Admiral McCollum was born in Nagasaki, Japan, the son of Baptist missionaries. After his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1921, he spent three years of study in Japan, qualifying him as an interpreter and translator of the Japanese language. He commanded the submarine O-7 (SS-68)

was assistant naval attaché in Tokyo; served in the battleship West Virginia (BB-48)

special liaison officer with CinC Asiatic Fleet; liaison officer in the John D. Ford (DD-228)

and head of the Far East Section of the Office of Naval Intelligence. Admiral McCollum gives the background and buildup of the Japanese, culminating in the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He details the intelligence reports that came across his desk at the ONI. Volume II continues with duties and expansion of ONI's Far Eastern division following Pearl Harbor. In 1942 Admiral McCollum developed the concept of Fleet Intelligence Centers and designed and assisted in installation of first one at Pearl Harbor. He served on the staff of Commander Allied Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific Area and Commander Seventh Fleet, concurrently being Commander of the Seventh Fleet Intelligence Center. In 1945 he was assigned to special duties in the Navy Department, then CO of the heavy cruiser Helena (CA-75), serving first as flag captain to CinC U.S. Naval Forces Europe, later taking the ship to the Far East. Following sea duty, he was assigned to work with the Central Intelligence Group, later the CIA. In 1948 he was Commander of Fleet Training Group, Norfolk. In 1950 he became Commander Military Sea Transportation Service until his retirement in 1951. He was immediately recalled to active duty as consultant to CIA and served four years.