Chester Nimitz

Chester Nimitz (1885-1966), American naval officer. Chester William Nimitz was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, and educated at the United States Naval Academy. During World War I (1914-1918) he was chief of staff to the commander of the submarine force of the Atlantic Fleet. In 1938, after advancing through the ranks, Nimitz was appointed rear admiral. In December 1941, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into World War II, Nimitz was appointed commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, with the rank of four-star admiral. As commander of the Pacific Ocean Zone, he directed both the Navy and the Marines. His bold tactics and strategy were largely responsible for stopping the Japanese advance at the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942) and the victorious Battle of Midway (June 1942). Nimitz also helped to develop the strategy of island hopping, in which each island that was captured became the base from which to attack the next target. Islands that were Japanese strongholds were skipped; this strategy saved both lives and time. He was promoted to the position of Admiral of the Fleet in 1944. Nimitz was the official U.S. representative who signed the Japanese surrender in 1945. After the war, he was chief of naval operations from December 1945 to December 1947, when he retired.