The Battle of Midway:
Chester W. Nimitz
Biography
I am Admiral Chester William Nimitz and I was born on February 24, 1885 in Fredericksburg, Texas. My mother is Anna Henke Nimitz, and my father is Chester Bernard Nimitz, but he died before I was born. My grandfather, Charles H. Nimitz, was probably the biggest influence in my life. In 1880, my mother married my uncle. Ever since I was a teenager, I had always wanted to be a soldier.
So, I tried to apply to West Point, but there were no openings. Instead, I attended the United States Naval Academy and graduated seventh in a class of one-hundred and fourteen. In April of 1913, I married Catherine Freeman. We had four children: Mary, Anna, Catherine, and Chester. I was U.S. commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet from 1941 to 1945. I died on February 20, 1966 on Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California.
Entry 4
Late at night, June 6, 1942
Entry 2
June 3-4, 1942
It’s not easy being an admiral, because I’m naturally timid and shy, but i must stay confident so that I can lead my men properly and that they can trust that I’m doing the right things. To know that so many men’s lives depend on my thinking and my decisions are truly very stressful.
I still think back to Lieutenant Commander Joseph J. Rochefort, Jr.’s theory that the Japanese naval code “AF” stood for Midway. If it weren’t for that, the probability that the Midway Islands would still be in possession of America would be very slim. Again, I am sad to be one of the causes of so many deaths, but to win the war and keep Japan from coming any closer to America, we will do what it takes to keep our families safe.
I also constantly wonder what my wife and four kids are doing right now. I wonder if my little boy Chester is playing any sports right now. If he is, I wish I could be there to cheer him on and encourage him. I also wonder how my three girls Mary, Anna, and Catherine are going about their daily lives. If my mind isn’t occupied, I’m most definitely thinking about my wife. I miss her dearly. Hopefully, the war will be over soon and I’ll be able to come home and see my family again.
Early this morning, June 3rd, the Japanese attacked the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. It was to create a distraction from Midway so we would send some of our naval forces there. Luckily, we found out why they attacked, so we didn’t fall for their plan. Because we found out in late May that their code for Miway was “AF”, we had the entire base on alert and were ready for the Japanese.
Around 4:30 a.m. on June 4th, the Japanese struck the Midway naval base. They hit some planes, but didn’t demolish our airfields. At 7:00 a.m., Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher commanded that the Enterprise and the Hornet release planes. Fourteen out of eighty-two men survived. At precisely 10:22 a.m., the Japanese destroyer, the Arashi, was attacking the USS Nautilus, an American submarine.
Because the destroyer was moving fast, an American squadron of dive bombers from the Enterprise decided to follow it. A group from the Yorktown tagged along. Eventually, they found three Japanese carriers: The Akagi, the Kaga, and the Soryu. The dive bombers made many hits and sunk the three carriers. Suddenly, planes from another Japanese carrier, the Hiryu, began attacking the Yorktown. Close to 5:00 p.m., a group of American dive bombers found the Hiryu and sunk it with four bombs after the first three missed.
Matthews, Andrew. "A Handful of Heroes." Cobblestone. May/Jun 2014: 32-33. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000367641#citation
"Midway Islands." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2016. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/52587
"Midway Islands." SIRS Discoverer: Culture Facts. 25 Apr. 2003: n.p. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000169197
O'Neal, Michael J. "World War Ll, United States Breaking of Japanese Naval Codes." N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. http://www.faqs.org/espionage/Vo-Z/World-War-II-United-States-Breaking-of-Japanese-Naval-Codes.html
"The Battle Of Midway." Vital Speeches Of The Day 68.18 (2002): 571. History Reference Center. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. http://proxygsu-hlow.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=khh&AN=6917709&site=hrc-live
Babb, Colin E. "Explaining The "Miracle" At Midway." Naval Aviation News 94.2 (2012): 32-37. MasterFILE Elite. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. http://proxygsu-hlow.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=fth&AN=77415132&site=eds-live&scope=site
"Battle of Midway." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2016. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. http://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/52586
Graybar, Lloyd J. "Chester William Nimitz." American National Biography Online. N.p., 2000. Web. 27 Feb. 2016. http://www.anb.org/articles/06/06-00474.html
Krasner, Barbara D. "The Battle of Midway." Cobblestone. May/Jun 2014: 26-31. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000367638
Larew, Karl G. "Chester W. Nimitz." Galileo. N.p., Jan. 2015. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
http://proxygsu-hlow.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=88801437&site=eds-live&scope=site
Today, we have cracked the Japanese Naval Code. They are planning an attack on one of our bases. From cracking earlier codes, we have known about dates and times of the planned attack. We have also had a general idea of the attack plans, but hadn’t been able to figure out where the plan was exactly going to be executed. The code the Japanese had been using to speak of the location in the plans was “AF”, and Lieutenant Commander Joseph J. Rochefort, Jr. had suspected that the code stood for Midway.
