Figure 1.--Here we see Raymond Spruance at about 5-6 years of age wearung a sailor suit, a popular style at the time. He was a key American naval commander in the Pacific War, arguably anong, if not, the most under-appreciated commander of the War> He is often called the thinking man's admiral.

Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance was a key American naval commander in the Pacific War. He is arguably anong, if not, the most under-appreciated commander of the War, often called the thinking man's admiral. His parents had money problems and he was raised by three maiden aunts. From a young age, however, he refused to be molly-coddled. Like the other major American naval commanders, he was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He became a close asssociate of William 'Bull' Halsey, a mercurial commander who was the opposite of the cerebrial Spruance. He was a fervent member of the Navy's Big Gun Club. He commanded battleships before the War, prestige assignments. At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, he commanded cruisers protecting Admiral Haslsey's Enterprise carrier group. Spurance's faith in battleships was shattered after arriving at Pearl Harbor one day after the Japanese attack and seeing what aircraft could do to battleships. Spruance thus at the onset of the Pacific War commanded cruisers protecting the preciuous carriers and learned about carrier operations. Unexpectely because Admiral Halsey contracted shingles and bed-ridden. Halsey recommended Spruance to Adn. Nimitz as his replacement. A surprise apointmnt given Soruance's well-know membership in the Gun Club. Ninitz recognized Spruance's abilities, but did not see him as a carrier commander. It was only on the bassis of Halsey's recommendation that Spruance was given command of TF 16 (Enterprise and Hornet) at Midway. When Nimitz briefed him, he was stunded as to how much deatil was known about the on coming Japanese fleet--showing how closely held the ciode breaking secrets were. Spruance would play a key role in the American victory (June 1942). Both in staging the attack and the aftermath. He correctly threw everything at Nagumos carriers and after sinking them, drew back east out of range of Japanese surface units. Surprisingly, based on staus at the outstart of the War, Spruance became one of two primary American fleet commanders. The other was Halsey. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was the overall Pacific naval commander. The American fleet was alterantly maned the 3rd (Halsey) and 5th (Spruance) Fleet depending on who was in command. It was Spruance who oversae the major American island in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 1944). Admiral Halsey earned his laurels in the South Pacific where with inferior forces he successful precented the Japanese from using their superior forces to to retake Guadalanal. Sprance was a more measured commander with a better understanding of the strategic imperatives, demonstrated at both Midway and Saipan. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea he understood that Saipan was the major objective and correctrly held Mitchner's carriers back to protect the invasion force. Some critics called Spruance over cautious for withdrawing east at Midway and at Saipan for holding the carriers basck to protect the landing force, must to the duspleasure of the carrier commanders. Even Nimitz had questions. Sopruance's judgement was eventually condfirmed Halsey's focus on destroying the Japanese fleet led to falling for the Japanese Northern Force ruse in the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 1944). This very nearly resulted in disaster when he left the landing force unprotected. Unlike the better known figures of the Pacific War, MacArthur and Haslsey who set out to make names for thenmselves, Spruance held a fierce disdain for the press and believed that focusing on the press could lead to poor decuisions. As a result, only those interested in World War II have heard of Adm. Spruance today.

Created: 10:41 PM 11/12/2022
Last updated: 10:41 PM 11/12/2022