World War II: Admiral William "Bull" Halsey Born

October 30, 1882 - Future Fleet Admiral William "Bull" Halsey (right) is born at Elizabeth, NJ. Graduating from Annapolis in 1904, Halsey moved through a number of torpedo boat and destroyer commands before serving as the US Naval Attaché to Berlin in 1922. After attending the Naval War College in the 1930s, he trained as an aviator and took command of the carrier USS Saratoga. With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II, Halsey, now a vice admiral, became one of the key Allied naval commanders in the Pacific. Known for his aggressive tactics, Halsey led Allied forces during attacks on the Solomons and Bismarcks. Halsey is best remembered for commanding the US Third Fleet during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. Though he was victorious, he was criticized for his actions during the battle including failing to provide cover to the landing beaches. Promoted to fleet admiral in December 1945, he retired two years later.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center