Admiral Nimitz

I'm reading a biography of Chester Nimitz by
E.B.Potter.
It's a great read - about the man as much as it is the war.
Here's a small event from it.
In the fall of 1943 at the height of the battles at Guadalcanal an ordinary sailor talks his way past the Marine guard at CinCPac headquarters and asks someone inside if he can speak to the admiral.
Nimitz's chief of staff hears about it and since the admiral has been under extreme pressure of late thinks it may be an opportunity for him to unwind for a few minutes. So he asks Nimitz if he is willing to meet the sailor. Nimitz says of course and has the sailor shown in.
Once the sailor meets Nimitz he breaks down and confesses that he had bet his buddy that the admiral cared enough about his men to let them approach him.
Other sailors had gotten in on the bet and now there was several hundred $ riding on it.
Nimitz, chatted with the fellow for a bit, asks what ship he's on, how they are treating the men, how is the chow, etc, etc. Then he realizes the sailor would need some kind of proof to show he had accomplished his mission. So he calls for the headquarters photographer to take a photo of them together and print several copies for the sailor to take back to his ship with him.
It was just a small event. One that allowed the great admiral to unwind for a few minutes during a stressful time in the war.
And it was an example of how Nimitz was able to keep morale high in the fleet - by paying attention to his men.

Typo.
Should be fall of 1942, not 43.

The museum in Fredricksburg TX, The National Museum of the Pacific War ,is well worth visiting if you are interested in this history. Check out their web site. I would advise not going on a weekend (very crowded) and if your SWMBO is into antiques and foo foo stuff bring 2 credit cards. If y'all are into wine, bring 3.

My Dad served 3 1/2 years in the Pacific theatre, whenever he spoke of Admiral Nimitz it was always with the utmost respect and reverence. I will be sure to get E.B. Potters book, thanks for posting this information.

I had a friend Perry, now deceased, who grew up in Abilene, Kansas, Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower's home town. When Perry was in high school, he had an after school job with a local dry cleaners delivering dry cleaning to the customers. He routinely made deliveries to Ike's house.

Along came WWII and Perry wound up in the Army in North Africa. Perry, as a Pfc, had driven his Commanding Officer by Jeep to the Allied headquarters as a matter or routine. Perry said he was waiting in his Jeep when Ike and his entourage arrived. Ike walked past the front of Perry's Jeep, then turned and asked, "Hey, where do I know you from?" Perry told him, and Ike stopped and chatted for a few minutes about Abilene and things back home.

Perry always thought it had really been something when someone of Ike's stature would take a break from the war and chat for a few minutes with one of the hometown brats.

Times 2 on the Fredricksburg comments & museum. BTDT it is well worth the effort to go and visit. Here's a link to the website.
Pacific War Museum

Another vote for NMPW. They keep making it better and better. Several times a year they have re-enactments. Before the re-enactment they school the audience on the different uniforms and weapons.

The museum facilities will take all day. Skip main street and their chinese trinkets.

I went to the museum I think it was the old one. Before they moved into a new building. Was very interesting. Cost me 1500.00 to get the wife out of town.Good thing we were on the headed home part of vacation. Car was packed.

I have a story, but from quite a ways down the chain of command. My Dad, a corporal in the Army Engineers, was operating a bulldozer in New Guinea near Buna. A command car drove by, slowed and stopped. The driver got out and told my Dad that the General would like to ride on your bulldozer. So my Dad had a General ride around and push mud with him for a couple of hours. Two days later, my Dad was a Sgt.

I read a biography of General Douglas MacArthur a couple years ago. According to his biography he was a major source of stress for Admiral Nimitz.

i think my Dad would concur, , Dad was in Amphibious tank island hopping,.. most the guys in his outfit did not have the best opnion toward the pompous mc Arthur ,,.. But Admiral Nimitz , Now There Was a Real Man! , that knew how to win and get along with his men to get the best out of them

Times 3 on the museum. Neat little town. Don't forget to climb Enchanted Rock and get some BBQ in Llano, Mom lives there, great weather in January, Hotter than Hades in July. JB in East Texas