The books were originally bound in graycovered binders that gave the document. 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. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 1 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by captain james m. A closer look inside, however, reveals that this document is.
Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june. But theres scarcely a page where a reader wont learn. Pacific fleet and commander in chief, pacific ocean areas, commanding allied air, land, and sea forces during world war ii nimitz. He was awarded the navy cross and three silver stars for valor in battle. The socalled gray book because of the color of its cover represents fadm nimitzs diary for the pacific command from 7 december 7 1941, until two days before the japanese surrender in tokyo bay 31 august 1945. Saving nimitzs graybook among the vast number of documents to be found in the 71 feet of the papers of fleet admiral chester w. In it, nimitz noted three important mistakes made by the japanese when they attacked pearl harbor on december 7, 1941. Naval academy professor of history emeritus craig l. Borneman traces the lives of his subjects from their boyhoods, through long and eventful naval careers, and into their final years.
Feb 09, 2014 nimitz gray book some good news from the naval war college. Navy taking the wraps off world war ii logs of admiral chester a. On february 24, 2014, the naval war college library in newport, r. Pacific fleet and commander in chief, pacific ocean areas, commanding allied air, land, and sea forces during world war ii. Discuss your favourite ww2 books here online readable books in the reading room. Chester nimitz was an admiral s admiral, considered by many to be the greatest naval leader of the last century. Email citation the socalled gray book because of the color of its cover represents fadm nimitzs diary for the pacific command from 7 december 7 1941, until two days before the japanese surrender in tokyo bay 31 august 1945. Chester nimitz communications that started in the wake of the pearl. Official, semiofficial, and personal correspondence, dispatches. After the attack on pearl harbor, nimitz assembled the forces, selected the leaders, and as commander of all u. Navys leading personalities of the twentieth century. Sunday, december 7th, 1941 admiral chester nimitz was attending a concert in washington, dc.
After brilliantly leading american forces to victory in world war ii, fleet admiral nimitz, the commander in chief, u. Many readers would consider it a long book, but if you are interested in military history especially world war ii history or naval history the admirals. Bound in gray material, nimitz sdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a. Mar 06, 2014 the naval war college library in newport, r. In the gift shop, i purchased a small book entitled reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and heritage command, washington navy yard, washington d. The admirals nimitz, halsey, leahy, and kingthe fivestar admirals who won the war at sea.
Navy taking the wraps off world war ii logs of admiral. Known as the nimitz gray book because the original volumes were bound in a gray cover the diary lends unprecedented insight into what the admiral. 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. 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. Nimitzs 4000 page world war ii gray book being made available to the public. Chester nimitz s communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the. Legendary admirals wwii diary to be released online this article discusses the importance of fleet admiral chester w. Dec 26, 2011 brayton harris admiral nimitz is the easytoread story of the career of the nations foremost navy flag officer of the 20th century.
Nimitz gray book some good news from the naval war college. Feb 27, 2014 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. Chester nimitz communications that started in the wake of the pearl harbor attack and ran right up until the closing days of the war. Mar 17, 2015 admiral chester nimitz on japans three mistakespending investigation. When he answered the phone, it was president franklin delano roosevelt on the phone. Nimitz was a five star admiral and he has had a five star book written about him. Famed nimitz wwii diary unveiled online quarterdeck. Nimitz kept a daily journal now referred to as the gray book. Bound in gray material, nimitzsdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a firsthand perspective. Projects under the preserve domain include the great white fleet bronze relief, washington, d. Admiral nimitzs wwii diary now online hmh current events.
Link to chester nimitz grey book second world war history. 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. 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. They have finished collecting correspondence to and from admiral nimitz during world war 2, from right after pearl harbor to japans surrender. This compilation of nimitz correspondence with major commanders is called admiral nimitz command summary, running estimate and summary, 1941 1945. Admiral nimitz, a naval commander in the pacific war against japan, has left behind an operational journal now available online. From naval history and heritage command public affairs washington nns the naval war college library in newport, r. Nimitz s statement broadcast to the united states and the. Finding aid pdf biography scope and content note these papers document all phases of admiral chester nimitz s career. Through wideranging research, engaging narrative style, and shrewd judgment calls, author. Famed nimitz wwii diary to be unveiled online monday.
Naval war college released a trove of world war ii information monday by posting online the operational diary kept by the pacific commander, adm. Eastern, the naval war college library will publicly unveil online the 4,000page gray book collection of fleet adm. A superb read which covers his whole life from ensign on the china station through to his command of the big blue fleet in the second world war. Goes into significant detail on leadership decisions during the pacific war, and provides an excellent overview of the prewar, war, and postwar periods and admiral nimitz s contributions.
