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be needed to locate them. Additionally, Richardson argued that morale would suffer due to there being "too few white women; shopkeepers gypped the sailors." Richardson recognized how vulnerable the fleet would be in such an exposed and remote position, a logistical nightmare that was only worsened by the slim resources and the lack of preparation and organization. Richardson argued such a forward defense was not practical or useful, despite
604:
129:
500:
prosecution of a war in the pacific." Most believed he might be promoted upwards to replace Stark as CNO, but, instead he was fired. On 1 February 1941, General Order 143 reorganized the United States Fleet. In its place, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and the U.S. Pacific Fleet were re-established, each under its own commander in chief. The same day, Richardson was replaced by
Admiral
483:
is more, Richardson held the belief that Pearl Harbor was the logical first point of attack for the
Japanese High Command, wedded as it was to the theory of undeclared and surprise warfare. For ten years the U.S. Navy held "attacks" on the Army defenses at Pearl Harbor, and were always successful. Defending the base was rather hopeless, in his mind.
458:
and to others in
Washington. He believed that advanced bases like Guam and Hawaii were necessary, but that insufficient funding and efforts had been made to prepare them for use in wartime. He also believed future battles in the Pacific would involve aircraft carriers, and more scouting forces would
482:
It was
Richardson's belief − and indeed generally supported by the Navy − that the Fleet should never be berthed inside Pearl Harbor where it would be a mark for attack. This was particularly true in such troubled times when the airways of the East were hot with rumors of approaching conflict. What
499:
predicted that
Richardson would be removed as fleet commander. During that October visit with FDR, Richardson told the President his belief that “the senior officers of the Navy do not have the trust and confidence in the civilian leadership of this country that is essential for the successful
401:
was one of the Navy's foremost figures. Since his earliest days, after leaving
Annapolis, he had made the study of Japanese warfare his life's work. He was beyond question the Navy's outstanding authority on Pacific naval warfare and Japanese
534:, as senior member of a "Special Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee" on the reorganization of the national defense, as one of the first called before the Congressional Committee on Pearl Harbor and as a witness before the
495:, pointing out his own firm conviction that neither the Navy nor the country was prepared for war with Japan. After his early October visit to Roosevelt, on October 26, 1940, a White House leak to the Washington-based
478:, the fleet had little in the way of housing, materials, or defensive mechanisms at Pearl Harbor. Richardson wanted to return to the West Coast, prepare the fleet, and then perhaps return to Pearl Harbor:
235:
and the Third
Division, Atlantic Torpedo Flotilla. He was a member of the first class of the Navy's Post Graduate Engineering School in 1909– to 1911 and served as an engineer on the
900:
905:
535:
472:
450:− thought that stationing the Fleet in Hawaii would restrain the Japanese. They did not ask their senior military advisors whether it would accomplish such an end.
649:
890:
180:. He believed that a forward defense was neither practical nor useful, and that the Pacific Fleet would be a logical first target in the event of war with
580:
568:
758:
520:
915:
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250:
246:
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Richardson twice traveled to
Washington to meet with Roosevelt to discuss the issue. He followed that up with an official letter to the
885:
776:
447:
306:
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Richardson held the position during a stressful period marked by presidential orders to deploy the
Pacific part of the fleet to
30:
820:
On the
Treadmill to Pearl Harbor, The Memoirs of Admiral J. O. Richardson; As told to George C. Dyer, Vice Admiral, USN (RET)
572:
443:
406:
513:
327:
519:
Upon his relief by Roosevelt, "Richardson reverted to his permanent rank of rear admiral and served as a member of the
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910:
822:; Naval History Division, Department of the Navy, Washington, DC; 1973; Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 73-600198
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Transferred to the retired list with the rank of admiral in October 1942, he remained on active service with the
488:
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365:. A year later, he became chief of the Bureau of Navigation. In early 1938, he assisted Army Major General
162:
142:
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620:
654:
560:
185:
455:
415:
280:
736:
760:
On the treadmill to Pearl Harbor; the memoirs of Admiral James O. Richardson as told to George C. Dyer
634:
204:
in 1898 and graduated fifth in a class of eighty-five in 1902. His first duty assignments were in the
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875:
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763:. Naval History Division, Dept. of the Navy; for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
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173:
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397:(Pacific Fleet). At the time of his appointment, Richardson was particularly suited for the post:
355:
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109:
78:
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and on the staff of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. In 1914, Richardson was promoted to the rank of
516:(CinCLant) on the same day and later CinCUS in December 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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323:
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student in 1933–1934, he was Budget Officer at the Navy Department, receiving promotion to
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with the compilation of more current military plans for a war against Japan, then called
184:. He was relieved of command in February 1941. His concerns proved justified during the
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468:
390:
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176:(CinCUS), Richardson protested the redeployment of the Pacific portion of the fleet to
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In 1940, the policy-making branch of the Government in foreign affairs − the
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in 1922 and took her out to Asiatic waters, where he also had command of the
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in commission and commanded her for more than two years. After a tour as a
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684:
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by Skipper Steely, published by Pelican Press, Gretna, Louisiana, 2008.
