![]() As Yamamoto plans the obliteration of the island's airfield, Halsey soon deduces that a major attack is forthcoming. The admiral's visit inspires the troops, and soon Yamamoto learns that resistance has increased. Halsey is reluctant but delivers a stirring speech, reminding the boys how vital their sacrifice is, then nails Yamamoto's intercepted terms for the Allied surrender to a tree to inspire them. The next day, as Halsey is readying to leave, Lowe informs him that the soldiers have gathered to hear him talk. ![]() Even the hardened Halsey is forced to seek shelter in a bunker when the Japanese planes relentlessly strife the camps. There, he personally observes the harsh conditions, with young boys remaining courageous in the face of hunger, crippling injuries and exhaustion. At the end of the day, Lowe and Keys try to convince Halsey to get his annual shots and go to sleep, but the wily admiral evades them and plans a trip the next morning to the front lines, regardless of the danger. Later, Halsey diverts nearby troops to the Guadalcanal ground force, despite Black's misgivings that they do not have the proper authorization. Although the situation is bleak, Halsey reminds them that Guadalcanal is the stronghold of the Allied defense and must be held, and promises aid, though he knows that he will be hard-pressed to obtain any more supplies or air support from Washington. From each, Halsey hears the same story: they need more men, more supplies and more naval protection. Roy Geiger and Navy supply ship commander Rear Adm. Archie Vandegrift aviation commander Maj. Evans Carlson, who created Carlson's Raiders Marines Maj. After working through the night, Halsey meets with the heads of each branch of the military: Air Force Maj. Harry Black, believes he will be fired, both for his loyalty to Ghormley and because he favors a "by-the-book" approach, as opposed to Halsey's more intuitive approach to decision-making, but the fair-minded admiral asks him to stay on, as he values the captain's experience and contrasting viewpoint. Although Yamamoto assumes that Halsey will need at least a month to gain a full understanding of the many military units on the island, Halsey immediately calls all key personnel to brief him, and works at his customary ceaseless pace to get a full picture of the Allied position. Upon reaching his new command ship, Halsey meets with Ghormley and quietly assures his friend that his only mistake was in being the first to lead the difficult battle. Soon after, Halsey receives notice that he has been selected to take command of the South Pacific forces in Guadalcanal, replacing Adm. In turn, Halsey, upon hearing that there has been an unusual amount of Japanese radio traffic, decides to change course, thus avoiding a confrontation. Yamamoto, a brilliant strategist, learns that a plane has been spotted and, although he does not know that Halsey is aboard, orders the plane intercepted. Horace Keys, fly from Pearl Harbor to the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal, which is under heavy fire from Japanese troops, lead by Adm. Cmdr Andrew Jefferson Lowe III and flight surgeon Capt. Before leaving, he asks his valet, Manuel Salvador Jesus Maravilla, for his recollections of their time together, and when Manuel brings up Guadalcanal, Halsey is flooded with memories of his most difficult command: In October 1942, Halsey and his handpicked staff, including pilot and aide Lt. must return to his cabin to don civilian clothes. ![]() Following his retirement ceremony, Fleet Admiral William F.
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