Fleet Admiral William Halsey, often referred to as "Bull", was an influential figure who commanded the South Pacific during World War II which strategically led to the end of the Imperial Japan. The nickname “Bull” comes from his extreme aggressiveness, driven more by instinct than knowledge. Although her inspirational leadership in the South Pacific is widely recognized, Halsey's "Taurus" personality nearly led to her death. William Fredrick Halsey, Jr. was born on October 30, 1882. He was born and practically raised to be a sailor. His father, Captain William Halsey, raised William Halsey, Jr. with stories of his naval career that led to his interest in joining the Navy and later attending the United States Naval Academy. In the two-year wait to gain admission to the Naval Academy, Halsey had decided to study medicine at the University of Virginia and try to join the Navy as a doctor. He was finally admitted in 1900. Halsey was not the best academically as he came in forty-second in a class of sixty-two, but he was athletic and participated in many clubs.(1) During that time in history, the Navy was in need of officers as was expanding, so the class of 1904 graduated on February 2 instead of June.(2) After graduation he went to serve his mandatory two years of service aboard his first ship, the battleship USS Missouri. He was commissioned an officer on February 2, 1906. (3) In 1907, Halsey was aboard the battleship USS Kansas as Theodore Roosevelt's "Great White Fleet" departed Hampton Roads on its cross-world expedition. During World War I, Halsey commanded the destroyer USS Benham and earned a Navy Cross for his antisubmarine patrol actions. In 1922 it became... middle of paper... in World War II. Regardless of how his individual decisions have been examined by historians, Admiral William "Bull" Halsey remains one of the greatest leaders in the history of the U.S. Navy. He was instrumental in the defeat of the Japanese in the South Pacific. When asked how his decisions and efforts affected the outcome of the war, he responded: “There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men, by necessity, are forced by circumstance to face.” . Halsey was an outspoken, charismatic, and aggressive leader who can be compared to other leaders such as John Paul Jones and David Farragut. His ability to face risk and not be afraid of the enemy earned him well-deserved respect from his colleagues and subordinates. Halsey's contributions to preserving the ideals of the American style have an overall positive and lasting impression on American naval history.