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

by Edwin P. Hoyt, Rear Admiral E. M. Eller

This meticulous study is a concentrated look at naval admiral Chester W. Nimitz and his subordinate leaders—military men under stress—and the relationship of fighting admirals to their top leaders and one another. Bull Halsey, “the Patton of the Pacific,” could win a battle; ascetic and cultivated Raymond Spruance could win a campaign; but Chester W. Nimitz, the quiet but dauntless battler from 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 many leaders, including the top fighting ones afloat and ashore, and it shows Admiral 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.

Genres: World War II, History, Nonfiction, War, Military History

528 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

Edwin P. Hoyt was a prolific American writer who specialized in military history. He was born in Portland, Oregon to the publisher Edwin Palmer Hoyt (1897–1979) and his wife, the former Cecile DeVore (1901–1970). A younger brother, Charles Richard, was born in 1928. Hoyt attended the University of Oregon from 1940 to 1943.

In 1943, Hoyt's father, then the editor and publisher of The Oregonian, was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as the director of the Domestic Branch, Office of War Information. The younger Hoyt served with the Office of War Information during World War II, from 1943 to 1945. In 1945 and 1946, he served as a foreign correspondent for The Denver Post (of which his father became editor and publisher in 1946) and the United Press, reporting from locations in China, Thailand, Burma, India, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and Korea.

Edwin Hoyt subsequently worked as an ABC broadcaster, covering the 1948 revolution in Czechoslovakia and the Arab-Israeli conflict. From 1949 to 1951, he was the editor of the editorial page at The Denver Post. He was the editor and publisher of the Colorado Springs Free Press from 1951 to 1955, and an associate editor of Collier's Weekly in New York from 1955 to 1956. In 1957 he was a television producer and writer-director at CBS, and in 1958 he was an assistant publisher of American Heritage magazine in New York.

Starting in 1958, Hoyt became a writer full-time, and for a few years (1976 to 1980) served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Hawaii. In the 40 years since his first publication in 1960, he produced nearly 200 published works.

While Hoyt wrote about 20 novels (many published under pseudonyms Christopher Martin and Cabot L. Forbes) the vast majority of his works are biographies and other forms of non-fiction, with a heavy emphasis on World War II military history.

Hoyt died in Tokyo, Japan on July 29, 2005, after a prolonged illness. He was survived by his wife Hiroko, of Tokyo, and three children, Diana, Helga, and Christopher, all residing in the U.S.

Reviews

[Davis Farnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed examination of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the war in the pacific. Background on how Chester Nimitz created a team that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a selfless style that contrasted with the glory hound Douglas MacArthur.

Pretty dry at times with discussions of logistics and supply challenges but the insight into the battles of Midway, Guadalcanal, etc. was gripping reading especially regarding the personalities of different Admirals and how they accomplished so much under very difficult circumstances. More for the history buff but a different perspective especially on how they were planning to invade Japan before the atomic bomb was utilized.

[Charles Inglin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reprint of a book originally published in 1970. It's still relevant and a valuable resource for students of the war in the Pacific, largely for the author's focus on Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Nimitz himself would be the first to discount any description of him as the "indispensable man," and there really is no such thing as an indispensable man. But Nimitz came very close to achieving that status. If nothing else, he was clearly the right man in the right job in the right place at the right time. This book could almost be titled "How Nimitz Won the War in the Pacific."

Nimitz was the consummate professional naval officer. He never let his ego or emotions affect his judgment. He was intensely loyal to the Navy, his superiors and his subordinates and expected the same from them. He knew how to delegate and how to get the best performance from his admirals. He never lost sight of the overall mission, to defeat Japan. He had to be an extraordinary personality to deal with the famously hot-tempered, irascible Admiral Ernest King, his superior, and strong willed admirals reporting to him, like WIlliam Halsey, Richmond Kelly Turner, Ray Spruance, and Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith, frequently feuding with the Army. Additionally, he had to work with the supreme egotist of the US military, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. By the end of the war Nimitz was controlling an enormous organization, stretching from the Aleutians, across the Pacific to the Philippines and Okinawa. The fact that it all worked is a testimony to Nimitz's skill.

