On this day: Adm. Chester Nimitz dead (20th February 1966)

NYT ^ | 1966-02-21 | United Press International

[Tarkin]

From the NYT obituary (1966-02-21)

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 20--Admiral of the Fleet Chester W. Nimitz died today in his home here.

He would have been 81 years old on Thursday.

During World War II, he was in charge of assembling the Pacific force of two million men and 1,000 ships that drove the Japanese back to their homeland.

The former commander-in-chief of the United States Pacific fleet suffered a cerebral thrombosis, or stroke, early last month.

A graveside service and burial with military honors are scheduled for Thursday afternoon at Golden Gate National Cemetery in nearby San Bruno. Earlier that day, the body will lie in state for 1 1/2 hours at the chapel of the Treasure Island Naval Base. (...)

[Semper Paratus]

Architect of the "Island-Hopping" grand strategy against Japan. Taking strategic islands and by-passing others until we were within bombing range of the home islands.

[TWfromTEXAS]

The Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas is good and getting better every year.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/admiral_nimitz/

[lunarbicep]

[allen08gop]

As I recall, underway refueling too.

A true sailor in the best traditions of the Navy.

E.B Potter's book was a real eye opener in terms of what went on behind the scenes after Pearl Harbor.

He was a good man.

[allen08gop]

He would have been 121 years old if the tombstone is correct. NYT fact checking? Oh wait, they don't do they?

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

The obituary quoted here is dated 1966.

[allen08gop]

Ah, yes, you are correct.

[Cyclopean Squid]

They have many great WWII museums in Fredericksburg. I visited many of them whilst on sojourn during the Rita evacuation.

On a side note, my hometown of Lorain, Ohio was the birthplace of Admiral Ernest King.

[mortal19440]

Today they would refuse to honor this great man just like they won't host the BB IOWA. I used to love that city, but they are a lost cause.

[em2vn]

Another Texan who made good.

[ken5050]

I had the same thought..

[dfwgator]

LOL, I almost fell into the same trap.

[ken5050]

Here's a link to a kewl webpage with some marvelous pics of Nimitz, including one of his assuming comand of the Pacific fleet after Pearl Harbor aboard the submarine USS Grayling..along with a more extensive biography and commentary..well worth reading..

[ken5050]

In some ways, Nimitz's BEST decision during the war may have been to appoint Charlie Lockwood as ComSubPac, then leave him alone to fight the Japs..

[Busywhiskers]

Best thing that can be said about Admiral Nimitz is the he was a true warrior.

[weegee]

Beat me to it!

I need to go there sometime (I've been in Fredericksburg).

[pabianice]

USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

[allen08gop]

A good choice too among so many by this great leader.

I think one of the wisest decisions he made was keeping Commander Joseph J. Rochefort and the intelligence officer for the Pacific Fleet, Lieutenant Commander Edwin T. Layton on after Pearl Harbor.

In today's environment, how many new CEOs would fire the whole staff after that debacle?

Nimitz found two valuable minds in Rochefort and Layton. It was Rochefort, Layton and a little known staff member, Lieutenant Commander Jasper Holmes, who helped give Nimitz the intel he needed for the victory at Midway.

Holmes had spent some time on Midway at Pan-Am's repair facility and recalled that all the island's water came from a desalination plant. Rochefort and Layton then developed the now famous plan to confirm Midway as "AF" in the Japanese Naval Code.

To me, that's a decision that not many leaders would make. It shows insights that any manager can learn from today.