Halsey, William

Halsey, William “Bull” (Frederick) (1882–1959) naval officer; born in Elizabeth, N.J. He served on the USS Kansas during the world cruise of the battle fleet (1907–09), commanded destroyers in World War I, and was the naval attaché at several European embassies (1922–24). He was promoted to rear admiral (1938) and vice-admiral (1940). In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, he led the first offensives in the Pacific. He escorted the USS Hornet which brought Captain James Doolittle's B-52 squadron to within striking distance of the Japanese mainland (1942). He led the South Pacific force in the crucial naval battle of Guadalcanal (1942) and was promoted to admiral. He worked in tandem with General Douglas MacArthur, following the strategy of "island hopping." He was commander of the Third Fleet (1944–45) and began preparations for an assault on the Japanese mainland (1945). He became a fleet admiral (1945).