The command lineup was largely unchanged from that of prior operations in the Gilberts, the Marshalls, and the Marianas. Spruance remained the big boss afloat, in charge of the entire Fifth Fleet, with Mitscher as commander of Task Force 58. Admiral Turner commanded the Amphibious Expeditionary Force, as he had done since the Tarawa operation sixteen months earlier; and in that role he gave orders to the marine ground commanders, as he had done before. Smith commanded the expeditionary troops, comprising the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions and an army garrison force that would land after
...more
