Marching Orders: The Untold Story of How the American Breaking of the Japanese Secret Codes Led to the Defeat of Nazi Germany and Japan

by Bruce Lee

Marshall’s action is without precedent in the annals of American politics. And why is Marshall doing this? He writes: “I am persisting in the matter because the military hazards involved are so serious that I feel some action is necessary to protect the interests of our armed forces.” Marshall goes on to explain that America possessed a wealth of information regarding Japanese moves in the Pacific in 1941, and this information was given the State Department by the military. This material “unfortunately made no reference whatever to intentions toward Hawaii until the last message before December 7, which did not reach our hands until the following day, Dec. 8.”