 In hindsight , historians have faulted the Americans , especially Patch and Halsey , for not taking advantage of their ground , aerial , and naval superiority to prevent the successful Japanese evacuation of most of their surviving forces from Guadalcanal . Said Chester Nimitz , commander of Allied forces in the Pacific , of the success of Operation Ke , " Until the last moment it appeared that the Japanese were attempting a major reinforcement effort . Only the skill in keeping their plans disguised and bold celerity in carrying them out enabled the Japanese to withdraw the remnants of the Guadalcanal garrison . Not until all organized forces had been evacuated on 8 February did we realize the purpose of their air and naval dispositions . " 