Of particular interest, the author spends a considerable amount of time going over the numerous meetings held to determine how to proceed. Meetings and the staff work they initiate are critical to the success of operations and seldom seem to get much attention from historians. It was interesting to see how decisions were formed from different and sometimes vociferously held opposing positions.

[Peter Colasante · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book, however, I had some issues with the amount of names inserted. It was difficult to follow when so many high ranking officers were mentioned at the same time. I understand the complexity of WWII in the Pacific, but it was hard to keep track of the prinicpal players.

[Dan Cowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a high-level look at the Second World War in the Pacific, particularly the Central Pacific campaign spearheaded by Chester Nimitz & the US Navy. While MacArthur's Southwest Pacific campaign is mentioned in passing, little detail is provided, even on the naval figures involved. This book doesn't get into the nitty-gritty of how particular battles turned out (though it does provide rough summaries). Instead, it focuses much more on the personalities involved, how Nimitz used his subordinates where there own personalities would either be of greatest value or of least trouble (sometimes these were even the same).

Thus Hoyt covers why Nimitz entrusted more authority for campaigns in Spruance than Halsey, while still pointing out that Halsey's command in the South Pacific during the dark days of Guadalcanal was absolutely critical, and probably no one else would have succeeded as brilliantly as Halsey, as what was needed there was not a thinking Admiral so much as a Fighting one, and Halsey would dependably fight. Whether or not he should have.

Each of the major admirals detailed (Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance) is given a moderate biographical sketch around the time they are introduced. The book is not a biography, but these sketches are used to provide some depth to the personalities. Those who have already consumed dedicated biographies of these admirals will learn nothing new; those who have only read histories will likely pick up something they didn't know before. A number of the lesser-known personalities (Fletcher, Turner, H.M. Smith, Mitscher, Towers) have much smaller biographical sketches, as they typically played a much smaller role in the high-level dealings Hoyt covers in this work.

Just as important to the prosocution of the war as the battles at sea were the fights in Washington, and political machinations makes up a surprisingly large part of the book. Whether black shoe vs brown shoe debates, or Central Pacific vs South Pacific, or Okinawa vs Formosa, a lot of policy issues make it into this book, befitting the strategic-level view throughout most of the work.

All in all, a worthy entry in the field of Pacific War history. Likely too dry for the casual reader, and not sufficiently detailed for the serious student, this book fits in a middle ground. If someone is looking for ideas on what to study in more detail, this book will likely provide a beginning to a topic which can be researched in greater depth elsewhere.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very insightful. Basically, a narrative discussion of how senior US admirals got along in the Pacific. There are potted bios of a few of the biggest names. There isn't a whole lot of discussion of overall strategy, much less how it was actually set. The discussion is more oriented towards how specific battles were fought. Finally, Hoyt finds it very hard to make substantive criticisms of anybody. Halsey's impetuousness in hightailing it after the Japanese carriers in 10/44 is noted, but not much is made of it, and the negligence in nobody noticing the loss of the *Indianapolis* isn't picked up on at all (the outrageous court martial of the captain is mentioned as if that's the only relevant fact). Overall, the book would be okay if you're more interest in "who and what" than "why and how". I found it lame.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hoyt writes two kinds of books. Some are the compilation of veteran accounts combine to paint the big picture the way John Toland or Cornelius Ryan do. The other type as complete an outline and catalog of events told in an almost matter of fact way. This is more like a catalog of events. You will learn how Nimitz conducted the war and the comanders both above and below him that he worked with.

[JJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good book but not great. Interesting perspective on the war in the pacific from the highest level with fitting antidotes. However, editing seemed poor and multiple typos were distracting. Good professional reading on staff work for any professional officer.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I knew next to nothing about WWII in the Pacific. I did visit the Nimitz museum in Fredricksburg TX years ago and wondered how a great seaman could come from the middle of Texas! And I knew a bit about MacArthur. This book made it all come alive to me.

[Chad]

A great study of how Nimitz oversaw one of the most complex organizational challenges in the history of modern warfare. If you didn't have respect for him before reading this, you're almost sure to at least greatly appreciate what he accomplished afterward.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sort of "Nimitz's Lieutenants." A portrait of the war in the Pacific through the actions of Nimitz's staff and subordinates.