Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept. The socalled gray book because of the color of its cover represents fadm nimitz s diary for the pacific command from 7 december 7 1941, until two days before the japanese surrender in tokyo bay 31 august 1945. The naval history and heritage command, located at the washington navy yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of u. He played a major role in the naval history of world war ii as commander in chief, u. Fleet admiral chester william nimitz this brief biography of world war iis most successful admiral covers the highlights of his naval career. Chester nimitz s communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the. Legendary admiral s wwii diary to be released online this article discusses the importance of fleet admiral chester w. Bound in gray material, nimitz sdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several.
In midfebruary 2014, the naval war college unveiled an online 4000page gray book collection of fleet adm. During the battles in the pacific during world war ii, admiral chester w. After the attack on pearl harbor, nimitz assembled the forces, selected the leaders, and as commander of all u. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and heritage. Allen benson describe the graybook and its significance. They are especially important for the period 19471966, for nimitz s service as commanderinchief, us pacific fleet and pacific ocean areas from 1941 to 1945, and as chief of naval operations, 19451947. Nimitz was with the young submarine service until 19 when he was sent to germany and belgium to study. They have finished collecting correspondence to and from admiral nimitz during world war 2, from right after pearl harbor to japans surrender. The books were originally bound in graycovered binders that gave the document. From 7 december 1941, the date of the japanese attack on pearl harbor, to 31 august 1945, two days before the japanese surrender at tokyo bay, pacific fleet staff at pearl harbor maintained a running estimate and summary of communicatons and other records in a gray book, copies of which were filed with the papers of fleet admiral chester w.
Admiral nimitzs wwii diary now online hmh current events. The socalled gray book because of the color of its cover represents fadm nimitz s diary for the pacific command from 7 december 7 1941, until two days before the japanese surrender in. Washington nns the naval war college library in newport, r. Naval academy in 1905, he was on the china station. Layton, the pacific fleets intelligence officer from 1940 until the surrender of japan.
Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june 2014. The weekly publication of the aircraft carrier uss nimitz cvn 68 issuu company logo. Layton is most noted for his work as an intelligence officer during and. Famed nimitz wwii diary unveiled online quarterdeck. In the gift shop, i purchased a small book entitled, reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz. Washington the naval war college library in newport, r. Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7 december 1941 to 31 august 1942 the 8 volumes are paginated as follows. Bound in gray material, nimitzsdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a firsthand perspective. Posting of nimitz graybook cheered by researchers zeke maccormack feb. Called a great book worthy of a great man, this definitive biography of the commander in chief of the pacific fleet in world war ii, first published in 1976 and now available in paperback for the first time, continues to be considered the best book ever written about adm. Sunday, december 7th, 1941 admiral chester nimitz was attending a concert in washington d. Reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz. Chester nimitz operational communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. At this early stage, anrs is able to provide images of one of the copies of the gray book that are located in papers of fleet admiral chester w.
Nimitz gray book some good news from the naval war college. Nimitz notes from december, 1941, compiled in his gray book, which the navy put on the internet in 2014. The book, named simply for the color of its cover, is a collection of communications between nimitz and other commanders during world war ii. The socalled gray book, named for its original cover, spans from the days after the attack on pearl harbor to the final days of world war ii. Chester nimitzs communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. Famed nimitz wwii diary to be unveiled online monday. Nimitz news february 28, 2014 by uss nimitz cvn 68 issuu. Nimitz explains blessings at pearl harbor the journalnews. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by cincpac staff covering the period 1 july 1945 to 31 august 1945. Highly respected by both the civilian and naval communities, nimitz was sometimes overshadowed by more.
In 1940, admiral nimitz s name was one of two submitted for the post of commander in chief of the pacific fleet. The book covers his full life, from a povertystricken childhood to postwar appointments as chief of naval operations and u. February 24, 1885 february 20, 1966 was a fleet admiral of the united states navy. Mar 15, 2008 called a great book worthy of a great man, this definitive biography of the commander in chief of the pacific fleet in world war ii, first published in 1976 and now available in paperback for the first time, continues to be considered the best book ever written about adm. The nimitz graybook access here the eight volumes of the nimitz gray book. Big sunken battleships and navy vessels cluttered the waters every where you. He was paged and told there was a phone call for him. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 1 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by captain james m. Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7 december 1941 to 31 august 1942. Ive just started reading, and its extremely interesting. Military historians and admiral nimitz museum officials cheered the release monday of an online version of the daybyday operational log that the famed seaman maintained during the war in the. This compilation of nimitz correspondence with major commanders is called admiral nimitz command summary, running estimate.
