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Contact Info
Home Town Fredericksburg, TX
Last Address Yerba Buena Island, CA
Date of Passing Feb 20, 1966
Location of Interment Golden Gate National Cemetery (VA) - San Bruno, California
A defining characteristic of Admiral Nimitz's life was his devotion to the Navy. After the war, he was to remark, "Being a part of the Navy is honorable and soul-satisfying work." In 1913, Nimitz was sent to Germany to study diesel engines and upon his return was instrumental in supervising the building of engines for the Navy's first diesel-powered ship, the MAUMEE. Aware of Lt. Nimitz's skill, a leading American engineering firm, offered him a job for $25,000 a year (his Navy pay was $3,456 at the time. He refused the offer, preferring the "honorable, soul-satisfying" duties of a Naval Officer.
Because the rank of Fleet Admiral was a lifetime appointment, FADM Nimitz retired on Decmeber 15,1947 yet remained on the active rolls until his death in 1966.
Other Comments:
Decorations and awards from foreign governments include:
Britain - Order of Knight Grand Cross of the Bath
Greece - Grand Cross of the Order of George I
China - Order of the Grand Cordon of Pao Ting (Tripod) Special Class
Guatemala - LaCruz de Merito Military de Primera Clase
Great Britain - Pacific Star
The Netherlands - Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords in the Degree of
the Knight Grand Cross
France - Grand Officer in the National Order of the Legion of Honor
Cuba - Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes
Argentina - Order of the Liberator
Belgium - Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator, Grand Cross Order of
the Crown with Palm, Croiz de Guerro with Palm
Italy - Knight of the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Italy
Philippines - Medal of Valor
Ecuador - Star of Abdon Calderson (1st Class)
Court Martial of Ensign Chester W. Nimitz
Date
Aug 15, 1908
Last Updated: Jun 19, 2008
Comments
Guessing on the month and date.
He ran the USS Decatur aground in the Philippines entering Batanas Harbor, south of Manila Bay, on the evening of July 7, 1908, young Ensign Nimitz ran the destroyer aground on a mud bank. After several attempts to back out proved futile, Nimitz set up a cot on the deck and slept peacefully the rest of the night. The next morning a passing steamer pulled the Decatur free and Nimitz continued on his way.
He reported the incident and was taken to court martial aboard the USS Denver (C 14).
In the investigation that followed, his perfect record was taken into account as well as the fact the charts he was provided with were out of date, the young officer stood a court-martial for "culpable inefficiency in the performance of duty" and was convicted of "neglect of duty" and he was awarded to be publicly reprimanded by the Commander-in-Chief, US Naval Forces in Philippine waters, Rear Admiral J. N. Hemphill."
In the evening of July 7, 1908, Ensign Nimitz in the Decatur became a little careless. Entering Batangas Harbor, south of Manila Bay, he estimated his position instead of taking bearings. He also failed to check on whether the tide was running in or out. Suddenly the leadsman shouted, "We're not moving, sir!"
At first Nimitz was puzzled. Then came the sickening realization that his destroyer had run aground on a mudbank. Attempts to back her down were fruitless. Here was a situation that could easily wreck a young officer's career. "On that black night somewhere in the Philippines," Nimitz later recalled, "the advice of my grandfather returned to me: 'Don't worry about things over which you have no control.' So I set up a cot on deck and went to sleep."
Not long after daybreak a small steamer appeared, heaved a line to the Decatur, and pulled her off. Ensign Nimitz dutifully reported his accident. Navy regulations required that the grounding be investigated and the guilty party, if any, be punished. Nimitz was therefore transferred to the cruiser Denver to stand court-martial for "culpable inefficiency in the performance of duty."