Nimitz (CVN 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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HISTORY OF CARRIER AVIATION 6. Ei. ,Es- W- ' .f .aw -1-.' f.,hi,, .U-x. .l,,m,, , ,a-,m, fr-my ' 'Hg 1 ' ee?

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FLEET ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ Chester W. Nimitz was born in Fredericksburg, Texas on February 24, 1885. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1901. His graduation with distinction from that institution in 1905 began a career unparalleled in the annals of naval history. Just after Pearl Harbor, on December 31, 1941, Admiral Nimitz was named Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. For his service he was presented the Distinguished Service Medal, awarded in the Name of Congress, by the President of the United States. The citation accompanying this award best describes his contribution to important Pacific naval actions during World War ll. For exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet since December 1941. At the most crucial period of the present war in the Pacific, Admiral Nimitz assumed command of that area and, despite the losses at Pearl Harbor and the tragic shortage of vessels, planes and supplies, organized his forces and carried on a defensive attack which halted the Japanese advance. As rapidly as personnel, ships and material became available, he shifted from defensive to offensive warfare and, by his brilliant leadership and outstanding skill as a strategist, enabled the units under his command to defeat the enemy in the Pacific. On December 15, 1945, Admiral Nimitz relieved Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King as Chief of Naval Operations. The brilliant career of the famous Fleet Admiral ended with his death in San Francisco on February 20, 1966. Adm. Nimitz Awards Commendation Letters to survivors ofa 34- Adm I N 4 fra imitz is shown sal t th I t day rubber raft voyage, after their plane crashed and sank. honor Mrs Nimitz is at leftu mg e CO Drs a a post War Parade given In his

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EARLY HISTORY OF USS NIMITZ USS Nimitz QCVN-685 is named for Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Navy's last five star Admiral. Funds for the construction of the ship were appropriated by Congress in fiscal year 1967, with the keel being laid on June 22, 1968 at Newport News, Virginia. Catherine Nimitz Lay, daughter of the late Admiral Nimitz, christened the U.S. Navy's largest warship on May 3, 1975. President Gerald Ft. Ford was the principal speaker at the commissioning ceremony. During the first year of commissioned service, the Nimitz crew began the arduous task of building the ship's readiness for duty with the United States Navy. The highlights of the ship's first year were the completion of two intense training periods in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and a month-long cruise to Northern Europe as the lead ship of Nuclear Task Force '75. As the most capable unit of the United States forward deployable forces, Nimitz has played major roles in a wide variety of NATO, Sixth and Seventh Fleet exercises in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Caribbean, Northern European and Indian Ocean areas. Nimitz has demonstrated the highest standards of combat V readiness, endurance and the ability to rapidly deploy to troubled areas of the globe. These standards of excellence characterize the Nimitz motto Teamwork, A Tradition.