Assumptions
Orders and Instructions Must Be Clear, Executed, and Verified
It is widely accepted that Japan's defeat in the Pacific War began with the attack on Pearl Harbor. In a surprise 2-hour assault, Japan’s strike force sank the USS Arizona and Oklahoma and inflicted heavy damage on the U.S. fleet. Hearing the success signal “Tora, Tora, Tora,” the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet ordered a message to be sent to the local commander: “Annihilate everything without leaving a trace.”
However, his staff officer failed to send the message. This decision was based on a naval directive stating:
“If a decisive victory is achieved, proceed with repeated attacks to destroy the enemy. If not, withdraw.”
No message was sent, and the local commander conducted no further attacks. The U.S. aircraft carriers and fuel storage facilities remained intact, enabling the U.S. forces to reorganize and launch a counteroffensive. This ultimately led to Japan’s disastrous defeat at the Battle of Midway and its subsequent downfall in the war.
The irreversible mistakes were:
The staff officer assumed further attacks would naturally occur and ignored the commander’s order.
The local commander was satisfied with the initial success and did not follow through with additional strikes.
These missteps illustrate how the Pacific War was doomed from the start, as the initial decisions set the course for failure.
In our daily lives, we often make mistakes based on assumptions. This serves as a lesson that orders and instructions must be communicated clearly, executed properly, and their outcomes thoroughly verified.
