Podcast appearances and mentions of Craig Symonds

Recorded November 8, 2025We took Someone Talked! on the road to the Richmond, Virginia area for the 6th annual World War II Conference by America's History, LLC – capturing a series of interviews with authors, historians, and enthusiasts.In this episode, hear conversations with Craig Symonds and James Triesler.Special thanks to Bruce Venter, president of America's History, LLC. Visit americashistoryllc.com for information on future events.Email the Someone Talked! team at podcast@dday.org. Explore the National D-Day Memorial, plan your visit, and learn about upcoming events at dday.org.

The teenagers who made up the US Naval Academy class of 1940 arrived in Annapolis as boys on the eve of Hitler's aggression and graduated as Europe collapsed, only to find themselves thrust into every major front of World War II, from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay and Normandy. Renowned military historian Craig Symonds joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss the young men's sacrifice, loss, and extraordinary coming-of-age in history's deadliest conflict.Recorded on November 24, 2025

TAKING COMMAND OF A WRECKED FLEET Colleague Craig Symonds. Arriving at Pearl Harbor on Christmas 1941, Chester Nimitz faced the immediate task of bringing stability to a devastated command while the harbor was still burning. Selected by President Roosevelt, who knew him personally, Nimitz was chosen over the skepticism of Admiral Ernest King, who doubted Nimitz's toughness. While King viewed Nimitz as a "fixer" and manager rather than a warrior, Nimitz focused on rebuilding confidence. He privately expressed uncertainty to his wife but projected calm assurance to his subordinates, navigating early naval rivalries between aviators ("brown shoes") and ship drivers ("black shoes"). NUMBER 1 1945 OKINAWA

INTELLIGENCE AND CALCULATED RISK Colleague Craig Symonds. Nimitz employed the concept of "calculated risk"—weighing potential benefits against losses—to manage his inferior forces. Although he viewed the Doolittle Raid as a risky stunt, he allowed it to proceed. Relying on intelligence from Layton and Rochefort, Nimitzcommitted his remaining carriers to the Battle of the Coral Sea and Midway. When Admiral Halsey fell ill with a skin condition before Midway, Nimitz selected the quiet Raymond Spruance to command, a decision validated by victory. Following Midway, Nimitz quietly placed aviator Marc Mitscher in "escrow" after a misleading after-action report. NUMBER 2 1945 OKINAWA (CV-94 LUNGA POINT)

THE GUADALCANAL SHOESTRING AND COMMAND STRESS Colleague Craig Symonds. To preempt a Japanese airfield, King pushed for an offensive at Guadalcanal despite inadequate resources. Nimitz managed this "shoestring" operation while balancing the needs of his struggling subordinate, Admiral Ghormley, against King'sdemand for action. Amidst the stress, Nimitz found relief in a disciplined routine, power-walking ten miles daily and visiting the Walker family to escape office pressures. Meanwhile, King's animosity toward Admiral Fletcher grew, largely stemming from the loss of Wake Island and a perception that Fletcher was too concerned with fuel logistics. NUMBER 3 1945 OVER NSHS, OKINAWA

HALSEY'S AGGRESSION AND STRATEGIC DEBATES Colleague Craig Symonds. Fearing the loss of Guadalcanal, Nimitz replaced the cautious Ghormley with Bill Halsey, whose aggressive "Kill Japs" attitude boosted morale. While Nimitz valued Halsey's pugnacity for "cavalry charges," he recognized the risks of his temperament. Halsey surprisingly bonded with General Douglas MacArthur, despite the rivalry between the Navy's Central Pacificstrategy and the Army's push to return to the Philippines. This strategic divide required a summit with President Roosevelt in Hawaii to resolve whether to island-hop toward Formosa or support MacArthur's pledge to liberate the Philippines. NUMBER 4 1945 1ST MARINES.OKINAWA

AMPHIBIOUS LESSONS AND INTERNAL RIVALRIES Colleague Craig Symonds. The Central Pacific drive began with the bloody assault on Tarawa, revealing the difficulties of amphibious warfare against coral reefs and the temper of Marine General Holland "Howlin' Mad" Smith. Nimitz also managed friction with his deputy, John Towers, an aviator who believed only pilots should command carriers. Applying "calculated risk," Nimitz overruled subordinates to strike directly at Kwajalein in the Marshalls, a decision that proved successful. He also gave Marc Mitscher a second chance, allowing him to eventually become a legendary carrier commander despite Spruance'slingering reservations. NUMBER 5 1945 OKINAWA

