Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. William Henry Purnell Blandy (28 June 1890 12 January 1954), known to friends as "Spike", was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II.Born in New York City 28 June 1890, Blandy graduated first in his class from the United States Naval Academy in 1913. He participated in the occupation of Veracruz, Mexico in 1914 and served on board the battleship Florida (BB-30) with the British Grand Fleet during World War I. During World War II he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance from 1941 to 1943; then Commander, Group 1, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet and commanded the pre-invasion bombardment group during the campaign for Iwo Jima.