On february 24, 2014, the naval war college library in newport, r. Nimitz was a naval commander who was a pioneer in submarines. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by cincpac staff covering the period 1 july 1945 to 31 august 1945 the 8 volumes are paginated as follows. Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept. Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept through the end of the wwii is now available online. Just reading pacific crucible by ian w toll a book of the pearl harbor era. The importance of this work and the man it concerns is perhaps best described in the books opening sentence. The commander of the pacific ocean theater offers a quick and informative read that introduces the reader to one of the u.
These papers document all phases of admiral chester nimitzs career. Bush gallery museum store, the national museum of the pacific war command post and the online museum store. The commander of the pacific ocean theater is meticulously researched, immensely informative, and laudably balanced in all of its judgments. February 24, 1885 february 20, 1966 was a fleet admiral of the united states navy. Nimitz confers with members of the press at pacific fleet. Nimitz commanded thousands of aircraft and millions of men, amounting to more military power than had been wielded by all the commanders in all previous wars. Sunday, december 7th, 1941 admiral chester nimitz was attending a concert in washington d. Called a great book worthy of a great man, this definitive biography of the commander in chief of the pacific fleet in world war ii, first published in 1976 and now available in paperback for the first time, continues to be considered the best book ever written about adm.
During the second world war, he was commander in chief of all u. Nimitz gray book unveiling the naval war college library in newport, r. Admiral chester nimitz, representing the united states, signs the instrument of surrender. Nimitzs staff helped to put together this 4000page chronicle which.
The command summary of fadm chester nimitz was compiled by the war plans section of the pacific command headquarters in hawaii during world war. Admiral nimitzs personal connections to the naval war college as an alumnus and supporter are key to the story of the graybook. He joined texas instruments, and spent four years there. Admiral nimitz gray book the 4,000 page gray book collection of fleet adm. This is a forwarded email about a book written by admiral chester nimitz called reflections on pearl harbor in it, nimitz noted three important mistakes made by the japanese when they attacked pearl harbor on december 7, 1941. Schonland and lcdr bruce mccandless aboard uss san francisco ca38, in december 1942.
He was a great admiral who did a lot to ensure our success in the pacific while at the same time having to deal with macarthur but i think mr. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 1 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by captain james m. Pacific fleet and commander in chief, pacific ocean areas, commanding allied air, land, and sea forces during world war ii. At this early stage, anrs is able to provide images of one of the copies of the gray book that are located in papers of fleet admiral chester w. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and heritage command, washington navy yard, washington d. A superb read which covers his whole life from ensign on the china station through to his. Nimitz, archives branch, naval history and heritage command, washington, d.
The commander of the pacific ocean theater 9780230107656. The commander of the pacific ocean theater by brayton harris available from rakuten kobo. The socalled gray book, named for its original cover, spans from the days after the attack on pearl harbor to the final days of world war ii. He became president, chief executive officer ceo and a director in 1965, and was elected chairman of the. Now, on what would have been nimitzs 129th birthday, that collection is being made available to the public, according to. At midway, spruance scored the first major victory for the united states over japan. He played a major role in the naval history of world war ii as commander in chief, u. Nimitz attended tivy high school in kerrville, texas and at the time wanted to go to west point but wasnt able to because there were no appointments empty. It was inscribed to joe and clarisse knowland with best wishes and great affection. Chester nimitz was an admirals admiral, considered by many to be the greatest naval leader of the last century. They have finished collecting correspondence to and from admiral nimitz during world war 2, from right after pearl harbor to japans surrender. Chester nimitz i asked god for strength that i might achieve. Famed nimitz wwii diary to be unveiled online monday. Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7.
Pacific fleet and pacific ocean areas, hauled down his flag at pearl harbor and relieved fleet admiral king as chief of naval operations. Nimitz, usn,commander in chief pacific fleet and pacific ocean areas standing confers with from left to right general douglas. A story of family, courage and sacrifice from pearl harbor to iwo jima, by martha maccallum, available feb. They are especially important for the period 19471966, for nimitzs service as commanderinchief, us pacific fleet and pacific ocean areas from 1941 to 1945, and as chief of naval operations, 19451947. Nimitz was a five star admiral and he has had a five star book written about him. Admiral nimitz synonyms, admiral nimitz pronunciation, admiral nimitz translation, english dictionary definition of admiral nimitz. Pacific fleet during world war ii and was later promoted to the new rank of fleet admiral. Nimitz kept a daily journal now referred to as the gray book. Nimitz, usnnimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945volume 1 of 8running. Toll tells a story of chester nimitz who had been working day and night at the navy department in washington since the pearl harbor attack. Pacific fleet commander 18851966 admiral nimitzs berkeley residences claremont hotel 728 santa barbara rd.
Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june. Tokyo bay surrender of japanese aboard uss missouri. Us navy 1200 navy pentagon washington dc 203501200. Nimitz, as commanderinchief, pacific fleet and pacific ocean area during world war ii, commanded th. The admiral nimitz foundation is a museums charity located in fredericksburg, tx. Bound in gray material, nimitzsdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a firsthand perspective. Chester henry nimitz february 24, 1885february 20, 1966 served as commander in chief of the u. William leahy, ernest king, chester nimitz, and william halsey. Chester nimitz was an admiral s admiral, considered by many to be the greatest naval leader of the last century. Bound in gray material, nimitz sdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a firsthand perspective.
Nimitz, halsey, leahy, and king the five star admirals who won the war at sea by walter r. In that role, he commanded all land and sea forces in the central pacific area. Nimitzs grandfather was a merchant seaman which was a major influence on his father also named chester. Charity navigator rating for the admiral nimitz foundation. Although douglas macarthur and chester nimitz were the two. Nimitz kept a collection of communications that grew to more than 4,000 pages.
