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

The author wishes to point out that the Army must bear an equal share of the blame for the disaster at Pearl Harbor. Not only did General Short fail to coordinate plans for defending the fleet while it was in the anchorage, which he was ordered to do with the Navy, it appears that Short was unfit for a potential combat command. The responsibility for appointing Short can be attributed to Marshall. Other errors can also be traced to Marshall’s desk. But Marshall did warn Short in writing on several occasions to be alert against a surprise enemy air attack. Short failed to follow these, and other, orders. As stated earlier in this work, the author concurs with the concept that the entire system of intelligence failed in 1941, and this was the primary cause of Pearl Harbor.