THE TURKEY SHOOT AND THE WORLD WONDERS Colleague Craig Symonds. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Spruance prioritized protecting the Saipan beachhead, resulting in the "Turkey Shoot" that decimated Japanese air power but allowed enemy ships to escape. Later, at Leyte Gulf, the Japanese lured Halsey's Third Fleetaway with empty carriers, leaving the invasion force vulnerable. Nimitz, breaking his rule against interfering, sent a query asking the location of Task Force 34. Padding in the encrypted text added the phrase "the whole world wonders," which insulted Halsey and caused him to throw a tantrum during a critical hour of the battle. NUMBER 6 1945 OKINAWA

TYPHOONS, KAMIKAZES, AND UNFORGIVING WARFARE Colleague Craig Symonds. Halsey's aggression led to disaster when he twice steered the fleet into typhoons, causing significant loss of life and ships. Despite inquiries recommending Halsey's removal, Nimitz retained him to maintain public morale. The war grew grimmer with the invasion of Iwo Jima, where Marines felt unsupported by naval gunfire, and the emergence of Kamikaze suicide attacks off Okinawa. Nimitz, now based in Guam, observed the terrifying effectiveness of the Kamikazes, which he noted was the only wartime development the Naval War College had failed to anticipate. NUMBER 7 1945 OKINAWA FLAME THROWER DUGOUT

THE ATOMIC BOMB AND POST-WAR LEADERSHIP Colleague Craig Symonds. Nimitz and King believed a naval blockade could force Japan's surrender without a costly invasion, which they feared would result in millions of deaths. Nimitz was informed early about the atomic bomb to ensure it wouldn't interfere with operations. After the war, despite resistance from the aviation community and Secretary Forrestal, Nimitz served a two-year term as Chief of Naval Operations. Spruance, denied a fifth star in favor of Halsey, took the high road by leading the Naval War College, ensuring future officers learned from the Pacific war's lessons. NUMBER 8 1945 OKINAWA TEN YEAR OLD SURRENDERS WITH WHITE FLAG

4. The Aggressive Commander: Nimitz Appoints Bull Halsey AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Perceiving that Admiral Ghormley was too cautious and in poor health, Nimitz replaced him with Admiral William "Bull" Halsey to rescue the precarious situation at Guadalcanal. Nimitz knew Halsey's aggressive nature ("Kill Japs. Kill Japs. Kill more Japs.") and used him primarily for "cavalry charges," preferring Spruance for thoughtful planning. While Halsey's attack strategy led to some naval losses, Nimitz appreciated his belligerent approach against the Japanese strategy of attrition. Halsey and General Douglas MacArthur, co-commanders of separate theaters, met in Brisbane; MacArthur avoided a clash by charming Halsey to ensure cooperation. The strategic debate between MacArthur's South Pacific route to the Philippines and the Navy's preferred Central Pacific island-hopping campaign is introduced. 1911 USS MAINE IN HAVANA HARBOR

7. Kamikazes, Typhoons, and the Unstoppable Halsey AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Admiral Halsey recklessly navigated his fleet through two major typhoons (December 1944 and June 1945), causing severe losses including three ships sunk and 800 lives lost in the first storm. Despite recommendations for dismissal, Nimitz refused to fire Halsey, using calculated risk that removing the popular, iconic commander would negatively impact American morale. Nimitz moved his headquarters to Guam to be closer to the fighting. At Iwo Jima, Marine commanders argued the Navy provided inadequate preparatory gunfire, though the Japanese tactic of fighting to the death was the primary cause of casualties. During the Okinawa campaign, the Japanese introduced the terrifying Kamikaze tactic—the one element Nimitz noted the Naval War College had not anticipated. The Kamikazes inflicted horrific losses, but ultimately failed to force negotiations. 8. Blockade vs. Invasion: Ending the Pacific War and Post-War Command AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Nimitz and King opposed the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands (Operation Downfall), arguing that a strict naval blockade, executed primarily by submarines, combined with bombing, would force surrender. They calculated that an invasion would cost hundreds of thousands of American lives and millions of Japanese lives, given the culture of fighting to the death. Nimitz was informed about the secret development of a special weapon (the atomic bomb) in March 1945 to ensure targets were reserved. After the war ended, Nimitz was the logical candidate for Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), though he faced opposition from the aviation community (Towers). He accepted a two-year term as CNO. Admiral Spruance declined high command, instead choosing to become President of the Naval War College to teach future officers the lessons learned in the Pacific War.

