A biography of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, commander of thousands of ships and aircraft during World War II, discussing his childhood in Texas, his early career in the Navy, his life as a husband and father, his World War II responsibilities, and his post-war appointments.

Includes maps of: Pacific Ocean ; Pearl Harbor, 1943 ; Early Raids by U.S. Carrier Forces ; Pacific Areas ; Battle of the Coral Sea, 4-8 May 1942 ; Battle of Midway - the Approach ; Scene of Early Operations in the South and Southwest Pacific Areas ; Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942 ; Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 24 August 1942 ; Battle of Cape Esperance, 11-12 October 1942 ; Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942 ; Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - Cruiser Night Action, 12-13 November 1942 ; Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - Battleship Night Action, 14-15 November 1942 ; Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942 ; Rabaul Neutralized and Bypassed ; Aleutian Theater of Operations ; Eastern Melanesia and Eastern Micronesia ; Assault on Tarawa, 20 November 1943 ; Across the Pacific ; Assault on Kwajalein, 1 February 1944 ; Southern Marianas ; Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19-20 June 1944 ; Opening Stages of the Saipan Campaign ; Approach of the Fleets to Leyte Gulf ; Battle for Leyte Gulf, 23-25 October 1944 ; Iwo Jima ; Invasion of Okinawa.

The appointment -- CinCPac from Texas -- Holding the line -- Background of a strategist -- Confrontation in the Coral Sea -- Preparing to defend Midway -- The Battle of Midway -- Chester and Catherine -- Rising star -- Tactician and teacher -- The Rigel and the Augusta -- Flag rank -- Guadalcanal invaded -- Guadalcanal recaptured -- CinCPac and CinCPac staff -- Launching and the Central Pacific drive -- Galvanic and flintlock -- Leap to the Marianas -- Of generals, admirals, and a president -- Return to the Philippines -- The Philippines campaign and the move to Guam -- Iwo Jima and Okinawa -- Victory -- From CinCPac to CNO -- Chief of Naval Operations -- From the Navy Department to the United Nations -- Last years.