destroyers” (USS Washington, “Action Report,” 9). However, the extent of damage to the Preston suggests that ordnance much heavier than five-inch hit her. “Bodily out of the water”: USS Walke, “Report of Surface Engagement with Japanese Forces, November 15, 1942,” 2. “Get after ’em, Washington!”: Musicant, Battleship, 122. Damage to and withdrawal of Benham: USS Benham, “Report of Action,” 3–4. Power failure in South Dakota: USS South Dakota, “Action Report,” 5, 12. Sinking of Ayanami: Lundgren, “The Battleship Action,” 12, fn. 11, citing postwar interview with Cdr. Eiji Sakuma. “Our turret commander”: Claypool, God on a Battlewagon, 17. Damage to South Dakota: USS South Dakota, “Action Report,” 14; USS South Dakota, “Report of Gunfire Damage, Battle of Guadalcanal, 14–15 November 1942”; Backus interview, 141, 159. “At such times”: Claypool, God, 18. “Body-punching range”: Musicant, Battleship, 126. “Throwing fourteen-inch”: Backus interview, 153–154. Some naval historians consider the Washington’s duel with the Kirishima a foregone conclusion in favor of the U.S. ship. However, according to calculations by the naval weapons engineer Nathan Okun, at this close range the Washington’s twelve-inch armor belt was susceptible to penetration by a Japanese Type 91 armor-piercing projectile. The Washington’s sixteen-inch fire, in turn, had enough force to penetrate the Kirishima’s ten-inch belt, pass through the ship, and penetrate the belt on the other side going out, assuming the warhead did not detonate (Okun email to author, March 8, 2010). “I was amazed”: Musicant, Battleship, 126. “There is another ship” and “Kirishima is totally obscured”: Lundgren, “The Battleship Action,” 18. “Functioned as smoothly as”: ComBatDiv 6 (Lee), “Report of Night Action, Task Force 64, November 14–15, 1942,” 8. “At least ten hits were made”: Sanji Iwabuchi’s report. “They must have been mighty close”: Musicant, Battleship, 128. “We couldn’t make way”: Iwabuchi report. “If you can see anything”: USS Washington, “Action Report,” 10. Damage to Washington: ComBatDiv 6 (Lee), “Report of Action,” Encl. C, 2; USS Washington, “Action Report,” 36. Sinking of Kirishima: Lundgren, “The Battleship Action,” 24. “My men fought well”: Iwabuchi report. “I am not effective”: ComBatDiv 6, “Report,” Encl. C, 3–4. “This probably saved the battleships”: COMINCH, “Battle Experience: November 1942,” 30–42. “In breaking up”: ComBatDiv 6, “Report,” 7. “War was declared”: Musicant, Battleship, 137. “Our battleships are neither”: ComBatDiv 6, “Report,” 8. “How are all the experts”: Hoyt, How They Won the War in the Pacific, 187. Reinforcements landed: Morison, The Struggle for Guadalcanal, 285; Frank, Guadalcanal, 490.
38: The Kind of Men Who Win a War
“This ruled out any further sleep”: McKinney, CL-51 Revisited, 60–61. “Some of them were”: Heyn, “One Who Survived,” unpaginated. George Sullivan’s end: Satterfield, We Band of Brothers, 152–157. “Men like you”: Schonland interview 1, 50. Chick Morris at Nouméa: Morris, The Fightin’est Ship, 101–104. “Despite this officer’s”: Halsey manuscript, 395–396. “Reluctantly, I concurred”: Halsey, Admiral Halsey’s Story, 134. Rescue of Juneau survivors: Hartney, “The Story of the Juneau,” 11–12; Spruance to King, “Solomon Islands Campaign—Battle of the Solomons, 11–15 November 1942,” 12. “Efforts consistent”: Cdr. A. C. Jacobs, USNR, to Mr. J. S. Taylor, July 27, 1944, NARA. “It was lonely indeed”: Ugaki, Fading Victory, 278. “By his daring” and “the behavior of”: Turner to Halsey, November 16, 1942 (1038). “Speaking for the Navy”: Knox to Halsey, November 17, 1942 (1434). “My deep thanks”: Halsey to Knox, November 18, 1942 (1140). “We have admiration”: Nimitz to Halsey, November 15, 1942 (0103). “We believe the enemy”: Vandegrift to Halsey, November 15, 1942 (0318). “During the past two weeks”: Sherwood, Roosevelt and Hopkins, 656.
39: On the Spot
“Step closer, son”: Bennett, www.usssanfrancisco.org/Bennet%20Jack%20CAPT.htm. “No sooner had the repair team” and “I wish I could recall”: Calhoun, Tin Can Sailor, 101–102. “After