6. Spruance vs. Halsey: Priorities at the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay During the Battle of the Philippine Sea ("Turkey Shoot") supporting the Marianas landings, Admiral Spruance prioritized protecting the Saipan beachhead. He refused Marc Mitscher's request to chase the Japanese fleet, resulting in the destruction of Japanese naval air power but generating resentment among aviators. The Battle of Leyte Gulf exposed Halsey's vulnerability to bait. The Japanese used their carriers as decoys to draw Halsey's Third Fleet north, allowing battleships to threaten the Leyte invasion force. Nimitz, hesitant to interfere, sent an inquiry asking, "Where's Task Force 34?" Halsey misinterpreted the message's padding, "The whole world wonders," as a rebuke, leading to a furious, hour-long sulk before he acted.

5. Tarawa, Towers' Rivalry, and the Kwajalein Calculated Risk AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay The Central Pacific campaign began with the bloody amphibious landing at Tarawa in November 1943. High casualties resulted from a neap tide stranding landing craft on a coral shelf, infuriating Marine General Holland "Howling Mad" Smith. Nimitz had to manage internal conflicts, including Deputy Commander Admiral John Towers, who was foisted upon him by King. Towers was difficult because he believed only aviators should hold carrier command, creating tension with black shoe officers like Nimitz and Spruance. Nimitz, believing in second chances, restored Marc Mitscher to a carrier command, against Spruance's wishes. Learning lessons from Tarawa's bloodshed, Nimitz applied a calculated risk by overriding his subordinates and attacking the main Japanese base at Kwajalein directly, succeeding quickly with minimal loss.

1. Nimitz Takes Command at Pearl Harbor: Manager vs. Fighter AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Chester Nimitz arrived at Pearl Harbor by seaplane on Christmas 1941 to take over a wrecked command, tasked with bringing stability and recovery. He was chosen by FDR and Secretary Knox, who knew him personally from his time as Bureau Chief of Naval Personnel. Admiral Ernest King, however, was initially skeptical, viewing Nimitz as a "fixer" or manager, doubting his toughness. Nimitz, despite private anxieties, maintained a calm, confident presence for his staff. A key irony is that Nimitz had previously suggested a more senior officer (Kimmel) take the Pacific Fleet command, saving himself from being the victim of the Japanese attack. The Navy's internal "brown shoes" (aviators) versus "black shoes" rivalry is also introduced. 1890 USS NAHUNT

3. Guadalcanal, Ghormley's Struggle, and Nimitz's Personal Management AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Despite the "Europe first" strategy, the success of Midway prompted King to push for an immediate offensive. The target shifted from the Santa Cruz Islands to Guadalcanal in August 1942 when news arrived that the Japanese were building an airfield there. This amphibious operation began "on a shoestring" with inadequate supplies. Nimitz managed the pressure by adhering to a routine, power walking up to 10 miles daily, and finding respite with the Walker family. Admiral Ghormley, commanding the operation from Noumea, struggled due to inadequate resources, illness, and excessive caution. Nimitz sympathized with Ghormley's dilemma but felt he needed to be more proactive. The segment also notes King's unjustified animosity toward Admiral Fletcher. 1905 DINNER WITH TR

2. Calculated Risk and Critical Intelligence: Setting the Stage for Midway AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Following the Pearl Harbor attack, Nimitz was urged by King to "Attack, attack, attack," despite inadequate resources. Nimitz applied his concept of calculated risk, developed at the Naval War College, assessing the benefit to be derived against the risk assumed. Nimitz viewed the Doolittle Raid as a "public relations stunt," but chose not to fight the scheme, even though it used 50% of his offensive carrier capability. Crucial to Nimitz's success was intelligence derived from Japanese radio traffic by Lieutenant Commander Joseph Rochefort's cryptanalysis group, relayed by Eddie Layton. Nimitz deployed forces for the Battle of the Coral Sea (the first battle where ships never sighted each other). For Midway, Nimitz replaced the ill Admiral Halsey with the quiet, non-aviator Raymond Spruance. Nimitz later temporarily relieved aviator Marc Mitscher for disguising a misstep in an after-action report.

