Book Review HIWD555
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Liberty University *
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Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by cgholl76
The book, The Battle of Midway
by Craig L. Symonds is a book that attempts to tell the detailed story of one of the most important battles of World War II,
The Midway Battle. The author begins his book by taking the reader back to December 25, 2941, when Admiral Chester Nimitz visited Pearl Harbor and began to plan America’s counterattack from the destruction Japan brought to
Pearl Harbor.
1
Symonds acquaints his reader with Admiral Nimitz as a man and a leader. Symonds spends time reviewing the hours prior to the attack, from Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox assuring leaders at a dinner party that although war was imminent in the South Pacific, the United States Navy was ready and would never be caught by surprise.
2
72 hours later, Pearl Harbor happened, and there was no explanation available as to why the Navy was not ready. Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts decided Admiral Kimmel and General Walter T. Short of the US Army were in dereliction of duty as it pertains to the attack on Pearl Harbor. Admiral Nimitz had been ordered to Command Pearl Harbor since keeping Admiral Husband Kimmel as commander after the attack was no longer possible. Symonds goes into great detail discussing the losses that occurred as a result of the attack on Peral Harbor, and how Admiral Nimitz responded to the losses in order to recover the Navy and develop a counter attack. Symonds brought his readers back in history some when he reviewed details of Plan Orange, which
was originally developed in 1911, and consisted of a detailed plan for the US to go to war with Japan.
3
War with Japan was something the United States 1
Symonds, Craig L. (2011). The Battle of Midway, xiii
.
2
Ibid, 8.
3
Symonds, Craig L. (2011). The Battle of Midway, 32
had predicted far before Pearl Harbor. In the 1930’s, the Hitler-era Vinson Trammel Act called for countries to build up their weaponry, and the United States was one of them.
4
It was noted those weapons would not be completed until late 1942 or early 1943. As dynamics around the world changed, so did America’s plan for war with countries that were showing a tendency to be aggressive. By 1940 Germany joined the list with Japan. Symonds reviewed details of the Japanese attack, to include the mastermind behind the plan, Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku. Reviewing personal attributed that likely contributed to the type of commander he was, Symonds points out
that at 5 foot 3 inches, Admiral Isoroku was a dare devil and show off of sorts.
5
As Japan’s government became more under the Army’s influence, Admiral Isoroku became resentful and intent on changing direction. Symond’s outlines the next several years of treaties, pacts, and policies – to include the Tripartite Pact, which was signed in 1940.
6
For Admiral Isoroku that meant war with the United States was inevitable, and he had a duty to prepare the Japanese military for it. This ultimately marked the beginning of war between Japan and the United States. The overall planning of preparing Japan’s Navy is discussed in great detail here, as Admiral Isoroku teamed with Lieutenant Genda Minoru and others to structure the Navy to win the war with the United States.
7
This plan, consisting of planes, ships, and pilots was ultimately referred to as Kido Butai, which translates to “mobile force”. 4
Ibid, 19
5
Ibid, 26
6
Ibid, 31
7
Symonds, Craig L. (2011). The Battle of Midway, 32
Japan mistakenly failed to complete their mission, and although they were successful in wounding the US Navy, they did not destroy it. Admiral Isoruku was left feeling frustrated, but went forward with then hitting the Philippines,
the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Java.
8
Symonds details where the US Navy’s ships were on December 7, 1941, allowing them to be spared that morning. He also dives deeper into the impact had they all been in harbor as the Japanese assumed. As a result of Pearl Harbor, Admiral Nimitz put together three tasks forces to keep the United States protected from a follow-up attack. A lot of detail was given regarding the makeup and potential of what was referred to as the “brown shoe Navy”, which was comprised of 70% of inexperienced personnel.
9
Although inexperienced, the Sailors were confident and performed their jobs without concern. As Admiral Nimitz struggled to decipher what his options were with limited resources, Symonds takes the reader along the political implications of each option. Holding Hawaii may put pressure on the relationship between the United States and Australia due to affecting supply lines. The decision was made to use two task forces and attack Japan, which was done on January 23, 1942. Detailing the attacks, it was apparent they were fast and damaging; the biggest highlight being the takedown of a Kawanishi flying boat named Emily.
10
Although damaging, it was not effective. Japan felt they were still succeeding in its mission and felt they were in a position to make negotiation demands with the United States. 8
Ibid, 43
9
Ibid, 63
10
Symonds, Craig L. (2011). The Battle of Midway,
69
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Symonds outlines the details of such demands and the refusal by the United States to meet them. As Japan thought of how to deal with America, Midway became an ideal attack location, as it was thought America would send its fighters there to defend it, and Japan would then have another opportunity to
destroy the United States Navy. The battle plan was presented to Emperor Hirohito on April 16, 1942 for final approval, however 2 days later the United States arrived in Tokyo. Symonds profiled several military members in this book that played a significant role in Pearl Harbor, and the Battle of Midway. It was an important
aspect to give faces to names and for the reader to know who the men were that contributed so much to America’s defense from Japan. Some were those
who flew planes, drove ships, and manned guns – and others were those whose job it was to break the Japanese codes sent amongst themselves. Named the Combat Intelligence Unit, they were tasked with intercepting and decoding messages sent by the Japanese in an effort to stay one step ahead of them.
11
Symonds did a great job with telling the tedious story of how codes were broken. Their journey through decoding messages as Japan was continuing to plan was fascinating. It was the breaking of coding that lead the US Navy to the Coral Sea. Reviewing the battle of the Coral Sea on May 7, 1943, Symonds highlights details that lead to the sinking of Japanese ship Shoho.
12
Unfortunately the United States lost more, with the loss of the Lexington
, Neosho
, and Sims
, as
11
Symonds, Craig L. (2011). The Battle of Midway, 133
12
Ibid, 165
well with damage to Yorktown
. Symonds noted historians consider Coral Sea as a tactical victory for Japan and a strategic victory for America.
With the ultimate target being Midway, the United States proceeded with the
realization and acceptance of having to deal with that. On May 29, 1943 the US Navy lined up in open waters at a point dubbed “Point Luck”, to await Japanese forces. The Japanese decided to begin their strike in the Aleutians on June 3, in hopes America would send ships to assist, only to be surprised. Intelligence worked well for America and Symonds takes his readers through details of how America showed its force. June 4, 1943 was opening day of the
Battle of Midway. The first day of Midway brought a regroup from Japan, disaster amongst John Waldron’s torpedo squadron, and a loss of 37 of the 41 torpedo planes launched. To their credit, it prevented Japan from launching their own air crew, and America responded with dive bombers from Yorktown. The result was the destruction of Japan’s ships Kaga, Akagi and Soryu. Symonds details Japan’s counter-attack that included the attack on the Yorktown and the United State’s rebuttal with the attack on Japan’s Hiryu. Japan remained steadfast and elected to attack one final time, which lead to the destruction of Mogami and Mikuma. All in all, it was a battle until the very end, and one in which Japan was reluctant to lose. Symonds overall description of not only battles, but the servicemen behind them was wonderfully written. He brings his reader into the story in an effort to bring the history to them.