Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
U.S. Navy (USN) Chief of Naval Operations

Background
Chester W. Nimitz was born on February 24, 1885 to parents Chester Bernhard Nimitz and Anna Josephine (Henke) in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Wartime History
On December 17, 1941 in a command shake up, Admiral Nimitz is appointed Commander In Chief (CinC) of the Pacific Fleet, replacing Admiral Husband E. Kimmel. Meanwhile, Vice Admiral William S. Pye, Commander, Battle Force, becomes acting Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet until his arrival. On December 31, 1941 he took command at Pearl Harbor during a ceremony in front of the Torpedo Building at Quarry Point.

During the middle of 1942, Navy leadership met to discuss war plans in the Pacific. When arriving, PBY Catalina transporting Admiral Nimitz was lost landing and crashed into the sea with the pilot killed. Rescued by Lt. Sam Sherman who was the first to arrive at the scene of the crash and rescued Nimitz from the sea. Nimitz refused a blanket and a shot of brandy, and had Sherman to immediately order divers to recover his hat from the wreckage. Sherman thought this was strange, but followed his orders. When the hat was retrieved, Nimitz relaxed for the first time. Later on Guam, when Nimitz met then-Commander Sherman on Guam, he explained that his hat had a waterproof liner and inside were the top secret plans for the invasion of Guadalcanal.

On May 27, 1942 Nimitz bestowed the Navy Cross to Cook Third Class Doris Miller a ceremony aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) at Pearl Harbor.

On April 17, 1943 a secret plan dubbed "Operation Vengeance" was formulated and approved by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. The interception mission was assigned to U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) P-38 Lightnings from the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) and 70th Fighter Squadron (70th FS) that would be required to fly 435 miles over the open sea to intercept the bombers both and kill Yamamoto and his senior staff, assuming they followed the intercepted timetable. The mission would be the longest intercept mission by land based aircraft flown by that point in World War II.

On July 26, 1944 aboard USS Baltimore (CA-68) in Pearl Harbor photographed with President of the United States (POTUS) Franklin D. Roosevelt and General Douglas MacArthur. On July 28, 1944 in Honolulu Roosevelt discusses strategy with MacArthur, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Admiral William D. Leahy. Ultimately, MacArthur prevails upon the President and Nimitz to accord priority to the liberation of the Philippines.

On December 15, 1944, the rank of five star Fleet Admiral was established and the next day U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt promoted Nimitz. On December 19, 1944 the rank was officially bestowed during a ceremony.

On September 2, 1945 at 8:43am General Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Admiral Nimitz boarded USS Missouri BB-63 for the official surrender ceremony. At 8:56am the Japanese representatives boarded led by Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu. At 9:02am General Douglas MacArthur stepped to to the microphones and began the twenty-three minute ceremony. Nimitz was one of the signers. At 9:30am the Japanese representatives departed followed by MacArthur and Nimitz then the senior officers.

Memorials
The hotel owned by his grandfather is today the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site at the National Museum of the Pacific War (Nimitz Museum).

References
Naval History and Heritage Command - Chester William Nimitz