Discuss your favourite ww2 books here online readable books in the reading room. For some of the debunking done here, were turning directly to adm. Pacific fleet and commander in chief, pacific ocean areas, commanding allied air, land, and sea forces during world war ii nimitz. Legendary admirals wwii diary to be released online history. Nimitz was given a boat tour of the destruction wrought on pearl harbor by the japanese. Features fullscreen sharing embed analytics article stories visual stories seo. Nimitz, halsey, leahy and king the fivestar admirals who won the war at sea by walter r. The navy unveiled a gold mine of wwii information when it decided to publish nimitz diary about 4,000 pages of personal records written by fleet adm. He was awarded the navy cross and three silver stars for valor in battle.
You can watch live as the naval war college library in newport, r. Chester nimitz communications that started in the wake of the pearl. In the gift shop, i purchased a small book entitled reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz. Pacific fleet and commander in chief, pacific ocean areas, commanding allied air, land, and sea forces during world war ii. Potters lively and authoritative style fleshes out admiral nimitzs personality to help readers appreciate the contributions he made as the principal architect of japans defeat. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate. Navy taking the wraps off world war ii logs of admiral chester a. Nimitz to the allied victory in world war ii, and the significance evidenced of the gray book primary source collection. Nimitzs 4000 page world war ii gray book being made available to the public. Edwin thomas layton april 7, 1903 april 12, 1984 was a rear admiral in the united states navy. Eastern, the naval war college library will publicly unveil online the 4,000page gray book collection of fleet adm. The navy will unveil a treasure trove of world war ii history monday with the online release of more than 4,000 pages of personal records from fleet adm.
This is a fantastic read and can give one insights on. A closer look inside, however, reveals that this document is. February 17, 1915 january 2, 2002 was an american submarine commander in the united states navy during world war ii and the korean war, and a businessman. Mar 06, 2014 the naval war college library in newport, r. Nimitz kept a collection of communications that grew to more than 4,000 pages.
The command summary of fadm chester nimitz was compiled by the war plans section of the pacific command headquarters in hawaii during world war ii. When he answered the phone, it was president franklin delano roosevelt on the phone. The said project dubbed gray book was launched last february 24. What were the main sources of frustration in the digital launch of the nimitz graybook that you would want to see done differently in the future. Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept through the end of the wwii is now available online.
Admiral nimitz gray book the 4,000page gray book collection of fleet adm. Back in 2012 the naval war college gathered up all the communications and letters of adm. Nimitz s statement broadcast to the united states and the. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 7 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by cincpac staff covering the period 1 july 1945 to 31 august 1945 the 8 volumes are paginated as follows. Chester nimitz communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. Chester nimitz military history oxford bibliographies.
Chester nimitzs wwii gray book 4,000 pages worth of communications nimitz began right after the. Chester henry nimitz february 24, 1885february 20, 1966 served as commander in chief of the u. Pacific fleet during world war ii and was later promoted to the new rank of fleet admiral. Citations to that document will be made with a parenthetical hyperlink that will give the pdf page, not the printed page number. Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june. Nimitz was responsible for the victories at midway and okinawa among others. Nimitz gray book, digitized and published by the naval war college. Chester william nimitz was born in fredericksburg, texas, on february 24, 1885. Watch live unveiling of nimitz 4,000 page wwii diary. A brilliant strategist who never sought the limelight, chester nimitz was an incomparable leader who served america brilliantly throughout the war in the pacific and has earned a place in history as one of our greatest naval officers. We had just missed a ferry and had to wait 30 minutes. Navy taking the wraps off world war ii logs of admiral. An eighth book contains selected dispatches relating to the battle of midway.
Nimitz kept a daily journal now referred to as the gray book. Admiral nimitz was in his home in washington listening to a symphony on the radio when he heard the news that pearl harbor had been attacked. Bound in gray material, nimitz sdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a. Admiral nimitz is a superbly written biography of one of the towering but least known heroes of world war ii. Nns the aircraft carrier uss nimitz cvn 68 is celebrating the life of its namesake, fleet adm. Official, semiofficial, and personal correspondence, dispatches.
In that role, he commanded all land and sea forces in the central pacific area. Chester nimitz was an admiral s admiral, considered by many to be the greatest naval leader of the last century. Chester nimitz that range from the pearl harbor attack to the days before japans surrender, has been digitized and will be unveiled monday as part of a live web program on the navys official blog. Feb 27, 2014 washington the naval war college library in newport, r. Dec 31, 2014 in midfebruary 2014, the naval war college unveiled an online 4000page gray book collection of fleet adm.
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