow man, this fine book examines Nimitz and his admirals and how they ultimately won the war in the Pacific.

Although Nimitz was considered a "calm tower of strength" and the principal architect of victory in the Pacific, he could not have accomplished this feat alone. His choices of supporting staff members and Admirals are the ones who, in the end, helped win the war for the United States.

This book examines many of Nimitz' Admirals, but four really stand out above the rest: Ray Spruance, Bill Halsey, Kelly Turner, and Marc Mitscher. Halsey was the fire and brimstone commander who fearlessly took on the Japanese in the early days of the war. He also said that after he was finished, the only place where the Japanese language would be spoken was in hell. Spruance was the antithesis of Halsey. Calm and cerebral, Spruance endeared himself to Nimitz with his careful consideration of the task at hand. It was said that Halsey could win a battle, but Spruance could win a campaign. Turner was cut from the same mold as Halsey. Fearless and intimidating, even to a fault, Turner was the architect of the brilliant amphibious landings of the war. Meanwhile, Mitscher was in charge of the fast carriers and endeared himself to his fliers by lighting up his entire force's lights to help bring the boys home after a nighttime raid against the Japanese. In the end, it was Nimitz' use of these important men that ultimately won the war for the United States.

This book, written by historian Edwin P. Hoyt, does a fine job of explaining the transition of the U.S. Navy from a weakened and busted fleet early in the war to the offensive juggernaut that it became by the time of Japan's surrender. Each important naval battle is discussed, and the role of Nimitz and his commanders is explained. Form the dark days of January 1942 to the ultimate victory in September 1945, Nimitz' navy fought the Japanese tooth and nail, and, more often than not, came out on top. The book also discusses the inter-service rivalries that existed between the Army and Navy, as well as the rise of the "young turks", or the Naval Aviator Flag Officers. I recommend this book very highly. It does a very good job of explaining Nimitz' role in the Pacific war, as well as that of his commanders. Read it and learn about one of the greatest commanders and leaders our country has ever had.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not very informative, March 10, 2002

By 

David N. Thielen (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How They Won the War in the Pacific: Nimitz and His Admirals (Paperback)

The U.S. command in the pacific theater is one of the most underreported of the war. And yet this command was the most innovative of any command of any power in WWII. They invented a totally new type of warfare and quickly learned to execute it exceptionally well.

And they also made do with so little, winning Midway and holding Guadacanal by the skin of their teeth. The ability to know exactly where to fight and how is an incredible story.

Does this book get that? Yes, some of it. But for a book that revolves around this, it gets suprisingly little. The U.S. submarine fleet sunk half the Japanese ships and basically isolated Japan from it's raw material sources. Yet it's not mentioned in this book.

Add to that no real mention of how the Navy learned to develop amphibious warfare and to combine that with strong carrier support. And what you are left with is another book that just goes through the main battles of the pacific war, with a bit more emphasis on the admirals in charge.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nimitz and his admirals, January 8, 2001

By 

Edward Scott (Broad Run, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How They Won the War in the Pacific: Nimitz and His Admirals (Paperback)

Excellent detailed review of WW II in the Pacific with all the personalities and "backstabbing" of the commanders that went on.Much of the details were not released to the media at the time. Many of the leaders mentioned went on to become the Chief of Naval Operations later on. I had the privelege of calling on Nimitz and his wife in 1963 and he related the story of his ship grounding detailled in the book. This book was "released" in 1970. Why is it so late (2000) in being published? Would loved to have read it before meeting Nimitz and his son.Could have used more maps of some of the places being discussed.