8. Blockade vs. Invasion: Ending the Pacific War and Post-War Command AUTHOR: Professor Craig Symonds BOOK TITLE: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay Nimitz and King opposed the planned invasion of the Japanese home islands (Operation Downfall), arguing that a strict naval blockade, executed primarily by submarines, combined with bombing, would force surrender. They calculated that an invasion would cost hundreds of thousands of American lives and millions of Japanese lives, given the culture of fighting to the death. Nimitz was informed about the secret development of a special weapon (the atomic bomb) in March 1945 to ensure targets were reserved. After the war ended, Nimitz was the logical candidate for Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), though he faced opposition from the aviation community (Towers). He accepted a two-year term as CNO. Admiral Spruance declined high command, instead choosing to become President of the Naval War College to teach future officers the lessons learned in the Pacific War.

Craig Symonds, Professor Emeritus of History at the U.S. Naval Academy, discusses his latest book, Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval Academy Class of 1940 and its Trial by Fire in World War II.

James and Al castigate Trump for his attempt to militarize the Capitol, and call out his false claims about crime, and discuss how Democrats can make it a winning issue when the numbers are in their favor.  Then, they look ahead to upcoming elections before welcoming military historian Craig Symonds.  In the wake of Al's trip to Normandy, Craig and Al celebrate V-J Day, review the strategy that won the war, weigh the pros and cons of using the atomic bomb, explaining the difference between conventional and nuclear conflict, and call out the danger Trump poses to military education. Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you're from! Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial  More from James and Al: Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon. Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville Check Out Andrew Zucker's New Politicon Podcast: The Golden Age Check Out Kimberly Atkins Stohr's New Politicon Podcast: Justice By Design Get More From This Week's Guest:  Craig Symonds: U.S. Naval Academy | Audible | Author of Many Books Please Support Our Sponsors: Zbiotics: Get back into action after a night out with 15% off your first order of Zbiotics when you go to zbiotics.com/pwr and use code: PWR Miracle Made: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to TryMiracle.com/warroom and use the code WARROOM to claim your FREE 3-PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Trust & Will: Trust & Will can help you take control of protecting your family's future. Go to trustandwill.com/WARROOM for 20% off. 

In this episode, James interviews Dr. Craig Symonds, one of the world's leading naval historians and a Professor Emeritus of History at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Symonds has also taught at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England and the U. S. Naval War College. He is the author of 17 books, including The Battle of Midway, World War II at Sea, and Nimitz At War, the book under discussion. You will love Dr. Symonds' insights on Nimitz' role in guiding the U.S. effort in the Pacific War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome noted author and historian Craig Symonds to the show to discuss Craig's new book. Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval Academy Class of 1940 is an excellent read and this episode gives you a brief look at some of the grads who made an imprint on the Pacific side of the war. Craig is an amazing historian and it was an honor to have him with us as he goes through many of the stories of some of the USNA Class of 1940 grads who were at Pearl Harbor among others. #wwiihistory #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #rodserling #twilightzone #liberation #blacksheep #power #prisoner #prisonerofwar #typhoon #hurricane #weather #iwojima#bullhalsey #ace #p47 #p38 #fighter #fighterpilot #b29 #strategicstudying #tokyo #boeing #incendiary #usa #franklin #okinawa #yamato #kamikaze #Q&A #questions #questionsandanswers #history #jaws #atomicbomb #nuclear #nationalarchives #nara #johnford #hollywood #fdr #president #roosevelt #usnavy

Podcast Episode 211

Admiral James Stavridis discusses his latest book, The Admiral's Bookshelf. Published by the Naval Institute Press, it is third in a series following The Leader's Bookshelf and The Sailor's Bookshelf. He and host Stephen Phillips discuss works from Stavridis' collection that inspire, each connected to a theme. The books discussed include The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Nimitz at War by Craig Symonds, and Elements of Style, which suggests “Write with simplicity and precision” by William Strunk and E.B. White. 

Craig Symonds is the author of the book, Neptune: The Allied Invasion of Europe and the D-Day Landings. Craig is a Professor of History at the US Naval Academy. I want to learn from Craig about the unexpected challenges of the allied invasion at Normandy. And I want Craig to explain what distinguished the great allied generals on the battlefield.Our second speaker today will be with our What Happens Next Culture Critic Darren Schwartz. We are going to review the movie Patton that starred George C. Scott that won multiple Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Craig Symonds is the author of the book, Neptune: The Allied Invasion of Europe and the D-Day Landings. Craig is a Professor of History at the US Naval Academy. I want to learn from Craig about how US and British military planners conceived of the D-Day invasion, what equipment was required for this amphibious attack, and what the challenges were there against such a formidable foe. This podcast is a first of a two-part series with Craig on the war against the Germans.Our second speaker today will be with our What Happens Next Culture Critic Darren Schwartz. We are going to review Steven Spielberg's classic movie Saving Private Ryan about our invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

