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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)
NAMESAKE - Nimitz Junior High School, Tulsa, OK
Date
Oct 27, 1961
Last Updated: Feb 10, 2009
Comments
In the late fifties the Tulsa School Board made a decision to build a new junior high school. The Tulsa Area Navy League took notice that no Tulsa school was named for anyone in the Navy. The Navy League petitioned the School Board to name the new school after a Navy figure. After much discussion the name they settled on was Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Nimitz Junior High opened its doors in the fall of 1961. Nimitz was officially dedicated on Navy Day October 27, 1961. Admiral Nimitz was in attendance at the dedication and shared these words with the students: "The future safety and well-being of our beloved Country will be in the hands of the young people who are now passing through the Nation's schools like Nimitz Junior High."
"The rest is up to you!"
Nimitz Junior High officially became Nimitz Middle School in 1986 when Tulsa Public Schools adopted the middle school concepts.