335:
277:
538:. Released from active duty in January 1947, he thereafter resided in
330:
while he was in that position in December 1934. His early duties as a
508:(CinCPac) and as CinCUS in case the two ocean fleets merged. Admiral
276:. Following a tour at the Naval Academy, he was given command of the
826:
Pearl Harbor Countdown: The Biography of Admiral James O. Richardson
544:
He and his friend, Admiral George C. Dyer, later produced a book,
464:
460:
405:
269:
Richardson was navigator and executive officer of the battleship
35:
Admiral Richardson as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, 1939
385:
Beginning in January 1940, Richardson was Commander in Chief,
551:
Richardson died on 2 May 1974 at his home in Washington, DC.
377:(ComBatFor), U.S. Fleet, with the temporary rank of admiral.
350:
in June 1937, handling the Washington end of the search for
373:. In June 1939, Richardson went back to sea as Commander,
338:
division, service as aide and Chief of Staff to Admiral
298:, in 1924 to 1927. In the late 1920s, he commanded a
454:
Richardson protested this redeployment to President
257:, where he worked to assure the Navy's fuel supply.
805:
The Handbook of Texas Online: James Otto Richardson
312:In January 1931, Captain Richardson placed the new
138:
123:
115:
95:
85:
68:
48:
40:
21:
536:International Military Tribunal for the Far East
849:Commander in Chief of the United States Fleet
793:Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet: Command History
422:with Richardson following him (center) in 1940
471:to come to its aid if attacked. According to
8:
774:A Brief History Of U.S. Fleet Forces Command
699:"Texan warned FDR about Pearl Harbor attack"
650:Events leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor
305:and returned to the US for service with the
901:United States Navy personnel of World War I
467:and whatever promises had been made to the
831:
527:until his retirement on October 1, 1942."
29:
18:
16:On the Treadmill to Pearl Harbor co-author
906:United States Navy World War II admirals
389:(CinCUS), which was command of both the
161:(18 September 1878 – 2 May 1974) was an
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674:
672:
670:
666:
294:Richardson was Assistant to the Chief,
342:, and a tour as Commander Destroyers,
473:advance knowledge conspiracy theorist
346:. He became Assistant CNO to Admiral
334:included command of a Scouting Force
7:
430:from its traditional naval base in
891:United States Naval Academy alumni
559:Richardson's decorations include:
14:
697:Haile, Bartee (January 4, 2017).
685:The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor
633:
626:
619:
608:
602:
594:
589:
546:On the Treadmill to Pearl Harbor
127:
102:
186:Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
169:who served from 1902 to 1947.
573:American Defense Service Medal
504:as the new Commander in Chief
261:World War I and interwar years
1:
916:Military personnel from Texas
172:As commander in chief of the
208:, where he took part in the
896:United States Navy admirals
561:Navy Spanish Campaign Medal
523:, and in the office of the
512:became Commander in Chief,
255:Bureau of Steam Engineering
202:United States Naval Academy
932:
581:World War II Victory Medal
381:Pearl Harbor and aftermath
854:
847:
839:
834:
588:
569:World War I Victory Medal
565:Philippine Campaign Medal
489:Chief of Naval Operations
220:Richardson commanded the
188:, only ten months later.
