The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

A Discussion on Fleet Admiral Nimitz, with special guest Admiral James Stavridis

Episode Summary

Today we are going to unpack the story of Admiral Chester Nimitz, whom I believe to be the key leader responsible for the allied victory in the Pacific Theater of Operations. And our guest is Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret), former Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).

Episode Notes

• Nimitz Pre War
• Who was he and where did he come from?
• Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg
• Too poor to go to college, worked his tail off to go to Naval Academy
• Spent time in Japan before the war
• Nimitz was a submarine officer in his early years
• Commanded a DD in the Philippines
• Commanded a cruiser division and battleship division
• XO of SC, CO Chicago
• Highly experienced in the realm of command

• Nimitz Upon Assignment as CINCPAC
• 56 Years Old currently occupying the office of the Bureau of Navigation
• Whose decision was it to promote Nimitz to the position?
• FDR
• He had been offered the job before December 41 and turned it down for fear of upsetting senior officers.
• He was junior to some 50 other Admirals
• He feared that taking the job and leapfrogging them would have created resentment and made it more difficult to do the job.

• Nimitz the Leader
• What kind leadership style did Nimitz utilize?
• He was a people person
• Never cussed, raised his voice or dressed men down in public
• He gave his subordinates a lot of autonomy and assumed they knew their jobs until they proved they did not
• If that occurred, he spoke in low tones, was blunt but not rude or insulting
• Always looked after his men and took care of them

• Nimitz the Executive
• Juggled personalities of subordinates and his boss extremely well
• Dealings with King
• Dealings with subordinates
• Turner
• GEN Smith
• Halsey
• Towers
• JO Richardson
• MacArthur
• Spruance and Nimitz relationship
• Nimitz handled the various personalities in the Pacific in check much as Ike did in the ETO. 
• Was very similar to Ike in terms of Supreme Commander, even though, Nimitz was no Supreme Commander

• What did Nimitz inherit in December 41 and how did he go about fixing the problems?
• Inherited a shattered command
• Devastated morale
• Staff, fleet and populace
• Fear of a Japanese invasion
• When he landed in Pearl on Xmas Day he asked about the relief of Wake
• When told it fell and was abandoned, he fell silent
• Didn’t take command immediately. Worked with Admiral Pye to get the lay of the land, latest issues and intel.
• Took command on December 31, 1941 aboard USS Grayling (SS-209) fittingly

• Nimitz’s Strategy 1941-42
• Be cautious, yet forceful and hit them where they least expect it
• Strike  back was essential
• (Set the stage for next episode about the Hit and Run Raids)

• Nimitz’s biggest gamble
• Midway
• Recognized the role of intel and believed in it, believed in his people and their skills
• Nimitz’s Legacy
• Developed and implemented the island hopping strategy that won the war.
• Inherited a shattered fleet, trusted his subordinates, built his leadership teams and won when it was absolutely necessary.