Case Study: FADM Chester Nimitz

Introduction: Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz served in the U.S. Navy from 1905 until his death in 1966, enrolling in the Naval Academy at 15 years old. Born on February 24, 1885 in Texas, Nimitz was raised by his grandfather who was a retired sea captain. Nimitz had to overcome a major obstacle early in his career when he was court martialed for grounding the USS Decatur. Noted in this article, Ensign Nimitz failed to calculate his position, direction, and speed effectively. Due to this, he ran aground on a mudbank. A cargo ship helped free the Decatur the next morning and the ship took no damage. Nevertheless, Nimitz was removed from command and assigned to the USS Denver. The court martial found Nimitz guilty of “neglect of duty” which was a lesser charge than the original “culpable inefficiency in the performance of duty.”

After his court martial, Nimitz seemed to not miss a beat. Within 18 months, he was promoted to Lieutenant and became an expert in submarine tactics and diesel engines. He commanded several fleets such as the Submarine Division 20, Commander Cruiser Division Two, and Commander Battle Division One. In 1939 he was appointed as the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation for four years, however, after the U.S. declared war in 1941, Nimitz was designated as Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas. In this command, Nimitz was responsible for the “Island hopping” strategy in the Pacific. In this strategy, the U.S. moved from island to island slowly conquering the Pacific and growing increasingly intense as the U.S. forces moved closer to mainland Japan. Early in his command of the Pacific Fleet, Nimitz was challenged with battling a superior Japanese force at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. The latter proved to be a major turning point in the war in the Pacifc. He continued to show his tactical prowess when he neutralized the remaining Japanese offensive threats with the Solomon Islands campaign and the New Guinea Campaign. He then converted Midway to a submarine base enhancing his abilities against the Japanese. Nimitz’s WWII career proved he was an incredible asset for the US and his leadership led to the defeat of the Japanese.

Nimitz's rise in ranks continued after the war when he relieved Fleet Admiral E.J. King as Chief of Naval Operations for 2 years. Nimitz's reputation continued to grow and in 1951, President Truman appointed him as Chairman of the nine-man commission on International Security and Industrial Rights, however the commission never met due to inaction by Congress. Nimitz continued to advance Naval interest by being named an honorary Vice President and honorary President of the Naval Historical Foundation and he also worked to improve relations with Japan by raising funds to restore the battleship Mikasa, Admiral Togo's flagship at Tsushima in 1905. Here you can read more about the life and career of Chester Nimitz. Nimitz's early career was nearly derailed but he kept his head high and had an incredibly accomplished career.

Here is an address by Chester Nimitz urging Americans to work in shipyards to aid the war effort.

Loyalty and Leadership The USMC defines loyalty as, “The quality of faithfulness to country, Corps, unit, seniors, subordinates and peers.” Chester Nimitz exemplifies this trait throughout his career. Even after a court martial he believed was frivolous, he continued to serve faithfully and diligently. Loyalty is incredibly important for leaders to be successful. Leaders who remain loyal to the cause and add value to the mission will improve the situation of all involved. Fulfilling orders given to you with enthusiasm and zeal will help with keeping a loyal mindset. Loyalty is so important that the USMC motto, “Semper Fidelis”, means always faithful. Leaders need to have the ability to model loyalty to their followers. Following commands and completing tasks even though there may be disagreement is a great way for a leader to model loyalty. Loyalty is important for a country’s soldiers to possess. WIthout loyalty, a country’s military will be extremely weak and fleeting. Nimitz never faltered in his service. He remained loyal and modeled his loyalty for those under his command. After his retirement, he continued to advance Naval history showing his unrelenting loyalty. For leaders to be effective, they must show loyalty and follow commands, even when there may be a disagreement. Loyalty will hold a team or command together when times are toughest and provide for a stronger bond. This video by the USMC sums up why loyalty is so incredibly important for leaders.

Ethical Focus and Valuing Traditions Chester Nimitz provides a prime example of mastering Ethical Focus. He did not think about his own priorities and continued serving and rising through the ranks. He recognized the ethical decision was not to be selfish but to remain loyal to his country. He understood the values of the US, the US military as a whole, and the U.S. Navy. Mastering Ethical Focus includes prioritizing ethics over other goals and needs. Part of this process includes asking questions like, “Am I willing to forego the benefits of NOT taking this best action?” or “How does each possible option fit with these values?” Nimitz continued to show this sentiment as he rose in the ranks to become the commander of the Pacific fleet and then Fleet Admiral. He dedicated his life to his service and refused to let anything stop him from fulfilling his

duties to the fullest. He knew the traditions of the U.S. Navy were more important in the long run and he could contribute greatly to the institution.

Putting the values of the institution ahead of your own will ensure that your loyalty will facilitate ethical decision-making. This means that a cadet must understand the traditions of the institution they are part of and the social aspects in place in order to be more effective in their role. Valuing traditions and institutions over your own desires is an ethical skill that will help keep your mindset set on the overall goals and the bigger picture rather than selfish needs. Niitz was able to show he understood the traditions of the U.S. Navy and that he was in his position to maintain these traditions. The traditions of the U.S. Navy have been set for a long time and when joining, it is imperative to learn and value these traditions in order to fully immerse yourself in the service. Nimitz, by continuing his service and serving to his fullest ability after his court-martial, showed he understood that his service was bigger than himself and his ego. He knew that providing the Navy with his best was what would be more important in the long run. He proved this by providing his expertise on developing submarines then his incredible service in WWII. When you enter military service, you take an oath that indicates your loyalty to that branch and to your country. Showing that you value these institutions is imperative to positive leadership. Your followers will be looking to your example and providing the most positive example for them is the best ethical decision you can make.

Discussion Questions 1. In what ways did Chester Nimitz show his loyalty to the U.S.?

2. How does loyalty affect leadership?

3. How does loyalty affect other leadership traits?

4. In what ways are Loyalty and ethical behavior connected?