Changes

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.

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 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.