A Lesson in Adaptation from WWII
World War II in the Pacific was nearing its stormy conclusion. It was April 1945, off the coast of Okinawa, when three Japanese kamikaze pilots dove out of low cloud cover to attack the American destroyer USS Hazelwood (DD531).
The ship managed to evade two of the planes, but the third came in low from astern. Despite being hit by Hazelwood’s anti-aircraft fire, the kamikaze crashed into the ship—striking the #2 stack, smashing into the bridge, and exploding.
The impact was devastating. Flaming gasoline poured over the decks, the mast collapsed, forward guns were disabled, and most of the command structure was destroyed. The Hazelwood had lost her bridge, key weaponry, and tragically, ten officers and 67 enlisted men were killed, with 36 more missing—including the Commanding Officer.
The Hazelwood needed help.
Enter Chief Schuhmacher
Nearby was Hazelwood’s sister ship, the USS Trathen (DD530). The Trathen selected their most experienced man for the impossible job: John Schuhmacher, known to all as “Chief Shoe.”
Chief Shoe was a 20-year Navy veteran, a Pearl Harbor survivor, Chief Quarter Master, Assistant Navigator, and CIC officer. He was chosen to navigate the crippled Hazelwood and her shaken crew to safety.
Navigating Without a Bridge
In today’s world of GPS and satellite navigation, we forget how difficult open-sea navigation once was. Back then, without computers, navigation relied on magnetic compasses, manual plotting, and clear lines of sight.
But on the Hazelwood, the bridge was gone. The ship had no forward structure, no top command, no forward guns—and they were still deep in enemy waters.
Chief Shoe set up a temporary command post on the forward stack, steering by compass and controlling the ship from emergency aft steering stations. Despite every disadvantage, he brought the Hazelwood back—first to Ulithi, then Pearl Harbor, and finally home to the United States for permanent repairs.
The Principle of Requisite Variety
Chief Shoe didn’t just survive—he adapted. In our industry, that’s a skill every recruiter and businessperson must learn.
There’s a concept from systems theory called “The Principle of Requisite Variety.” In simple terms, it means this:
In any system, the person with the most flexibility controls the outcome.Most people, when faced with a new challenge, default to what they already know—even if it no longer works. Superstars do the opposite. They shift. They learn. They change.
Adapt or Lose
Three thousand years ago, Sun Tzu wrote:
“Those who are victorious plan effectively and change decisively. They are like a great river that maintains its course but adjusts its flow. They have form but are formless... They win in advance, defeating those who have already lost.”Adaptability wins. Whether at sea or in business.
Lessons from Chief Shoe
Years after the war, I sat down with Chief Shoe—by then a Warrant Officer—and asked him about that journey aboard the Hazelwood.
He told me how he adapted. He told me how to stay calm in chaos. He showed me that leadership isn’t about rank or title—it’s about taking control when others cannot.
He taught me a lot of things.
Oh, and one more thing… I should probably mention how I knew him.
I called Chief Shoe Grandpa.About “The Simple Brilliance of…”
The Simple Brilliance of is a series of articles spotlighting the people and principles that have shaped the world of recruitment and human development. Bob Marshall has had the privilege of learning from these great minds over the past 25+ years.