Chester William Nimitz

Fredericksburg, Texas

February 20, 1966

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - The Clay Form - Click Photo below:

06/13/13

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - The Foundry 1 of 2 - Click Photo below:

06/27/13

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - The Foundry 2 of 2 - Click Photo below:

06/27/13

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - Arrival at Troutdale Park - Click Photo below:

07/30/13

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - Unveiling & Bon Voyage 1 of 4 - Click Photo below:

07/31/13

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - Unveiling & Bon Voyage 2 of 4 - Click Photo below:

07/31/13

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - Unveiling & Bon Voyage 3 of 4 - Click Photo below:

07/31/13

Admiral Nimitz Statue Project - Unveiling & Bon Voyage 4 of 4 - Click Photo below:

07/31/13

Setting Up The Statue For September 2nd, Click photo below:

August 29, 2013

Dedication in Hawaii is on September 2nd, 2013

‘Mighty Mo’ recalls World War II’s end, adds Nimitz statue
It’s been 68 years since Japan formally surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, a date not easily forgotten at the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Following Monday’s ceremonies to honor those who sacrificed their lives during World War II, officials unveiled a 9-foot statue of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, who directed U.S. forces in the Pacific for most of the war.

Eventually, Nimitz commanded the largest ocean area and most ships of any commander in the history of the world, and never made a strategic error, according to the memorial association’s press release. (My grandfather, a U.S. Navy captain, had the privilege of serving as his aide at the time of the surrender, as some Hawaii Insider readers might remember.) Nimitz also did not hide behind his desk, as the release notes: “His visits to Guadalcanal, Tarawa and the Marshall Islands, as those battles were still ongoing, are legendary.”

The bronze and granite statue (photo below) will be installed in Pearl Harbor at Pier Foxtrot 5, the pier where the Missouri is permanently berthed. It depicts the admiral as he appeared in battle in February 1944, wearing a wash khaki short-sleeve shirt with no medals or campaign ribbons, only his rank insignia; his belt buckle with twin dolphins indicates Nimitz was submarine-qualified. Leaning against the statue base is a horseshoe, symbolizing the Texas native’s favorite pastime, according to the release. What lies below may be most poignant:

The statue’s pedestal is absolute black granite, which is the same granite on the Vietnam Memorial and from the same supplier. The admiral’s quotation in gold leaf is a tribute to all those who died during the war in the Pacific:

“They fought together as brothers in arms
They died together and now they sleep side by side
To them we have a solemn obligation
The obligation to ensure that their sacrifice will help
To make this a better and safer world in which to live.”

— Jeanne Cooper

News: USS Missouri Memorial Association commemorates 68th anniversary of the end of World War II, unveils statue of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Cynthia Clark
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam commemorated the 68th Anniversary of the end of World War II during a ceremony at the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Honolulu, Monday, Sept. 2. 

The ceremony was followed by the dedication of a statue honoring Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz.

“It’s an honor to be here to commemorate this 68th anniversary of the ending of World War II and of course to honor the legacy of Fleet Adm. Nimitz,” said keynote speaker Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “Sixty-eight years ago, this mighty warship was anchored, as mentioned in Tokyo Bay, and it was on her decks that on the same time of day that the instrument of surrender were signed.”

In addition to the speech by Adm. Haney, Adm. Nimitz’s grandson, Chester Nimitz Lay, and family friend retired U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Lilly addressed the crowd. 

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff S. Ruth also sent his regards via video message.

Earlier in the ceremony, several World War II veterans, who were on board the USS Missouri when the surrender took place, were honored. Haney ensured they were properly acknowledged.

“I have also been privileged to talk to veterans and hear their first-hand accounts of these battles and how they fought with tenacity, dignity, honor, courage and commitment,” he said. “Fleet Adm. Nimitz sent these courageous men to these remote and difficult places to fight and win.”

One of these very men, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Art Albert, shared his feelings from that day almost 70 years ago. 

“It was a great day, I was only 18 then,” he said. “We were just astounded [by the dignitaries]. I was standing there thinking, ‘isn’t this nice,’ because I knew ‘that was it.’ It made you feel good.”

Following the ceremony marking the anniversary, many dignitaries, including former Secretary of the Navy Gordon England and former Commander U.S. Pacific Command Thomas Fargo, dedicated the statue of Nimitz. 

The 9-foot bronze statue will stand along the pier where the USS Missouri (BB 63) is berthed. It reminds visitors of the man who directed the war in the Pacific, commanded the largest ocean area, and led the most ships of any single commander in the history of the world.

Nimitz Statue Unveiled at End of World War II Ceremony at Battleship Missouri Memorial
Story Number: NNS130903-17Release Date: 9/3/2013 7:55:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Barker, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Hawaii

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- A nine-foot bronze statue on a black granite pedestal honoring Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who directed the War of the Pacific, was unveiled at its permanent installation next to the battleship USS Missouri 'Mighty Mo' (BB 63) Memorial Sept. 2 on Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The statue unveiling was part of the End of World War II commemoration ceremony that marked the 68th anniversary of the signing of the Instruments of Surrender. 

The statue depicts Nimitz as he appeared at the battle of the Marshall Islands in 1944. Nimitz at that time commanded the largest ocean area and the most ships of any single commander in history.

