Joseph Rochefort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Rochefort
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| Born | May 12, 1900 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 20, 1976 (aged 76) Torrance, California, U.S. |
| Buried |
Inglewood Park Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ |
United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1918–1947 1950–1953 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands held | Station Hypo USS ABSD-2 |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Joseph John Rochefort (born May 12, 1900 – died July 20, 1976) was a smart American naval officer. He was a cryptanalyst, which means he was an expert at breaking secret codes. From 1925 to 1946, he played a huge role in the United States Navy's secret code-breaking and intelligence work. His team's efforts were super important for winning the Pacific War, especially during the famous Battle of Midway.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Joseph Rochefort was born in Dayton, Ohio. He joined the United States Navy in 1917 while still in high school. He even lied about his age to join, saying he was older so he could serve.
A fellow officer noticed that Joseph was great at solving crossword puzzles. He was also very good at the card game auction bridge. Because of these skills, he was recommended for a special Navy class. This class taught him how to break codes, a skill called cryptanalysis.
Joseph Rochefort worked with other famous codebreakers. He also helped lead a new Navy code-breaking group called OP-20-G. From 1929 to 1932, the U.S. Navy sent him to Japan. There, he learned the Japanese language. Before 1941, he spent many years working on codes and intelligence. He also spent time at sea with the U.S. Fleet.
World War II Code-Breaking
Station Hypo in Pearl Harbor
In early 1941, Joseph Rochefort was sent to Hawaii. He became the leader of a secret code-breaking unit called Station Hypo. This station was located in Pearl Harbor. Rochefort was chosen because he was an expert in Japanese and a skilled codebreaker.
Rochefort carefully picked his team for Station Hypo. He gathered some of the Navy's best codebreakers, language experts, and traffic analysts. One of these experts was Joseph Finnegan. Rochefort's team worked to break the Japanese Navy's most secure code system. This code was called the Flag Officers Code.
Joseph Rochefort worked closely with Edwin T. Layton Sr. Layton was the chief intelligence officer for Admiral Husband E. Kimmel. This was the commander of the Pacific Fleet. Both Rochefort and Layton were not allowed to see some very important secret messages. These messages were sent in a top diplomatic code called Purple. This happened in the months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Navy codebreakers worked even harder. They got help from British and Dutch codebreakers. Together, they started to break enough of the Japanese Navy's main code, called JN-25. This helped them get useful information about Japanese plans in early 1942.
Rochefort often spent days without leaving his secret bunker. He and his team worked 12 hours or more each day. They were trying to decode Japanese radio messages. He sometimes wore slippers and a bathrobe over his uniform. He even went days without bathing because he was so focused on the work.
Predicting the Battle of Midway
Station HYPO believed the next big Japanese attack would be in the Central Pacific. They convinced Admiral Chester W. Nimitz of this. Other intelligence groups thought the attack would be somewhere else. They suggested places like the Aleutian Islands or Papua New Guinea.
Rochefort believed that a secret code word, "AF," referred to Midway. To prove this, one of his team members, Jasper Holmes, had a clever idea. He suggested faking a water shortage on Midway Island. The plan was to send an unencrypted emergency message. They hoped this would make the Japanese respond and confirm if Midway was their target.
Admiral Nimitz approved the plan. The commander on Midway Island sent a radio message in plain language. It said they had an explosion in their water system. They only had enough water for two weeks.
The Japanese fell for the trick! Within hours, they broadcast instructions to load extra water equipment. This confirmed that "AF" was indeed Midway. This also revealed that the attack would happen before mid-June.
In May 1942, Rochefort and his team worked incredibly fast. They decrypted, translated, and analyzed up to 140 messages every day. In the week before Admiral Nimitz gave his final orders, they processed hundreds of messages daily. Their hard work helped the U.S. Navy win the crucial Battle of Midway.
After Midway
Admiral Nimitz wanted to give Joseph Rochefort a special award. This was the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. However, Admiral Ernest King rejected the idea. King thought Rochefort looked "unmilitary." Rochefort also told Nimitz not to push for the award.
Later, Commander John Redman complained about Rochefort's station in Hawaii. As a result, Rochefort was moved from code-breaking. He was given command of a floating dry dock in San Francisco. He never served at sea again after this. Many people felt that Rochefort did not get the recognition he deserved at the time. However, he did receive the Legion of Merit award at the end of the war. This was given despite Admiral King's objections.
Later Life and Honors
After World War II, Joseph Rochefort led the Pacific Strategic Intelligence Group in Washington. He passed away in Torrance, California, at the age of 76.
Awards and Legacy
Joseph Rochefort received important honors after his death.
- In 1985, he was given the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
- In 1986, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- In 2000, he was added to the National Security Agency Hall of Fame.
On January 6, 2012, a building was named after him. It is called the CAPT Joseph J. Rochefort Building. This building is at the NSA facility in Hawaii.
Portrayals in Movies
Joseph Rochefort has been shown in movies about the Battle of Midway.
- In the 1976 movie Midway, he was played by actor Hal Holbrook.
- In the 2019 film Midway, he was played by actor Brennan Brown.
Images for kids
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Legion of Merit
