Decision and dissent

In October 1944, the author of this book, Carl Solberg, was serving in the Pacific as a young air combat intelligence officer on Admiral William F. Halsey's flagship, New Jersey, as three Japanese fleets converged on the Philippines for one of the largest and most complex naval battles of World War II.

As Solberg recalls in this compelling memoir, the Japanese Navy's master plan for repelling American invasions had just been captured, translated, copied, and interpreted - but we know now not fully understood. Reportedly, Admiral Halsey had seen the document and ignored it. Solberg explains that his roommate, Lt. Harris Cox, pored over the plan for several nights and with Solberg suddenly came to realize what the enemy's big surface ships were up to at Leyte.

. The two young intelligence officers urgently tried to warn the admiral on the night of 24 October that by going north after the Japanese carriers he was doing exactly what the enemy wanted him to do. But Halsey had already retired for the night and their message never got through to him. Had it been heeded, their warning might have had a significant impact on the battle.

This book offers new insights into the events that led to Halsey's controversial decision to send Task Force 34 north and provides a better understanding of what happened that night.