Washington the naval war college library in newport, r. I could not put the book down and that is down to how the book is written. Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7 december 1941 to 31 august 1942. Nimitz diary holds the private accounts of the officer starting from the attack on pearl harbor up to wwiis closing days. Borneman sheds light on these questions in his new book, the admirals. Fantastic book on one of the perennial figures on the u. An eighth book contains selected dispatches relating to the battle of midway. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Chester nimitz military history oxford bibliographies. One of the navys foremost administrators and strategists, he commanded all land and sea forces in the central pacific area. Aug 29, 2018 known as the nimitz gray book because the original volumes were bound in a gray cover the diary lends unprecedented insight into what the admiral knew and how he made his command. Admiral nimitz gray book the 4,000page gray book collection of fleet adm.
May 01, 2011 many readers would consider it a long book, but if you are interested in military history especially world war ii history or naval history the admirals. Nimitz confers with members of the press at pacific fleet. Admiral chester nimitz on japans three mistakespending. This copy consists of loose pages that could be readily scanned. Nimitz, archives branch, naval history and heritage command, washington, d. Sunday, december 7th, 1941 admiral chester nimitz was attending a concert in washington d. Harris tells the story of a simple man risen to do great things. Legendary admirals wwii diary to be released online history.
The fivestar admirals who won the war at sea by walter r. This remarkable quartet of fivestar american naval leaders deserves a firstrate collective biography, and the admirals does them justice. 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. Famed nimitz wwii diary to be unveiled online monday february 20, 2014 the naval war college library in newport, r. Nimitz, halsey, leahy, and king the five star admirals who won the war at sea by walter r. During the battles in the pacific during world war ii, admiral chester w. The commander of the pacific ocean theater is meticulously researched, immensely informative, and laudably balanced in all of its judgments. Highly respected by both the civilian and naval communities, nimitz was sometimes overshadowed by more. Pacific fleet and pacific ocean areas, hauled down his flag at pearl harbor and relieved fleet admiral king as chief of naval operations. 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.
We had just missed a ferry and had to wait 30 minutes. The commander of the pacific ocean theater offers a quick and informative read that introduces the reader to one of the u. Nimitz, usn nimitz graybook 7 december 1941 31 august 1945 volume 6 of 8 running estimate and summary maintained by cincpac staff covering the period 1 january 1945 to 1 july 1945 the 8 volumes are paginated as follows. Ohara is an independent scholar and the author of nine works including five published by the naval institute press, most recently to crown the waves. In his book, brayton harris balances the man, myth, and the reality of fleet admiral nimitz. Naval history and heritage command in washington, d. Steele, usn, cincpac staff at pearl harbor, hawaii, covering the period 7. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and heritage command, washin gton navy yard, washington d. Accorded a heros welcome at home, the quiet, selfeffacing officer described himself as merely a representative of the brave men. Saving nimitzs graybook naval history magazine june 2014. Washington nns the naval war college library in newport, r. This compilation of nimitz correspondence with major commanders is called admiral nimitz command summary, running estimate. 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.
Harris has done an admirable job of condensing a long. Nimitz, halsey, leahy and king the fivestar admirals who won the war at sea by walter r. The portrait of the forgotten admiral, leahy, is worth the whole book. Nimitz to the allied victory in world war ii, and the significance evidenced of the gray book primary source collection. This is a forwarded email about a book written by admiral chester nimitz called reflections on pearl harbor. His gray eyes, under brownish hair that quickly began to recede above his brow, were more evaluating than sparkling. February 24, 1885 february 20, 1966 was a fleet admiral of the united states navy. He was paged and told there was a phone call for him. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and. From his humble beginnings in texas, to the mindcrushing pressure of trying to defeat the empire of japan, using the meager reasources available, mr. In the gift shop, i purchased a small book entitled, reflections on pearl harbor by admiral chester nimitz.
Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept through the end of the wwii is now available online. The said project dubbed gray book was launched last february 24. Nimitz at the operational archives, naval history and heritage. 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. Nimitz, halsey, leahy, and kingthe fivestar admirals who won the war at sea.
He played a major role in the naval history of world war ii as commander in chief, u. Legendary admiral s wwii diary to be released online this article discusses the importance of fleet admiral chester w. Chester nimitz communications that started with the the pearl harbor attack and were kept. Bound in gray material, nimitz sdiary chronicles the pacific battles in rigorous detail, covering several volumes of situational strategy and experience from a firsthand perspective. The commander of the pacific ocean theater 9780230107656. It runs through the major events of the pacific theater until aug. Symonds, phd, author of numerous books including the battle of midway, in which he recounts the pivotal role played by nimitz in what was the turning point of the war in the pacific.
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