1945
 
  • Feb. 19 - Mar. 16--US invasion of Iwo Jima.
  • The US Navy experienced for the first time massive Japanese suicide mission against ships.
  • They sunk the escort carrier Bismarck Sea and heavily damaged the fleet carrier Saratoga. 
  • Although, the invasion was secured in a short period of time, it caused high number of casualties.  There were 6,821 Americans dead and 20,000 wounded.  More than 22,000 of the Japanese defenders were killed.

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    The island served as an emergency landing site for B-29 bombers.      Monument depicting Rosenthaul's picture of US Marines placing the US flag when
    Iwo Jima was conquered(NAIL)
  • Apr. 1 - June--Okinawa Invasion.
  • The last battle of the Pacific.
  • Kamikaze attacks inflicted the US forces with a lot more casualties.
  • The Army lost 4000 soldiers, and the Marines lost 2938 soldiers.  Thirty-eight ships sunk and 763 aicraft destroyed.
  • More than 160,000 Japanese died in the course of the invasion.
  • Nimitz Central Pacific campaign proved to be aggressive and successful in reaching Japan in a timely manner.
  • Aug. 6--Atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima
  • Aug. 9--Atomic bomb dropped over Nagasaki
  • Sept. 2--Japanese surrender on board the battleship Missouri lying in Tokyo Bay.

    • Admiral Nimitz signsthe Japanese surrender document
    with General MacArthur and Admirals Halsey and
    Sherman standing behind him.
    (Naval Historical Center)


  • Oct. 5--"Nimitz Day" 
  • Nimitz came to the United States as a hero.
  • Nimitz was honored at parades in Washington, San Francisco, New York, and Texan cities.

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  • Dec--Relieved Admiral King and became the Chief of Naval Operations.                 Admiral Chester Nimitz and his
    •                                                                                                                                                                                              family in a limousine for their motorcade throughWashington(NAIL)


  • Fleet Admiral Nimitz died 20 February 1966.
  • At his death the United States flag was flown at half-mast.  This is an honor only given to few.

    • Executive Order 11271 NAIL
    ordering the flag at half-mast to honor
    Fleet Admiral Nimitz
     
     
     
     

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