History of U.S. Naval Operations: Samuel Eliot Morison's Wartime Chronicle
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, historian Samuel Eliot Morison recognized a critical need to document the United States Navy's efforts during World War II. Drawing on his previous experience researching the biography of Christopher Columbus, Morison believed that personal involvement and firsthand observation were essential for an accurate historical record. He proposed the creation of an official history to President Roosevelt, volunteering his own services for the task.
The proposal was accepted by both President Roosevelt and Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox. In May 1942, Morison was commissioned as a lieutenant commander in the United States Naval Reserve. To facilitate his research, he was provided with a staff of assistants and granted unprecedented access to official records and naval vessels. By the end of the war, Morison had visited eleven different ships, leveraging his reputation as a knowledgeable sailor to gain the trust and cooperation of the crews.
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The Nature of the Work
Despite the official support he received, the resulting History of U.S. Naval Operations was not a prescribed official history. James Forrestal, who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1944 to 1947, clarified that while the Navy Department provided exhaustive research opportunities and firsthand impressions, the narrative remained the author's own. The style, conclusions, and opinions expressed in the work belonged solely to Dr. Morison.
The only restrictions placed upon Morison were those necessary to safeguard national security. This independence allowed the work to be a scholarly historical effort rather than a government-mandated report.
Challenges and Limitations
Because the series was published shortly after the war ended, it faced several inherent limitations. Morison himself admitted that writing in such close proximity to the events meant the work could not claim definitive accuracy or complete objectivity. He acknowledged that new facts might emerge and that previously discarded information could later prove relevant.
However, Morison argued that the benefit of writing early outweighed these risks. He believed that capturing the emotional truth—the urgency of planning, the excitement of battle, and the grief for lost comrades—was only possible while participants were still alive and the atmosphere of the war remained fresh.
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Classified Data and Scope
Certain aspects of the war, particularly those involving codebreaking (the process of deciphering encrypted enemy communications), remained classified at the time of publication. This led to some points being treated lightly, though later printings of the series incorporated rewrites based on subsequent research. Additionally, Morison intentionally avoided deep analysis of certain political causes, such as the reasons behind the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, deferring those discussions to other specialized works.
Key Facts
- Author: Samuel Eliot Morison, commissioned as a lieutenant commander in the US Naval Reserve in May 1942.
- Access: Granted full access to official records and visited 11 ships during the war.
- Independence: Not a prescribed official history; opinions and style were solely Morison's.
- Target Audience: Written for the general reader rather than professional sailors.
- Constraint: Limited by national security classifications, specifically regarding codebreaking.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Commission Date | May 1942 |
| Naval Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Ships Visited | 11 |
| Primary Goal | Document naval operations for the general reader |
| Key Supporters | President Roosevelt, Frank Knox, James Forrestal |
Frequently Asked Questions
Was this an official government publication?
No. While the Navy Department provided resources, access to records, and staff, Secretary James Forrestal stated that the work was not an official history. The narrative, style, and conclusions were entirely the work of Dr. Morison.
Why did Morison write the history so soon after the war?
Morison believed that writing while participants were still alive allowed him to capture the feelings of urgency, excitement, and sorrow that would be lost once firsthand accounts and physical artifacts disappeared.
What information was missing from the original accounts?
Due to national security restrictions, information regarding codebreaking was initially classified and omitted or simplified. Some points were later clarified in subsequent printings.
Who was the intended audience for the series?
According to the preface, the work was written for the general reader rather than for professional sailors.
Did Morison analyze the causes of the Pearl Harbor attack?
No, he intentionally avoided analyzing the causes of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, choosing instead to defer that analysis to other works.