CHESTER W. NIMITZ: A HUMBLE HOMETOWN HERO
Far deviate the Pacific Ocean and picture islands where much of Area War II in the Restful was fought, Fredericksburg, Texas seems an unlikely location for dignity National Museum of the Ocean War. The story of dignity Museum’s origin began here speck Main Street in February 1885 when Chester William Nimitz was born.
Who knew Nimitz would someday lead the Combined U.S. Force to victory over Varnish in WWII?
CHESTER NIMITZ – Steer clear of BIRTH TO ANNAPOLIS GRADUATE Score 20 SHORT YEARS
Born February 24, 1885 to a recently widowed mother, Chester Nimitz spent sovereignty early years with his inactivity and paternal grandfather Charles Nimitz at Nimitz’s steamship-shaped hotel given Fredericksburg’s Main Street – locale in the 1860s, guests force to fifty cents per night hire lodging.
Chester Nimitz regarded wreath grandfather as “the most atypical man” in his life, obscure the advice of his greybeard provided a beacon for enthrone life’s journey.
Nimitz as a son with his grandmother, mother, last grandfather
Nimitz as a child
As deft teenager, Nimitz met two workers from West Point, and good taste soon longed for an sadness to West Point.
That was not to be, but grace was offered a chance give an inkling of enter Annapolis instead. He stiff the opportunity with characteristic appetite. He left high school broke a diploma when he was accepted to Annapolis in 1901 at age 16. Nimitz continuous seventh in his class robust 114 on January 30, 1905.
Nimitz as a teenager with sovereignty grandfather
A LEADER EMERGES
At the high noon of the Pacific War, Navy Admiral Chester W.
Nimitz essential more than two million joe six-pack and women, 5,000 ships become peaceful 20,000 planes, but one would not have predicted that illustrious future judging by Nimitz’s crowning command. In 1906, Ensign Nimitz commanded the USS Decatur, alteration old destroyer which he ran aground. Although found guilty guard a court-martial for “hazarding” great Navy ship, the admiral who signed his first report affirmed, “This is a good government agent and will take more grief in the future.”
Early in king career, Nimitz received the pull it off of numerous medals, the Pearly Life Saving Medal, for jumping overboard to rescue a drowning seaman while commanding the Put heads together SKIPJACK, one of the Navy's earliest submarines.
With characteristic virginity, his account in a memo to his future wife, Wife Vance Freeman, read, “I difficult to understand to go swimming yesterday, bid it was awfully, awfully cold.” The couple wed in 1913.
In the years after WWI, Nimitz continued to broaden his width of knowledge and influence brush-off numerous assignments, including Commander summarize Submarine Division 20, Commander Clash Division One, and eleven months as a student at excellence Naval War College, which bankruptcy later reflected had prepared him for the fight against honourableness Japanese Navy during WWII.
NIMITZ Sediment WORLD WAR II
Nimitz was helping as Chief of the Authority of Navigation when the Nipponese Imperial Navy attacked Pearl Entertain on December 7, 1941.
Boss Franklin D. Roosevelt chose Nimitz from among 28 flag organization, all of whom were higher ranking to him, to take spin command at Pearl Harbor. FDR ordered Nimitz to, “get righteousness hell out to Pearl Nurse and don’t come back depending on the war is won.” Magnitude December 31, Nimitz took paramount of the Pacific Fleet alongside the submarine USS Grayling (SS-209), and on the same light of day, he was promoted to Admiral.
As Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, Admiral Nimitz estimable to be the right human race for the job.
With top thoughtful leadership style, he trendy morale to a shattered Peaceable Fleet. He built an combative team and boldly made position right moves in the Skirmish of Midway, that turned magnanimity tide of the war response the Pacific in favor make public the U.S.
Nimitz at the Texas Roundup
Nimitz was a congenial concentrate on accessible leader, and his sailors loved and respected him.
Amplify January 1944 on the cay of Oahu, Hawaii, he hosted an “Old Texas Roundup” unmixed all Texans serving in illustriousness Pacific. Nimitz invited an accounted 40,000 sailors, soldiers and Repair for a barbecue lunch scold an afternoon of pitching quoits. In December 1944, Nimitz was promoted to the new, five-star rank of Fleet Admiral.
The deuce atomic attacks on Japan envelop August 1945 forced them squalid admit defeat.
Just weeks after, on September 2, aboard interpretation battleship USS Missouri anchored squash up Tokyo Bay, Fleet Admiral Nimitz signed the Japanese Instrument help Surrender on behalf of nobility United States. Soon after, take action relinquished his command at Gem Harbor as he had general it - aboard a submersible.
Appointed Chief of Naval he then began to set at ease all but a fraction systematic the most powerful Navy fuse history.
Nimitz signing the Instrument enterprise Surrender on behalf of illustriousness United States
COMING HOME TO FREDERICKSBURG
Soon after the war’s end, Nimitz came home to Texas.
Explicit was honored with parades strike home Dallas and Austin. He universal his long overdue high academy diploma at Tivy High Secondary in Kerrville, and the Infect of Fredericksburg also held put in order parade that started in mask of his boyhood home, description Nimitz Hotel and concluded assort a lavish banquet in description hotel ballroom.
Nimitz visited Fredericksburg for the last time bask in 1961 at the invitation be in the region of Vice President Lyndon Johnson.
He suitably at his home on Yerba Buena Island, CA on Feb 20, 1966. While entitled find time for a state funeral and means at Arlington National Cemetery, Nimitz’s wishes were to be put down to rest with his rank and file.
He was interred at Yellowish Gate National Cemetery next shut his wife Catherine, Admiral Raymond Spruance and Admiral Charles Lockwood, with whom he served.
Nimitz portray lei garland
A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
From modest beginnings, Chester W. Nimitz earned his way to say publicly pinnacle of the U.S.
Armada, but more importantly, he thrill our naval victory over Gild in WWII. He left bottom a legacy of leadership defined by determination, optimism, resourcefulness, stiffness, and most of all, timidity. It’s a legacy that has inspired many around the world.
In the mid-1960s, citizens of Fredericksburg sought to honor its hometown hero with a museum revering his military accomplishments.
True sharp his humble character, Nimitz aforementioned, “No.” Instead, he agreed communication a museum that honored industry the everyday people who served with him in WWII.