Page 10 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt, September 2020

10 September 2020 news http://www.luke.af.mil
Thunderbolt
www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb

FrIEnDShIP In DEATh:

The nimitz Plot at Golden

Gate national Cemetery

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Pacific were out here.”
World War II commander of the Pacific Instead, Nimitz had only one special re-
Fleet, delivered remarks at Golden Gate quest: that the five stars of his fleet admi-
National Cemetery on the 10th Anniver- ral insignia be placed in the space reserved
sary of V-J Day, Aug. 14, 1955. The remains for an emblem of belief on his headstone.
of many men who died under his command His biographer, E.B. Potter, speculated Courtesy photo
had been repatriated and rested before that Nimitz, a religious man outside of Golden Gate National Cemetery Aug. 14, 2020.
him. Nimitz took the loss of life made by denominations, made the decision to show
his decisions personally and carried the that “He had done his best in life.”
burden with him throughout his life. He There were spaces for six graves in
spoke directly to his fallen men on this Nimitz’s designated burial plot at Golden
occasion and promised them that the survi- Gate. When asked if he had preference
vors of the war would honor their memory for who went into the other four graves,
by maintaining military strength to deter Nimitz said, “I’d like to have Spruance
future calamity. and Lockwood.”
Over the next decade, Admiral Nimitz Admirals Raymond Spruance and
decided that, in death, he wanted to join Charles Lockwood were two of Nimitz’s
his men at Golden Gate with a standard closest friends during the war and after.
military funeral and regulation headstone. Their competency as warfighters and lead-
He took steps to assure that the shipmates ers contributed greatly to victory in the
closest to him during World War II could Pacific. Spruance delivered key victories,
join him as well. such as Midway, the Philippine Sea, Iwo
Admiral Nimitz was a humble and no- Jima and Okinawa. Lockwood commanded
U.S. Navy photo
frills type of man; still, his funerary and the successful U.S. submarine operations Funeral of Fleet Admiral Nimitz. The procession prepares to begin the journey from
burial decisions surprised some. He was in the Pacific.
the third of four admirals promoted to the As a bonus, another close friend and the chapel to the gravesite at Golden Gate National Cemetery, Feb. 24, 1966.
rank of Fleet Admiral of the United States architect of all major Pacific amphibi-
Navy during World War II. All were en- ous landings, Admiral Richmond Kelley on the cold and blustery afternoon of Feb. commander, [and] he was going to be there
titled to a state funeral and three accepted. Turner, already occupied a grave close to 24 (his 81st birthday). Admiral Spruance, come hell or high water.”
When the Kennedy administration ap- the Nimitz plot. When Nimitz posed the recovering from the flu, respectfully stood While this circumstance would likely
proached Nimitz — the last of the surviv- idea to Spruance, he “took to the thing at attention in his uniform throughout. have annoyed many, this type of admira-
ing fleet admirals — about planning his like a duck to water,” Mrs. Nimitz recalled. Mrs. Nimitz found some humor in the day tion from those who served under him
own state funeral and burial in Arlington, Lockwood agreed with the plan as well. when an uninvited sailor who had served embodied the leadership style of Nimitz.
Nimitz balked. He told his wife Catherine A friend in death in the Pacific Fleet arrived at the grave Two 19-gun salutes, a 70-plane flyover, and
that “He did not love Washington, he loved Nimitz died Feb. 20, 1966, with his wife dressed in his best cowboy boots and hat. the playing of “Taps” concluded the service.
it out here, and all of his men from the Catherine at his side. He was laid to rest He refused to leave because “This was his Courtesy of va.gov

U.S. Navy photo
Admiral Chester Nimitz (CINCPAC) gives a dinner party in Hawaii
U.S. Navy photo for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on Sept. 22, 1943. From left: Rear
Fleet Admiral Nimitz’s family stand outside of Golden Gate National Cemetery’s chapel, Feb. 24, Admiral Charles Lockwood, Roosevelt, Admiral Nimitz, Vice Admiral
1966. Mrs. Nimitz is seated in front of her son and daughters. Raymond Spruance.