Court Martial Clemency

Nimitz served in the war as the commander-in-chief of the United States Pacific Fleet. He was also supreme commander of the Allied forces in the Pacific Area, one of the Allied fronts in the Pacific. He was a submarine expert and was instrumental in the transition from diesel-powered subs to nuclear power.

One of Nimitz’s daughters, Sister Mary Aquinas, O.P., joined the Dominicans and taught biology at the Dominican University of California and served as academic dean for 11 years.

We also know a cool dog named Nimitz.

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

The USS Decatur, the ship that ran aground under Nimitz’s command and for which he was court marshalled

Captain Charles B. McVay III, captain of the USS Indianapolis when she was sunk. He was court martialed and convicted for “an error in judgement” (but really for losing the ship), the only ship captain in the war to be court marshalled for losing a ship in a combat situation. His men fought for decades to clear his name. In October 2000, Congress passed a resolution that McVay was not culpable for the loss of the Indianapolis. Shortly after, the Navy added the resolution to McVay’s record.

Survivors of the USS Indianapolis at Guam, 1945

USS Indianapolis, July 1945