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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 [[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 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, [[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]].  

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]].