"It's an honor to be here to commemorate this 68th anniversary of the ending of World War II and, of course, to honor the legacy of Fleet Adm. Nimitz," said keynote speaker Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "Sixty-eight years ago, this mighty warship was anchored in Tokyo Bay, and it was on her decks that on the same time of day that the Instruments of Surrender were signed."

"The ceremony onboard the Missouri 68 years ago was as much about ending the war as starting a new and lasting spirit of friendship between Japan and the U.S. that continues today," said Michael Carr, president of the Battleship Missouri Memorial. "The roots for our enduring friendship began that day."

The Nimitz statue is permanently installed facing toward the USS Arizona Memorial, which together with the Battleship Missouri Memorial represent the beginning and end of U.S. involvement in World War II.

"We are struck by the symbolism of it being next to the Arizona," said retired U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Lilly. "War's end-war's beginning, with hoards of history between the two, it's so appropriate that it's the only place."

Several hundred attendees at the event included service members from all branches of service, civilians and veterans. Some of the attendees included relatives of Fleet Adm. Nimitz.

"This is the anniversary of the signing of the surrender of Japan, Sept. 2, 1945 and here on the battleship Missouri," said Mr. Chester Nimitz Lay, grandson of Fleet Adm. Nimitz. "I think we're honoring not just our grandfather but all the veterans who fought and died in World War II."

"It was a very emotional day for everybody of course and I'm very privileged and honored to be here amongst the World War II veterans and Pearl Harbor survivors," said Rear Adm. Rick Williams, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific. "They are the living monuments that we get to be around and it's a rare privilege for everybody to be gathered in one setting like this with the mighty Missouri behind us and now the fantastic statue of Chester Nimitz that Mr. Rick Caswell so beautifully built for us, this is a great honor."

Statue of admiral unveiled at end of WWII anniversary
By Web StaffUpdated: Tuesday, September 3, 2013, 3:29 amPublished: Monday, September 2, 2013, 4:13 pm
World War II officially came to an end 68 years ago.

On September 2, 1945, the Empire of Japan signed the Japanese instrument of surrender in Tokyo Bay aboard the USS Missouri.

Monday, the anniversary was remembered at a ceremony, at the Battleship Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

“The war meant a lot to me. I grew up as a young person during the war years. And I was stationed in the ulithi, a place in the South Pacific that most people haven’t even heard of but all the fleets were there,” Navy veteran Alden Stephens said.

A nine-foot bronze statue of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz — who directed the war in the Pacific — was also unveiled.

It will be permanently installed in Pearl Harbor at Pier Foxtrot 5, the pier where the Missouri stands.

the anniversary of the end of World War II ----with the unveiling of a new statue. KITV4's Brenton Awa was at Pearl Harbor for the ceremony. 4431 BRENTON STANDUP 4440 "IT WAS ON THIS DAY 68 YEARS AGO, ON THIS VERY SHIP -- THE MIGHTY MO -- IN TOKYO BAY -- WHERE JAPAN FORMALLY SURRENDERED TO THE U.S. -- ENDING WORLD WAR TWO." GUNS NATS 108 MICHAEL CARR 111 "WE'RE HERE TODAY TO REMEMBER THE PEACE THAT WAS RESTORED." 113 MICHAEL CARR 119 "AND TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MILITARY LEADERS IN HISTORY." Fleet Admiral -- Chester Nimitz -- held the Navy's highest possible rank during and after the war. He's one of just 4 to do so. Along with directing -- the war in the pacific. 1159 WIDESHOT MICHAEL LILLY 1210 "HE COMMANDED THE LARGEST FORCES EVER ASSEMBLED IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. TWO AND A HALF MILLION SERVICE MEMBERS COVERING 65-MILLION SQUARE MILES OF OCEANS AND ISLANDS." Four veterans of the U-S-S Missouri were among those in attendance today for the unveiling of Nimitz's statue. They -- along with the Fleet Admiral -- were on board the "mighty mo" in 1945 when Japanese leaders signed the instrument of surrender. 2509 CECIL HANEY 2514 "CAN YOU IMAGINE JUST THE EMOTIONS OF THAT HISTORICAL EVENT." Nimitz's grandson Chester -- remembers his grandfather as a man passionate about the military. He recalls his grandfather once being offered a high paying job -- but he turned it down. Service mattered more. 4048 CHESTER NIMITZ LAY 4049 "YEAH HE WAS ALL NAVY." At the base of his statue reads one of his quotes... This one about those who died in the war. Around 4000 "THEY FOUGHT TOGETHER AS BROTHERS IN ARMS, THEY DIED TOGETHER AND NOW THEY SLEEP SIDE BY SIDE. TO THEM WE HAVE A SOLEMN OBLIGATION. "THE OBLIGATION TO INSURE THAT THEIR SACRIFICE WILL HELP TO MAKE THIS A BETTER AND SAFER WORLD IN WHICH TO LIVE." 2015 2023 "IT IS THE ADMIRALS CHARACTER THAT SETS HIM APART FROM MANY OF THE OTHER GREAT LEADERS THROUGHOUT HISTORY." 3414 - Unveil shot then NATS of clapping And now -- a 9-foot statue -- to ensure his future. NATS CLAPPING Brenton Awa KITV4News Fleet Admiral Nimitz statue will be installed