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Nimitz was born on February 24, 1885, near a quaint hotel in Fredericksburg, [[Texas]] built by his grandfather, Charles Nimitz, a retired sea captain. Young Chester, however, had his sights set on an Army career and while a student at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas, he tried for an appointment to the United States Military Academy in [[West Point]], [[New York]]. When none was available, he took a competitive examination for the United States Navy Academy at [[Annapolis]], [[Maryland]], and was selected and appointed in 1901 from the Twelfth Congressional District of Texas.

Nimitz was born on February 24, 1885, near a quaint hotel in Fredericksburg, [[Texas]] built by his grandfather, Charles Nimitz, a retired sea captain. Young Chester, however, had his sights set on an Army career and while a student at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas, he tried for an appointment to the United States Military Academy in [[West Point]], [[New York]]. When none was available, he took a competitive examination for the United States Navy Academy at [[Annapolis]], [[Maryland]], and was selected and appointed in 1901 from the Twelfth Congressional District of Texas.

He dropped out of high school to enter the Naval Academy Class of 1905, and despite his lack of a diploma, Nimitz was an excellent student, especially in mathematics, and graduated with distinction -- seventh in a class of 114. He was an athlete and stroked the crew in his first class year. The Naval Academy's yearbook, "Lucky Bag", described him as a man "of cheerful yesterdays and confident tomorrows."

He dropped out of high school to enter the Naval Academy Class of 1905, and despite his lack of a diploma, Nimitz was an excellent student, especially in mathematics, and graduated with distinction—seventh in a class of 114. He was an athlete and stroked the crew in his first class year. The Naval Academy's yearbook, "Lucky Bag", described him as a man "of cheerful yesterdays and confident tomorrows."

After graduation he joined USS ''Ohio'' in [[San Francisco]] and cruised in her to the far East. On 31 January 1907, after the two years of sea duty then required by law, he was commissioned an ensign, and took command of the gunboat USS ''[[Panay]]''. He then commanded USS ''Decatur'' and was court martialed for grounding her, an obstacle in his career which he overcame.

After graduation he joined USS ''Ohio'' in [[San Francisco]] and cruised in her to the far East. On 31 January 1907, after the two years of sea duty then required by law, he was commissioned an ensign, and took command of the gunboat USS ''[[Panay]]''. He then commanded USS ''Decatur'' and was court martialed for grounding her, an obstacle in his career which he overcame.

In the meantime, the ROTC program had been initiated and in 1926 he became the first Professor of Naval Science and Tactics for the Unit at the University of California at Berkley. Throughout the remainder of his life he retained a close association with the University. After three years in that assignment, in 1929, he again had sea duty in the submarine service as Commander Submarine Division Twenty for two years and then went ashore to command USS ''Rigel'' and decommissioned destroyers at the base in San Diego. In 1933 he was assigned to his first large ship command, the heavy cruiser USS ''Augusta'' which served mostly as flagship of the Asiatic fleet. Coming ashore in 1935 he served three years as Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. His next sea command was in flag rank as Commander Cruiser Division Two and then as Commander Battle Division One until 1939, when he was appointed as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation for four years. In December 1941, however, he was designated as Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC), where he served throughout the war. On  December 19, 1944, he was advanced to the newly created rank of Fleet Admiral, and on 2 September 1945, was the United States signatory to the surrender terms aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

In the meantime, the ROTC program had been initiated and in 1926 he became the first Professor of Naval Science and Tactics for the Unit at the University of California at Berkley. Throughout the remainder of his life he retained a close association with the University. After three years in that assignment, in 1929, he again had sea duty in the submarine service as Commander Submarine Division Twenty for two years and then went ashore to command USS ''Rigel'' and decommissioned destroyers at the base in San Diego. In 1933 he was assigned to his first large ship command, the heavy cruiser USS ''Augusta'' which served mostly as flagship of the Asiatic fleet. Coming ashore in 1935 he served three years as Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Navigation. His next sea command was in flag rank as Commander Cruiser Division Two and then as Commander Battle Division One until 1939, when he was appointed as Chief of the Bureau of Navigation for four years. In December 1941, however, he was designated as Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPAC), where he served throughout the war. On  December 19, 1944, he was advanced to the newly created rank of Fleet Admiral, and on 2 September 1945, was the United States signatory to the surrender terms aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

He hauled down his flag at Pearl Harbor on November 26, 1945, and on December 15 relieved Fleet Admiral [[Ernest J. King]] as Chief of Naval Operations for a term of two years. On January 1, 1948, he reported as special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy in the Western Sea Frontier. In March of 1949, he was nominated as Plebiscite Administrator for Kashmir under the [[United Nations]]. When that did not materialize he asked to be relieved and accepted an assignment as a roving goodwill ambassador of the United nations, to explain to the public the major issues confronting the U.N. In 1951, President Truman appointed Nimitz the chairman of the nine-man commission on International Security and Industrial Rights. This commission, however, never received congressional funding.

He hauled down his flag at Pearl Harbor on November 26, 1945, and on December 15 relieved Fleet Admiral [[Ernest J. King]] as Chief of Naval Operations for a term of two years. On January 1, 1948, he reported as special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy in the Western Sea Frontier. In March 1949, he was nominated as Plebiscite Administrator for Kashmir under the [[United Nations]]. When that did not materialize he asked to be relieved and accepted an assignment as a roving goodwill ambassador of the United nations, to explain to the public the major issues confronting the U.N. In 1951, President Truman appointed Nimitz the chairman of the nine-man commission on International Security and Industrial Rights. This commission, however, never received congressional funding.

Thereafter, Nimitz took an active interest in San Francisco community affairs, in addition to his continued active participation in matters of concern to the Navy. Nimitz was named an honorary vice president and later honorary president of the Naval Historical Foundation. He served for eight years as a regent of the [[University of California]] and did much to restore goodwill with Japan by raising funds to restore the battleship ''Mikasa'', Admiral Togo's flagship at Tsushima in 1905.

Thereafter, Nimitz took an active interest in San Francisco community affairs, in addition to his continued active participation in matters of concern to the Navy. Nimitz was named an honorary vice president and later honorary president of the Naval Historical Foundation. He served for eight years as a regent of the [[University of California]] and did much to restore goodwill with Japan by raising funds to restore the battleship ''Mikasa'', Admiral Togo's flagship at Tsushima in 1905.

==Promotions==  

==Promotions==

*Graduated from the Naval Academy - Class of 1905

*Graduated from the Naval Academy - Class of 1905

*Lieutenant Commander - 29 Aug. 1916

*Lieutenant Commander - 29 Aug. 1916

*Commander - 8 March 1918

*Commander - 8 March 1918

*Captain - 02 June 1927

*Captain - 2 June 1927

*Rear Admiral - 23 June 1938

*Rear Admiral - 23 June 1938

*Vice Admiral - Not held - promoted directly to Admiral

*Vice Admiral - Not held - promoted directly to Admiral

*National Defense Service Medal

*National Defense Service Medal

== External Links ==

 

== External links ==

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/library/special/employ_naval_forces.htm Essay on sea power by Nimitz]

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/library/special/employ_naval_forces.htm Essay on sea power by Nimitz]

* United States Department of the Navy/Navy Historical Center's  [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq36-4.htm Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz]

* United States Department of the Navy/Navy Historical Center's  [http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq36-4.htm Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz]