Nimitz

Chester Nimitz was one of the truly great commanders of World War II. Taking command of a decimated Pacific Fleet after the disaster at Pearl Harbor, he directed the recovery and developed strategies for first containing and then reversing the tide of Japanese success. Within six months he and his gifted subordinate Spruance won a victory at Midway that was as decisive in World War II as Trafalgar had been in the wars against Napoleon. From that point the United States Navy seized the strategic initiative in the Pacific and two months later at Guadalcanal, began offensive operations on land as well. Over the next three years Nimitz commanded the Pacific Fleet through a series of great battles, managed it through explosive growth into the largest and most powerful naval force in history, and led it to complete victory over Japan.

This is all well known, at least to people who study World War II. The details of his life and character are far less known. That is one reason it is a good thing that the naval institute biography of him by E. B. Potter is now out in paperback. Nimitz was an interesting, thoughtful, dedicated, brilliant, and admirable man whose life is worthy of contemplation and whose story is pleasing, interesting, and instructive. His path from boyhood in Fredericksburg, Texas to five stars is a fine tale. The book is well written and full of first hand information from Nimitz, his family, and his contemporaries. It covers his entire life with particular attention to his early career and development. It both sets and presents the large context and shows small and telling details. One of my favorites of the latter is the fact that during the war Nimitz kept a picture of MacArthur in his office to remind himself “not to make Jovian pronouncements complete with thunderbolts.” That story by itself is worth the price of the book.

It is a fine book about a great man. I recommend it.