I was always interested in World War 2, particularly the Pacific theater. I remember reading an old comic book my grandfather bought me that was basically a quick recap of the whole war. One of the things that most intrigued me was the Battle of Midway. It's one of the few times in US history where we were the underdogs. It also had many amazing components: The cracking of the code, the gutsy decision to meet the Japanese with an inferior force, the superior tactics of the American commanders, and the string of lucky incidents that led to victory.

One of the stories often left out is that of Admiral Raymond Spruance. A cruiser/destroyer commander with no flight training, he was selected to lead one of two American task forces into the battle. While he did not have tactical command, his decisions throughout the battle, particularly at the end, were largely responsible for the American victory.

Despite this, Spruance still had many skeptics. Most of them were aviators who did not like the idea of a non-aviator commanding a carrier. Admiral Nimitz believed in him, though and selected Spruance to command the largest fleet in Naval History. Spruance led the drive across the Pacific and won battle after battle including Tarawa, Iwo Jima, and the Philippines Sea. His precise planning was crucial to the success of the United States in the Pacific.

Unfortunately, very little is known about Admiral Spruance and his record. Partly that is because he was a very quiet and modest man. He disliked dealing with the press and the few occassions where he was forced to were fairly awkward. Also, Admiral Halsey was a much more public figure due to his robust personality and willingness to deal with the press. Despite a very mixed record, Halsey got most of the credit and acclaim. Buell's biography thankfully sets the record straight. It correctly portrays the heroic figure that Spruance was, but is also very willing to dole out some criticism.

As with a typical biography, The Quiet Warrior starts with Spruance's early years which possibly sheds some light on what made the man. He had a very distant relationship with his parents and spent much of his youth with relatives. He would have a similar, but perhaps not quite as distant relationship with his own family.

After graduation from the Naval Academy, Spruance took part in the Great White Fleet tour along with contemporaries such as Nimitz and Halsey. He worked his way up the chain of command until he was placed in command of all cruisers in Halsey's Task Force 16. Despite their contrasting styles, Halsey greatly respected Spruance. When Halsey was sick just before the Battle of Midway, it was his recommendation that was mostly responsible for Spruance being selected as the replacement. Spruance's victory in this pivotal battle brought him considerable recognition, but there is much controversy about his role and his decisions. The author attempts to lay both of them to rest.

During the Battle of Midway, several accounts give credit to Captain Browning for urging Spruance to make a critical launch immediately. These accounts have Spruance wishing to delay but eventually agreeing with Browning. Buell presents convincing evidence that Spruance never intended to delay.

There is also controversy with Spruance's decision to retire eastward after sinking all four Japanese carriers. Many wanted him to continue westward after the retreating Japanese. However, it is abundantly clear that Admiral Yammamoto (who was anticipating the more aggressive Halsey to be in command) was prepared to meet Spruance for a night surface engagement that would have definitely favored the Japanese.

One area that Buell disagrees with Spruance were his actions during the Battle of the Philippines Sea. Spruance once again was not very aggressive and decided to protect a beachhead rather than chase retreating Japanese carriers. Buell points out that there was little threat to the beachhead and Spruance could have chased the carriers without much risk.

There is a very fascinating chapter near the end of the book about Spruance's postwar career. He was selected to be Ambassador to the Philippines. This happened to be during a time of turmoil in the country and the corrupt President was facing reelection. Spruance's job was to find a potential opposition candidate that could defeat the incumbent. His job was also to ensure that the election was fair and honest. The problem is he had to do all of this without anyone knowing he was doing all of this. Whether you think what he did was ethical or not, it's hard not to enjoy the cunning skill with which he achieved his goal.

The Quiet Warrior is a remarkable biography for delving into rare sources to bring Spruance to life. Instead of relying on previous historical accounts, Buell researched the actual military and civilian records to come up with his own conclusion about several events. In his Midway segment, he painstakingly reconstructed the timeline and points out flaws in most other accounts of the battle.

The book is also remarkable simply for it's choice of subject. Spruance was a distant and quiet man who loathed the press. Unfortunately, this hurt Spruance in the eyes of history and allowed Halsey to get all the acclaim. When one looks at the record objectively, it is clear that Spruance had a far more successful career. The Quiet Warrior helps us realize that fact.

Perhaps the only flaw is that the book is so hard to find. I had to get it off E-bay. That may be your best bet, too.

Recommended: Yes