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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.

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 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.

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 [[United States 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 dived into 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, [[Connecticut]]. 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]].  

In September 1918 he came ashore to duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and was a member of the Board of Submarine Design. His first sea duty in big ships came in 1919 when he had one year's duty as Executive Officer of the battleship USS ''South Carolina''. Thereafter, he continued his duty in submarines in Pearl Harbor as Commanding Officer USS ''Chicago'' and COMSUBDIV Fourteen.  

In September 1918 he came ashore to duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and was a member of the Board of Submarine Design. His first sea duty in big ships came in 1919 when he had one year's duty as Executive Officer of the battleship USS ''South Carolina''. Thereafter, he continued his duty in submarines in Pearl Harbor as Commanding Officer USS ''Chicago'' and COMSUBDIV Fourteen.