To test his theory, we conducted an experiment. Rochefort made plans for American Forces on the Midway Islands to send out a message saying that they were running out of fresh water. Anxiously, we waited for Japan to intercept the message. Eventually, we intercepted a Japanese message. It stated that AF was running out of fresh water.
Now having Rochefort’s theory confirmed, we made plans to ready Midway for an attack. I have decided to rely on my aircraft carriers instead of the U.S.’ older battleships. I contacted any available carriers, but was left with three: the damaged Yorktown, the Hornet, and the Enterprise. After learning this, I have ordered 120 planes, antiaircraft guns, and 3,632 naval personnel to protect these three aircraft. I have also arranged for additional reinforcements to be sent to Midway to help defend the Naval base.
Entry 3
June 5-6, 1942
The Battle of Midway has finally ended after four days. Our Navy has lost approximately three-hundred and forty men. We have also lost one aircraft carrier, the Yorktown, which sank this morning after being hit on June 4. One destroyer, the USS Hammann, and one-hundred forty-five aircraft have also been lost.
To be a little more exact, forty-one torpedo planes were launched from the three carriers and only six survived the encounter with the Japanese. This meant that out of eighty-two men, fourteen survived. I feel as if I am the main person responsible for the deaths of our navy men besides the Japanese, because I am the one who ordered that those particular ships, destroyers, submarines, etc. to go and fight against the Japanese to protect Midway.
After a couple of days, we have found out about the Japanese losses from the Battle of Midway. They lost roughly three-thousand soldiers. They also lost two-hundred twenty eight aircraft and one heavy cruiser. Also adding to the Japanese losses were four aircraft carriers: the Hiryu, the Soryu, the Akagi, and the Kaga.
The Japanese headed back to their base in the first hours of this morning, June 5th. We followed the Japanese and demolished a few of their ships. I do feel sympathy for all the Japanese families back home that are losing many loved ones. I know that if I was in their situation I would be devastated. But, to win the war, I know that our side has to do what it takes to not let the Japanese advance any further, or else they may kill our families instead.
Today, June 6th, the U.S. destroyer, the Hammann, was ordered to help the carrier the Yorktown return to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Unfortunately, a Japanese submarine found them and torpedoed the destroyer and the carrier. The USS Hammann sunk immediately. The already damaged Yorktown was damaged even further. I am saddened at this news because I was the one who gave the orders to the men of these vessels to go out into battle.
I wonder what the Japanese soldiers, officials, and civilians feel like right now. Surely the officials would be mad that they have not yet taken Midway. I wonder if the families of deceased soldiers feel empty and hollow inside, like a piece of them is missing now that a piece of their family is gone. My mind is constantly racing with the thought of my family, or replaying pictures of war, or thinking about what orders I will have to give my men next.
Tuleja, T.V. "Midway." American History Illustrated 27.3 (1992): 24. History Reference Center. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. http://proxygsu-hlow.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=khh&AN=9207271657&site=hrc-live
Watson, William E. "Battle Of Midway." Salem Press Encyclopedia (2015): Research Starters. Web. 2 Mar. 2016. http://proxygsu-hlow.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=89313856&site=eds-live&scope=site
Weddle, Robert S. "Nimitz, Chester William." Texas State Historical Association. N.p., 15 June 2010. Web. 27 Feb. 2016. https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fni05