Either one but at the end of the war they decided to promote only a limited number of Admirals to 5 star or Fleet admiral. Halsey was promoted owing to his public popularity.
Leahy
King
Nimitz
Halsey
Were the men.
King’s own daughter said he was an extremely even tempered man. He was just angry all the time.
Leahy was a career servant of the United States.
Nimitz was an outstanding engineer, organizer and leader.
Halsey was deserving of his moniker “Bull”. When his own son went missing over the South Pacific he was told, walked to the window, said nothing for a bit and then, still looking out the window said, “Standard search protocol.” His son was found safely. He also flew into a rage when Nimitz signaled “the world wonders” when he asked where he had gone off to with the carriers as Taffy 3 fought against overwhelming odds to protect the Leyte Gulf invasion fleet. He twice sailed into typhoons with great losses. The second time against good advice. He would have been, should have been court martialed if he were not such a hero in the public eye.
There were 7 officers promoted to 5 star rank in December 1944, 3 of them being Admirals.
The date of their promotion determined their seniority. Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt favored his own branch.
1. William Leahy, Navy
2. George Marshall, Army
3. Ernest King, Navy
4. Douglas MacArthur, Army
5. Chester Nimitz, Navy
6. Dwight Eisenhower, Army
7. Hap Arnold, Army
William Halsey, Navy, became the 8th a year later, and Omar Bradley was the 9th and last in 1950.
Two American military officers are awarded higher rank than 5 Stars, John Pershing and George Washington.
LOL.
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Halsey was deserving of his moniker “Bull”. When his own son went missing over the South Pacific he was told, walked to the window, said nothing for a bit and then, still looking out the window said, “Standard search protocol.” His son was found safely. He also flew into a rage when Nimitz signaled “the world wonders” when he asked where he had gone off to with the carriers as Taffy 3 fought against overwhelming odds to protect the Leyte Gulf invasion fleet. He twice sailed into typhoons with great losses. The second time against good advice. He would have been, should have been court martialed if he were not such a hero in the public eye.
His gravest mistake IMHO.