Says Crenshaw of Halsey's comments on Cole's actions, "Admirals Halsey and Nimitz, aided and abetted by their large staffs, didn't understand what had happened, yet felt they must take a firm stand to encourage better performance in the future.
Om Halseys kommentarer skrev Crenshaw: "Admiralerne Halsey og Nimitz, hjulpet og vejledt af deres store stabe, forstod ikke hvad der var sket, men de følte, at de måtte stå fast for at opmuntre til en bedre indsats i fremtiden.