Many people get to study the history of the country and the
history of their family; most times those are studied separately. I have been lucky enough to have those two
combined. My family has been involved in
the United States Navy for generations.
Many members of my immediate and extended family have served in the
United States Navy, none of which are more well known the Fleet Admiral William
“Bull” Halsey.
William
Halsey grew up in a naval environment.
His father was even a captain in the U.S. Navy. Bull went on to attend the Naval Academy in
Annapolis and graduated in 1904 where he was assigned to the USS Missouri[1].
Bull was known for is strict no-nonsense approach which is what led him to
become such a great leader. He was
commander of quite a few battleships before becoming “famous” as Admiral of the
Pacific Fleet. He is most famous for his
time served as Admiral in World War II.
Bull led counter naval attacks against the Japanese as well as ground
invasions and recaptures.
William
was always known as a tough man, hence the nickname “Bull”, but he was not a
militaristic killer. Bull was against
the dropping of the atomic bomb. He once
said,
“The first atomic bomb was an unnecessary experiment…. It
was a mistake to ever drop it…. It killed a lot of Japs, but the Japs had put
out a lot of peace feelers through Russia long before.[2]”Dropping the atomic bomb was a very hard decision but if Admiral Halsey and other military leaders were against the dropping of the bomb, should Truman have done it? In my humble opinion, the answer is no. With Russia ready to invade from the west and Japan ready to surrender, I feel as if it was unnecessary. I will stick with my ancestor’s analysis.
I Just though the song was a cool addition!.
[1] http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq36-5.htm
[2]
Oliver Stone, and Peter Kuznick, The
Untold History of the United States, (New York: Gallery Books, 2012), 177
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