US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

WATCHTOWER 263
These rear admirals were available without the normal delay entailed in
relieving them from a current job.
About 20 May 1942, the decision of Admiral King to make Rear Admiral
Turner available, in the near future, to CINCPAC for duty afloat in the
Pacific Fleet was passed to the Bureau of Naval Personnel. New orders
were issued on 25 May appropriately modifying the original orders and di-
recting Turner to report to CINCPAC at the end of his leave of absence.
Then Admiral King decided he wanted Rear Admiral Turner at hand until
after the Japanese attack on Midway had been met. So a third set of orders
was issued.7T Under this last set, Rear Admiral Turner departed Washington
on 12 June 1942 by automobile for Pacific Grove, California, under
proceed (four days’ delay) orders, ten days’ travel time, and ten days’ delay
to count as leave of absence.
Rear Admiral Turner was delighted to get to the business at hand, fighting
the Japanese, and greatly concerned with his share of the responsibility
for making the first amphibious operation a victory of which the Navy and
Ernie King would be proud.”
Vice Admiral Ghormley had departed Washington on 1 May 1942 and
assumed command of the South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force on 19
June some seven weeks later, although he was in the South Pacific Area for
almost a month before assuming command. Rear Admiral Turner assumed
command of the South Pacific Amphibious Force about a month later, 18
July 1942. This was just 14 days before the initial target date for the first
major United States Navy amphibious landings in WorId War II, and 20
days before the actual landing.
ASSEMBLING THE STAFF OF COMPHIBFORSOPAC
The first business of a Flag oficer upon being designated to a new com-
mand is to try to prevail upon the Bureau of Naval Personnel to order a
few top flight ofiicers-the real heavy cream of the crop-into key positions
on his staff, Whether he succeeds or not depends on such factors as:
1. The Flag officer flies one, two, three, or four stars.
2. For whom the desired oficer is currently working and how co-
operative this oficer may be in letting him go to another billet.
mBuPers Orders Pers 6312–38970, 20 May 1942, 25 May 1942, and 2 Jun. 1942; (b) Note,
RKT on June 2nd Orders.
7*Turner.