Changes

'''Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz''' was an American naval officer and Commander-in-Chief of Pacific forces during World War II whose coordination of Army, Marine, and Naval forces in the first year of the war resulted in the spectacular defeat of the Japanese at the [[Battle of Midway]], considered the turning point of the war.

Fleet Admiral '''Chester William Nimitz''' was an [[America]]n naval officer and Commander-in-Chief of [[Pacific]] forces during [[World War II]] whose coordination of [[Army]], [[Marine]], and [[Navy|Naval]] forces in the first year of the war resulted in the spectacular defeat of the [[Japan]]ese at the [[Battle of Midway]], considered the turning point of the war.

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 West Point. When none was available, he took a competitive examination for Annapolis and was selected and appointed from the Twelfth Congressional District of Texas in 1901.

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 West Point. When none was available, he took a competitive examination for Annapolis and was selected and appointed from the Twelfth Congressional District of Texas in 1901.

He dropped out of high school to enter the Naval Academy Class of 1905, and despite his lack of a high school 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 high school 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.

He returned to the U. S. in 1907 and was ordered to duty under instruction in submarines, the branch of the service in which he spent a large part of his sea duty. His first submarine was USS ''Plunger'', followed by a successful command of USS ''Snapper'', USS ''Narwal'' and USS ''Skipjack'' until 1912. On 20 March of that year Nimitz, then a Lieutenant and commanding officer of the submarine E-1 (formerly ''Skipjack''), was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal by the Treasury Department for his heroic action in saving W.J. Walsh, Fireman second class, USN, from drowning. A strong tide was running and Walsh, who could not swim, was rapidly being swept away from his ship. Lieutenant Nimitz dove in the water and kept Walsh afloat until both were picked up by a small boat.  

He returned to the U.S. in 1907 and was ordered to duty under instruction in [[submarine]]s, the branch of the service in which he spent a large part of his sea duty. His first submarine was USS ''Plunger'', followed by a successful command of USS ''Snapper'', USS ''Narwal'' and USS ''Skipjack'' until 1912. On 20 March of that year Nimitz, then a Lieutenant and commanding officer of the submarine E-1 (formerly ''Skipjack''), was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal by the [[Treasury Departmen]]t for his heroic action in saving W.J. Walsh, Fireman second class, USN, from drowning. A strong tide was running and Walsh, who could not swim, was rapidly being swept away from his ship. Lieutenant Nimitz dove in the water and kept Walsh afloat until both were picked up by a small boat.  

He had one year in command of the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla before coming ashore in 1913 for duty in connection with building the diesel engines for the tanker USS ''Maumee'' at Groton, Conn. In that same year, he was sent to Germany and Belgium to study engines at their Diesel Plants. With that experience he subsequently served as Executive Officer and Engineering Officer of the ''Maumee'' until 1917 when he was assigned as Aide and Chief of Staff to Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic. He served in that billet during [[World War I]].  

He had one year in command of the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla before coming ashore in 1913 for duty in connection with building the diesel engines for the tanker USS ''Maumee'' at Groton, Conn. In that same year, he was sent to Germany and Belgium to study engines at their Diesel Plants. With that experience he subsequently served as Executive Officer and Engineering Officer of the ''Maumee'' until 1917 when he was assigned as Aide and Chief of Staff to Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic. He served in that billet during [[World War I]].  

==Promotions==  

==Promotions==  

Graduated from the Naval Academy - Class of 1905

*Graduated from the Naval Academy - Class of 1905

Ensign - 07 Jan. 1907

*Ensign - 07 Jan. 1907

Lieutenant (junior grade) - 31 Jan. 1910

*Lieutenant (junior grade) - 31 Jan. 1910

Lieutenant - 31 Jan. 1910

*Lieutenant - 31 Jan. 1910

Lieutenant Commander - 29 Aug. 1916

*Lieutenant Commander - 29 Aug. 1916

Commander - 8 March 1918

*Commander - 8 March 1918

Captain - 02 June 1927

*Captain - 02 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

Admiral - 31 Dec. 1941

*Admiral - 31 Dec. 1941

Fleet Admiral - 19 Dec. 1944

*Fleet Admiral - 19 Dec. 1944

==Decorations and Awards==

==Decorations and Awards==

Distinguished Service Medal with two gold stars

*Distinguished Service Medal with two gold stars

Army Distinguished Service Medal

*Army Distinguished Service Medal

Silver Lifesaving Medal

*Silver Lifesaving Medal

Victory Medal with Escort Clasp

*Victory Medal with Escort Clasp

American Defense Service Medal

*American Defense Service Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

World War II Victory Medal

*World War II Victory Medal

National Defense Service Medal

*National Defense Service Medal