Admiral nimitz by brayton harris goodreads share book. As a lieutenant, fletcher was awarded the medal of honor for his actions in battle at veracruz. They are especially important for the period 19471966, for nimitz s service as commanderinchief, us pacific fleet and pacific ocean areas from 1941 to 1945, and as chief of naval operations, 19451947. With one of the largest, most comprehensive collection of books and gift items connected with wwii in the. Navys leading personalities of the twentieth century. Naval history and heritage command in washington, d.
Hellcats of the navy 1957 movie clip admiral nimitz. May 01, 2011 many readers would consider it a long book, but if you are interested in military history especially world war ii history or naval history the admirals. Nimitz was an expert on submarines and was instrumental in the advent of the nuclear submarine. Saving nimitzs graybook among the vast number of documents to be found in the 71 feet of the papers of fleet admiral chester w. Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june 2014.
In the gift shop, i purchased a small book entitled, reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz. How historys only fivestar admirals triumphed in world war ii and made the united states the worlds dominant sea power. He was the nephew of admiral frank friday fletcher, who was also awarded the medal of honor for. Admiral nimitz united states admiral of the pacific fleet during world war ii who used aircraft carriers to destroy the japanese navy chester. Nimitz commanded thousands of ships and aircraft and millions of men, amounting to more military power than had been wielded by all the commanders in all previous wars. Chester nimitz was born on february 24, 1885 in fredericksburg, texas. Nimitz was promoted to the newlycreated rank of fleet admiral in 1944 and became the naval equivalent to the armys general dwight eisenhower. From 7 december 1941, the date of the japanese attack on pearl harbor, to 31 august 1945, two days before the japanese surrender at tokyo bay, pacific fleet staff at pearl harbor maintained a running estimate and summary of communicatons and other records in a gray book, copies of which were filed with the papers of fleet admiral chester w. Chester nimitz communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. Daily press the navy unveiled a gold mine of wwii information when it decided to publish nimitz diary about 4,000 pages of personal records written by fleet adm. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by cincpac staff covering the period 1 july 1945 to 31 august 1945. After brilliantly leading american forces to victory in world war ii, fleet admiral nimitz, the commander in chief, u. Admiral nimitz definition of admiral nimitz by the free.
He later joined perkinelmer corporation, a manufacturer of scientific instruments based in norwalk, connecticut. Frank jack fletcher april 29, 1885 april 25, 1973 was an admiral in the united states navy during world war ii. Columbia pictures goes direct to admiral nimitz, speaking to the camera, who couldn t know that the actor ronald reagan he indirectly introduces would one day outrank both himself and vice admiral lockwood, coauthor of the book that was the basis of hellcats of the navy 1957. As a commanderinchief, nimitz certainly reflected his naval war college education that he, most of his flag officer colleagues, and their staffs shared during world war ii.
Raymond ames spruance july 3, 1886 december, 1969 was a united states navy admiral during world war ii. Read admiral chester w nimitz s strategic leadership during world war 2 by cdr david j. The more than 4,000page gray book, a collection of nimitz s communications during world war ii, is being made available to the public on feb. The command summary of fadm nimitz was compiled by the war plans section of the pacific command headquarters in hawaii during world war ii. Pretty good book about adm nimitz but it went a little overboard on the adulation for nimitz. Nimitz gray book some good news from the naval war college. He was paged and told there was a phone call for him.
Link to chester nimitz grey book second world war history. Admiral chester nimitz on japans three mistakespending investigation. Feb 27, 2014 the command summary of fadm chester nimitz was compiled by the war plans section of the pacific command headquarters in hawaii during world war ii. View more property details, sales history and zestimate data on zillow. Legendary admirals wwii diary to be released online this article discusses the importance of fleet admiral chester w. Browse photos and price history of this bed, 3 bath, 3,024 sq. The admiral nimitz foundation and national museum of the pacific war directly benefit from your purchases at the george h. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and heritage. Nimitz, born in his seafaring grandfathers small, centraltexas hotel, quit high school at age 15 to enter the annapolis naval academy. Admiral nimitzs wwii diary now online hmh current events.
Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7 december 1941 to 31 august 1942. Potter, naval historian at the us naval academy, quoted on the cover jacket of his book nimitz 1976, isbn 0870214926. Nimitzs 4000 page world war ii gray book being made available to the public. Several weeks later he was appointed to relieve admiral kimmel as cinc pacif. When he answered the phone, it was president franklin delano roosevelt on the phone.
Berkeley historical plaque project nimitz, chester admiral. These papers document all phases of admiral chester nimitz s career. I could not put the book down and that is down to how the book is written. The admiral nimitz foundation is rated 4 out of 4 stars by charity navigator. Fletcher was the operational commander at the pivotal battles of coral sea and of midway. Washington nns the naval war college library in newport, r. Sunday, december 7th, 1941admiral chester nimitz was attending a concert in washington d. Accorded a heros welcome at home, the quiet, selfeffacing officer described himself as merely a representative of the brave men. Only four men in american history have been promoted to the fivestar rank of admiral of the fleet. Nimitz to the allied victory in world war ii, and the significance evidenced of the gray book primary source collection. The books were originally bound in graycovered binders that gave the document.
Jun 27, 2019 ten days after the attack, nimitz was chosen as the replacement. Admiral chester w nimitzs strategic leadership during world. During the battles in the pacific during world war ii, admiral chester w. After the attack on pearl harbor, nimitz assembled the forces, selected the leaders, and as commander of all u. Admiral chester nimitz on japans three mistakespending. A superb read which covers his whole life from ensign on the china station through to his command of the big blue fleet in the second world war. Admiral nimitz seated discussing strategies in the south pacific theater with top officers.
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