Elliot Carlson, author of Joe Rochefort's War: The Odyssey of the
Codebreaker Who Outwitted Yamamoto at Midway, just published in
October by the Naval Institute Press. It's an important story on a
number of levels: how it was that Rochefort broke the Imperial
Japanese Navy codes and figured out their plan to attack Midway; how
he managed to convince Admiral Nimitz, which led to the American
victory at Midway; and how, because of personality and the
peculiarities of Naval Intelligence at that time, Rochefort not only
did not get recognition for the Midway victory but immediately was
shunted off into dead-end jobs (like supervising the construction of a
floating dry dock). Only many years later, in 1985, did Rochefort
posthumously receive the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. So, in a
way, this is a very detailed case study of what works and what doesn't
in intelligence organization. Moreover, almost as an afterthought, the
book forever debunks the notion that FDR had any advance warning of an
attack on Pearl Harbor (whether he was deliberating pushing the
Japanese into a corner so that they would strike first is a different
question). Overall, it's a fascinating story.
If you like the podcast please don't hesitate to forward the link.
http://www.electricpolitics.com/podcast/2011/11/codebreaker.html
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