Craig Symonds is a Maritime History Professor at the US Naval Academy and the author of the book Nimitz at War. Get full access to What Happens Next in 6 Minutes with Larry Bernstein at www.whathappensnextin6minutes.com/subscribe

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK:  7/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment. 1941 USS HONOLULU

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK:  8/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment. 1941 USS OGLALA CAPSIZED

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK:  1/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1941 PEARL HARBOR

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK:  2/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1941 HICKAM FIELD PEARL HARBOR

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK:  3/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1941 PEARL HARBOR

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK: 4 /8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1941 PEARL HARBOR

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK:  5/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment. 1941 PEARL HARBOR

REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR AND THE FIGHT BACK:  6/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment. 1941 USS CALIFORNIA SINKING

PREVIEW: BULL HALSEY Colleague Craig Symonds examines Admiral Nimitz's decision to retain Halsey in command despite his risky choice to sail through an avoidable typhoon. More tonight. 1943 Admiral Halsey

PREVIEW: SYMONDS-DOOLITTLE RAID Colleague Professor Craig Symonds ("Nimitz at War") explains Admiral Chester Nimitz's strategic decision to commit two carriers, Enterprise and Hornet, to the high-risk Doolittle Raid following Pearl Harbor's impact on public morale. More later. 1945

Someone Talked! is the official podcast of the National D-Day Memorial.Craig Symonds, Professor of History Emeritus at the United States Naval Academy, returns to continue our discussion of Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay.Learn about the lesser-known mission, “Saving Lt. Plateck” as told by Corporal Herschel Brohinsky in our “We Salute You” segment.Explore the National D-Day Memorial, plan your visit, and learn about upcoming events at dday.org. This program was supported by a grant from Virginia Humanities.To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org. Email the Someone Talked! team at podcast@dday.org

Someone Talked! is the official podcast of the National D-Day Memorial.America's preeminent naval historian Craig Symonds joins our hosts to discuss his latest work, the first full-length portrait of Chester Nimitz in more than 50 years.In our “We Salute You” segment, hear the first-hand account of James Buchanan, a junior officer on Nimitz' staff.Explore the National D-Day Memorial, plan your visit, and learn about upcoming events at dday.org. This program was supported by a grant from Virginia Humanities.To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org. Email the Someone Talked! team at podcast@dday.org.

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 6/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1943 USS LEXINGTON (CV-16)

PREVIEW: #DOOLITTLE RAID: Conversation with Naval academy historia Craig Symonds, author of NIMITZ AT WAR, re Chester Nimitz's not voiced and not approving opinion of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities April, 1942. Much more later. TOKYO 1930

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 8/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment. 1945: USS ENTERPRISE  (CV-6) AT WAR'S END

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 7/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment. 1942 USS NEW MEXICO

PREVIEW: R: Conversation with historian Professor Craig Symonds, author NIMITZ AT WAR, of the last time Chester Nimitz saw FDR, Winter 1945 -- and how rocked he was by the president's visible decline. 1936 FDR

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 5/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1943 USS BROOKLYN

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 4/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1942 USS BOISE

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 3/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1942 HMAS HOBART

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 2/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment. 1912 USS WYOMING

SONS OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: 1/8: Nimitz at War: Command Leadership from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by  Craig L. Symonds https://www.amazon.com/Nimitz-War-Command-Leadership-Harbor-ebook/dp/B09Y64QMZT From America's preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Two. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds's Nimitz at War captures Nimitz's composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. As Symonds's absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment 1905 DEWEY LEADS THE NAVY LEADERSHIP TO DINNNER WITH TR --NIMITZ CLASS OF 1905 AT ANNAPOLIS

PREVIEW-PRESIDENTS-WEEKEND-#FDR: NAVY: #GUADALCANAL: From a conversation with Professor Emeritus of the Naval Academy Craig Symonds explaining the quandary for FDR's admirals in the early months of the Pacific War, with Admiral Robert Gormley struggling to maintain the Guadalcanal beachhead and Admiral Chester Nimitz sympathetic but candid that Gormley is not doing the job.  More of this on President's Weekend: Roosevelt's Navy. 1942 Japanese bomber (Kate)