Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was the Fleet Admiral and Pacific Commander during WWII. Nimitz was born on 24 February 1885, and died 20 February 1966.[1]
Nimitz entered the Naval Academy without first graduating from high school, but was an excellent student and graduated 7th in a class of 114 in 1905.[2] As Ensign, Nimitz ran the USS Decatur aground and was court martialed. [3] Although this was often a career ending event, [4] he received a letter of reprimand, persevered, and overcame this stumbling block.[5] Nimitz was appointed Pacific Commander after Pearl Harbor.[6]
Career
- 1905: Graduated from the Naval Academy - Class of 1905
- 1907: Promoted to rank of Ensign - 07 Jan. 1907
- 1908: Ran ship Decatur aground in 1908.
- 1910: Promoted to rank of Lieutenant - 31 Jan. 1910
- 1916: Promoted to rank of Lieutenant Commander - 29 Aug. 1916
- 1918: Promoted to rank of Commander - 8 March 1918
- 1927: Promoted to rank of Captain - 02 June 1927
- 1938: Promoted to rank of Rear Admiral - 23 June 1938
- 1941: Promoted to rank of Admiral - 31 Dec. 1941 (Skipped rank of Vice Admiral -- promoted directly to Admiral)
- 1944: Promoted to rank of Fleet Admiral - 19 Dec. 1944
- 1945: United States signatory to the surrender terms aboard the battleship USS Missouri - 2 September 1945
References
Sources
- Evans, Mark L. (2006-09-05), "USS Nimitz (CVA(N)-68)", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Navy Historical Center, Department of the Navy Retrived on 2007-05-10
- History Channel, The (1996), "Admiral Chester Nimitz: Thunder of the Pacific (Originally aired as BIOGRAPHY: Admiral Chester Nimitz)", The History Channel Presents Pearl Harbor: The Definitive Documentary of the Day That Will Live in Infamy, vol. 2, San Diago, CA: A&E Television Networks
- Navy Historical Center, Department of the Navy (2003-04-10), Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz, Navy Historical Center, Department of the Navy Retrived on 2007-05-10
External Links
- United States Department of the Navy/Navy Historical Center's Fleet Admiral Chester William Nimitz