Yamamoto Isoroku br br 山本五十六 br br 4 April 1884 Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan br 18 April 1943 Solomon Islands br br Yamamoto's career promotions: br br Midshipman—14 November 1904 br Ensign—31 August 1905 br Sublieutenant—28 September 1907 br Lieutenant—11 October 1909 br Lieutenant Commander—13 December 1915 br Commander—1 December 1919 br Captain—1 December 1923 br Rear Admiral—30 November 1929 br Vice Admiral—15 November 1934 br Admiral—15 November 1940 br Fleet Admiral—18 April 1943 (posthumous) br br Awards: br br Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (posthumously) br Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun Paulownia Blossoms, br Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, br Order of the Golden Kite (1st class), br Order of the Golden Kite (2nd class), br Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle br Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords br br "I can gaurantee to put up a tough firght for the first six months but I have absolutely no confidence about what would happen if it went on for two or three years.... I hope you will make every effort to avoid war with America.