Word: halseyisms
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Main Chance. As it must to all admirals in battle, the chance came to "Bull" Halsey at a moment when the big decision had to be made quickly and followed fearlessly. At that point the southernmost of the Jap's three prongs was thrusting east through Philippine waters toward Surigao Strait, south of the Leyte beachhead, while another was in a position to attack the beachhead from the north...
...then that Bull Halsey got news that a fast Jap carrier task force was steaming down along the eastern coast of Luzon, and that was Halsey's meat...
Without batting an eye, Halsey made his decision: to pull out the Third Fleet, whip north and destroy the carriers. That was what he did, swiftly and without hesitation. But the enemy still had a play up his sleeve. As Halsey turned north to battle, the center task force of the Japs reversed course and headed out again from the inner waters toward San Bernardino Strait. Seemingly the change was not detected by U.S. reconnaissance. By the time Halsey's aircraft and ships had smashed the Jap carrier group off Luzon, the San Bernardino Strait force had burst...
...carriers, which launched their planes, then gallantly fought with 5-inch guns while they ran a losing race to the south. The two destroyers and the destroyer escort piled in after the manner of their kind, launched torpedoes, got some hits, were sunk. But by this time part of Halsey's force had wheeled away from the northern battle and was tearing south again. Would it be in time to save the Leyte shipping from disaster...
...admiral had his problems, too. To the south the other arm of the pincers (through Surigao Strait) had been broken. Between him and escape in that direction lay Kinkaid's main force, unhurt and full of fight. And toward him from the north steamed Halsey with the most powerful force in the Pacific; Halsey's first planes were already thundering toward Leyte Gulf. The Jap admiral made his own quick decision: he turned and fled into San Bernardino Strait...