Admiral Ernest J. King - A Biography 

When asked about his meteoritic rise in the ranks to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations King stated, “When the bullets start to fly, they come looking for the sons of bitches".

One of King's daughters said he was the most even-tempered man she knew of: Always angry. This was not that much of an exaggeration.

Apparently also didn’t believe the British early on 1942 when they told him that convoys were a good idea to get ships across the Atlantic ...

Drachinifel brought me here.

Thank You to Lorain schools and U-tube for this most stellar biography on Admiral King. Together with the personal reminiscences of former subordinates, gives one a fact based kaleidoscope back into American 20th century Naval history.

Exceptional biography of Fleet Admiral King. Thank you for making his superb naval officer's career available for all to see and listen to!

I believe Leahy was the first American five-star naval officer (ahead of King and Nimitz by a few days in December 1944).

ADOLPHUS ANDREWS: KIng's friend(?) from his Naval Academy days was a full captain in 1942 when King was already a full admiral and the CNO, the most senior posting in the US Navy. That year he was in charge, the French ocean liner, the Normandie, the third largest ship in the world, was being converted into a troopship for the United States when it caught fire. Fireboats pumped so much water that the ship took on a very dangerous list. Andrews did not order or even ask the fireboats to stop pumping more water. Then a man with a Russian accent pleaded to be let on board to open the seacocks so that the ship would sink onto the harbor bottom before capsizing--Normandie was so large that there was very little water between the bottom of the ship and the bed of the Hudson River. Adolphus sent him away. The man was Alexander Yerkevich, the chief designer of the Normandie and the inventor of the bulbous bow used by nearly all modern ships. Adolphus retired as a Vice Admiral.

63 years old is an amazing age to become a distinguished essential war hero. And his wife had big hair. A remarkable man. Seamen cannot “drink too much”.

I was a naval officer in the 80s and 90s. One thing that really disturbed me was how many senior officers had obvious emotional disorders often aggravated by alcoholism and for the most part the navy just looked the other way. When I brought this up at the time people would just shrug and say, "Yeah, it's always been that way." I hope that's changed now that some of these things, like bipolar disorder, are better understood but I wouldn't bet on it.

I'm glad Adm King controlled his laughter.

Mr. King finished high school a year early. Then he went to war with the Spanish a year early too? !!!😲 WOW 😯!!! Now that’s what I call ambitious. That war didn’t even start until 1898!

Kint was *not* the first five-star admrial; it was Admiral Leahy.

Cause I know most of you would never say that to his face if he was alive

"Arghh,The bells,the bells??holy bat stink penfold was it that awful buzzing"??...🤯..

He didn't trust the British intelligence during the U-Boat attacks in early 1942. A lot of ships got sunk and crews killed before he finally acted.

I've read that one of King's favorite subordinates was Adm. David Pye, the commander who left the Marines on Wake - didn't evacuate them or resupply the island, just hung them out to dry. I'll give Adm. King points for being a badass, but a lot of guys got killed while he reinvented the wheel in re. antisubmarine tactics, and it all happened because he didn't like the British. He did right by reaming Halsey out after the Leyte Gulf debacle, though.

I thought William D Leahy was the 1st 5 Star Admiral?......

"When the chips are down, they send for the sons of bitches".

In this video t You make no mention of the battle of midway and the battle of the coral sea

Based on the theme of this "Biography" Nimitz was a minor player in the Pacific War.

Does Naval Academy still have entrance exams ?? Or do they take any schmuck at all ???

It was rumored that King shaved with a blowtorch, this came from the Navy he commanded!

king is the most uniue naval character as he's the only one to be 1.) fleet admiral 2.) CNO (chief of naval operations) 3.) COMINCH or CINCUS (commander in chief - US fleet) some thing no other navy officer will ever accomplish

King rejected convoys for US merchant ships. He then issued mk 14 torpedos. A greater disaster than Perl Harbour.

And didn´t he lead an attack on Pearl Harbour in 1938 with planes from a carrier group. The copy of the famous attack of Admiral Harry Yarnell from 1932. Therefore he must have been one of the soldiers to tell FDR about the possibility of a japanese attack.

26:00 I think he means 1942.

Music is too loud.

Victors need exceptional leadership. Admiral King was just such a hero.

King's disdain for the British cost 10's of thousands of lives of Merchant Marines because he sent individual merchant ships to sea alone instead of with the security of the proven tactic of convoys. He should have been tried and jailed.

Leahy was the first to receive 5 stars , then King then Marshall.

"i refuse to meet with macarthur" but what about teamwork, admiral?

Not s nice man. His own daughter said he was the most even tempered man in the navy. In a rage ALL the time, and NOT a friend of the British.

Probably no one will see this but im related to Ernest.

I guess I should say, needlessly died because of him.

Leahy was the first to wear 5 stars

Everybody is bashing a dead man in the comments show some respect

Thought this was a documentary about comb-overs and really bad men's hairstyles for a minute.

Yep - he was the King of all Numbskulls ......... how was it possible for the German U Boats to have sunk so many US ships and lost so many US merchant seaman ??....and he never changed his tactics ...... until he was FORCED to from above ...... and all because he didnt like the Client (the UK) that the US ships were supplying ....how sick is that ....??

AK 91'

He’s a distant relative of mine...

adm king and george marshall were the greatest americans of the 20th century....a lot of lesser human beings seem to like to criticize king .... he made mistakes and he learned from them and is the man who made the american navy the most powerful in history.

He alone was responsible for the deaths of more allied sailors and merchant marines than any individual on the earth!!!

A lot of American sailors lives would have been saved if he'd have had his stroke before the German 'operation drumbeat.'

Ernest King should be removed from Arlington Cemetery.

Now I understand why Admiral King vehemently hated the English, his dad was Scottish. Fair enough I'm Scottish decent & we still haven't forgiven "LongShanks" Bloody King Edward 1 for his subjugation of Free Wales & his unlawful war against Free Scotland.😁

So irritating to listen to an authoritative lip-smacker.

I would tend to agree with some of the critics. King was a poor planner. The attack on Pearl Harbor and the Atlantic Uboat losses and initial lack of a decent strategy delayed our victory. The fact that our carriers were not laying in wait for the Japanese at either the Philippines or outside Hawaii ready to intercept but scattered and unorganized is proof the Navy was not prepared to act. This is why you always hear “Remember Pearl Harbor “. In other words, be ready! Be prepared. I’m not referring to the quality of the ships or planes. Not being ready is a failure in leadership. Why were we not actively watching the Japanese Fleet? Why were we not patrolling around Pearl Harbor with the PBYs? Or around the Philippines? Why were there no reinforcements prepared to land in the Philippines? No evacuation plan in place? Submarines should have been on station around Japan or the Philippines?

Lost all respect for King the way he treated Captain McVey. King was over rated big time.