28:
886:People from Paris, Texas
737:"Pearl Harbor Countdown"
735:Steely, Skipper (2008).
249:and was attached to the
212:and, after 1905, in the
90:United States of America
720:Groom, Winston (2005).
577:American Campaign Medal
196:Richardson was born in
143:Philippine-American War
655:Attack on Pearl Harbor
555:Awards and decorations
485:
452:
423:
410:Secretary of the Navy
404:
251:Department of the Navy
795:Retrieved 3 May 2016.
783:Retrieved 3 May 2016.
525:Secretary of the Navy
480:
456:Franklin D. Roosevelt
440:
409:
399:
393:(Atlantic Fleet) and
192:Early life and career
159:James Otto Richardson
116:Years of service
44:James Otto Richardson
739:. Pelican Publishing
497:Kiplinger Newsletter
307:Bureau of Navigation
247:Lieutenant Commander
532:Navy Relief Society
387:United States Fleet
216:. In 1907 to 1909,
210:Philippine campaign
174:United States Fleet
23:James O. Richardson
911:Writers from Texas
779:2019-05-11 at the
521:Navy General Board
448:Secretary of State
424:
340:J.M. "Bull" Reeves
296:Bureau of Ordnance
288:South China Patrol
167:United States Navy
110:United States Navy
79:Bethesda, Maryland
864:
863:
858:Husband E. Kimmel
855:Succeeded by
835:Military offices
701:. Hays Free Press
641:
640:
324:Naval War College
265:In 1917 to 1919,
200:. He entered the
156:
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52:18 September 1878
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840:Preceded by
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540:Washington, D.C.
348:William D. Leahy
206:Asiatic Squadron
131:
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843:Claude C. Bloch
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781:Wayback Machine
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493:Harold R. Stark
491:(CNO), Admiral
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371:War Plan Orange
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687:(October 1945)
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514:Atlantic Fleet
502:Husband Kimmel
469:United Kingdom
391:Scouting Force
382:
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367:Stanley Embick
352:Amelia Earhart
344:Scouting Force
262:
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214:Atlantic Ocean
193:
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76:(aged 95)
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724:. p. 93.
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506:Pacific Fleet
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476:John T. Flynn
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466:
463:'s attack on
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314:heavy cruiser
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741:. Retrieved
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703:. Retrieved
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558:
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518:
496:
486:
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453:
441:
438:. He noted:
428:Pearl Harbor
425:
420: (CV-6)
417:
400:
395:Battle Force
384:
375:Battle Force
361:
332:flag officer
328:rear admiral
318:
311:
282:
272:
264:
241:
231:
225:
198:Paris, Texas
195:
178:Pearl Harbor
171:
158:
157:
151:World War II
139:Battles/wars
74:(1974-05-02)
62:Paris, Texas
881:1974 deaths
876:1878 births
681:Flynn, John
510:Ernest King
147:World War I
870:Categories
852:1940–1941
661:References
436:California
418:Enterprise
412:Frank Knox
237:battleship
218:Lieutenant
86:Allegiance
72:2 May 1974
56:1878-09-18
41:Birth name
444:President
432:San Diego
416:USS
402:strategy.
360:USS
317:USS
309:(BuNav).
300:destroyer
283:Asheville
281:USS
271:USS
267:Commander
240:USS
119:1902–1947
777:Archived
743:30 April
705:19 March
644:See also
446:and the
354:and the
303:division
242:Delaware
232:Stockton
96:Service/
358:on the
336:cruiser
319:Augusta
292:Captain
278:gunboat
165:in the
163:admiral
133:Admiral
54: (
356:attack
273:Nevada
226:Tingey
107:
98:branch
81:, U.S.
64:, U.S.
465:China
461:Japan
362:Panay
182:Japan
745:2016
722:1942
707:2017
229:and
124:Rank
69:Died
49:Born
414:on
253:'s
872::
683:.
669:^
583:.
579:,
575:,
571:,
567:,
563:,
548:.
434:,
290:.
747:.
709:.
58:)
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