William Frederick Halsey, Jr. Quotes (7 quotes)

William Frederick Halsey, Jr.: 7 quotes0 likes

Famous William Frederick Halsey, Jr. Quotes

“I'll take it! If anything gets in my way, we'll shoot first and argue afterwards.”

On taking responsibility for the war, as quoted in Joseph Bryan, Admiral Halsey's story (1947), p. 76.

“Never before in the history of warfare has there been a more convincing example of the effectiveness of sea power than when, despite this undefeated, well armed, and highly efficient army, Japan surrendered her homeland unconditionally to the enemy without even a token resistance. The devastation wrought by past bombings plus the destruction of the atomic bombs spelled nothing less than the extinction of Japan. The bases from which these attacks were launched- Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa- were to have been the spring boards for the mightiest sea-borne invasion yet conceived by man. The "fighting fleets" of the United States which had made possible every invasion victory for America were ready and waiting. The Japanese had two alternatives; to fight and face destruction, or to surrender. The Imperial Japanese Empire chose to surrender.”

William Frederick Halsey, Jr.

Battle Stations! Your Navy in Action (1946), "The Surrender of Japan", p. 360

“Before we're through with them, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell.”

William Frederick Halsey, Jr.

Remark in December 1941, after the attack of Pearl Harbor, as quoted in Roger Parkinson, Attack on Pearl Harbour (1973), p. 117; James Bradley, Flyboys (2004), p. 138.

“There are no great men, there are only great challenges, which ordinary men like you and me are forced by circumstances to meet.”

William Frederick Halsey, Jr.

Quoted in the Congressional Record, 11 December 1971 http://books.google.com/books?id=ltuwtwQcKHwC&q=%22There+are+no+great+men+there+are%22+%22only+great+challenges+which+ordinary+men+like+you+and+me+are++forced+by+circumstances+to+meet%22&pg=PA46480#v=onepage.

“Kill Japs, kill Japs, kill more Japs!”

William Frederick Halsey, Jr.

Reported in James Bradley, Flyboys (2004), p. 138; Thomas Evans, Sea of Thunder (2006), p. 1; Paul Fussell, Wartime (1990), p. 119.

“Missing the Battle of Midway has been the greatest disappointment of my career, but I am going back to the Pacific where I intend personally to have a crack at those yellow bellied sons of bitches and their carriers.”

William Frederick Halsey, Jr.

Speech at the Naval Academy, as quoted in James C. Bradford, Quarterdeck and Bridge: Two Centuries of American Naval Leaders (1997), p. 350.

“This is Blackjack himself. Your work so far has been superb. I expect even more. Keep the bastards dying!”

William Frederick Halsey, Jr.

Source: Admiral Halsey's Story (1947), p. 242