Ashworth met privately with the Admiral to personally deliver a letter which outlined the direction of the Manhattan Project. General Groves, director of the Manhattan Project, instructed Frederick Ashworth to fly to Guam to inform Admiral Nimitz of the nature of the atomic bomb project. This is a lifetime appointment.ĭespite his high rank and pivotal role in the Pacific theater, Admiral Nimitz was not informed of the work of the Manhattan Project until February 1945.

In December 1944, President Roosevelt appointed Nimitz Fleet Admiral. Under his leadership, the United States stopped the further advance of the Japanese after Pearl Harbor and organized a sharp offensive response across a massive geographic area. Nimitz had operational control over all allied units in the Pacific, including air, land, and sea forces. The rank of vice admiral was skipped by congressional appointment. He was ranked a Rear Admiral and stationed in Washington, DC as chief of the Bureau of Navigation.ġ0 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt promoted Nimitz to commander-in-chief of the United States Pacific Fleet as an Admiral. When the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, Nimitz had been in the US Navy for 30 years. He conducted experiments in the refueling and energy efficiency of large ships. Before World War I, he studied engines in Germany and Belgium. He attended the US Naval Academy from 1901-1905, where he finished 7 th in his class of 114 officers. Nimitz was born on Februin Fredericksburg, Texas to parents of German descent. Nimitz (1885-1966) was Fleet Admiral of the US Navy and Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet during World War II.

Us navy world war 2 ranks