Reevaluating Ghormley and Halsey at Guadalcanal

For decades, authors of World War II have labeled Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley a failed commander in chief of the South Pacific Area during 1942. They have portrayed him as an overly cautious, pessimistic, and even defeatist leader whom Admiral Chester Nimitz, fortunately, replaced with the more aggressive and successful Vice Admiral William F. Halsey in October 1942. Yet Ghormley performed well as South Pacific commander under difficult circumstances, and his actions compare favorably with those of his more venerated successor.