In 1942, Americans (36) several important victories over the Japanese. The United States navy (37) a powerful Japanese fleet near Midway Island. The United States was greatly helped in the Battle of Midway because it had learned the secret (38) in which the Japanese sent (39) . The United States knew where the Japanese ships would be. Many hard (40) were fought on land and on the ocean. The United States leaders in the Pacific, General Douglas MacArthur of the army and Admiral Chester Nimitz of the (41) , made a plan to defeat the Japanese. This plan was called "island hopping". The plan meant that the United States would (42) certain islands in the Pacific on which Japan had placed soldiers. Other (43) islands would be passed by and cut off from receiving food and supplies from Japan. (44) . (45) . But the American forces moved steadily closer to Japan. Finally, (46) .