Nimitz at Ease

It is easier to say what this book is not, than what it is. Perhaps it is a natural human characteristic to categorize but this book is not a biography of Admiral Chester Nimitz nor a military history of the Pacific during World War II, with strategy and theories and results, but a history of Nimitz, the man, at the time he was making strategic decisions affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans. It’s not a memoir nor a biography of Nimitz’ friends, but a sensitive, detailed study of friendship during a world war, of courtesies and leadership, vision and responsibility, public service and kindnesses, near absolute authority and simple pleasures.“Nimitz” is the part of Nimitz’ life during World War II not covered in other material written earlier without the original source documents referenced in this book—the official Navy Graybook that records daily activity in the Pacific War and the diary of the author’s grandmother (almost overlooked and discarded earlier), and the photos and memorabilia from the war years.I think that it is difficult for anyone without a good understanding of the unique society of pre-war and WWII Hawaii to fully grasp the military, social, political and cultural dynamics of Hawaii during that period. The book provides some introduction to that world, perhaps less than what might help some readers but not overburdening either the flow of the book or those with more familiarity.These unique characteristics are highlighted in a film produced by John Ford for the Navy in 1943, “December 7th” (available at Internet Archive; later censored due to racial concerns, per IMDB). While it is simple to laugh at the dramatized Uncle Sam in the film, not doing much of anything prior to December 7, on the evening of December 6, 1941, a Navy flier had remarked to the author’s mother that “‘It is impossible for the Japanese to get within one thousand miles of Hawai’i without our spotting them.’ He emphasized this with a conviction untrammeled by the slightest doubt.” (p. 21) He was not alone, of course, and much blame for Pearl Harbor has been placed on those in positions of authority in Washington, their own interests primarily looking toward Europe since Hawaii never had any intrinsic value for the United States, its value having been extrinsic, to protect the West Coast. Nimitz’ appreciation of and fondness for Hawaii is illustrated by numerous examples in the book.Though the focus of the book is on friendship, there are serious lessons in leadership demonstrated by Nimitz throughout the book—the ability to delegate and trust supremely competent and justifiably competent subordinates to carry out their missions; the strength to accept mistakes; how to balance the responsibility and horror of knowing that thousands of casualties would result from whatever he decided; and retaining one’s sanity and the balance needed to continue making the gravest decisions. (In addition, Nimitz was well ahead of many in the contemporary Navy regarding physical fitness.) We read and hear of the inevitable loss of life and injuries sustained by our military and their families these days and, as wrenching as these losses are, it is impossible for those of us who were not old enough to understand what was occurring in WWII to absorb the horror of losing hundreds and frequently thousands of men in one day, in one battle, for one step forward.With them first having met 20 years before WWII, when Nimitz had been stationed at Pearl Harbor to build the submarine base, it is fair to say that after Pearl Harbor the Walker family became a surrogate family for Nimitz (whose only family members remained on the mainland), with all the closeness and repetition and activities that daily life comprises. (The weekend before Nimitz moved his headquarters to Guam, the winnings from the usual poker game with Nimitz were given to the eight-day old daughter of the caretakers of the Walkers’ country home, a Japanese immigrant couple; that small gesture of shared humanity, magnified by the irony, is the kind of history that would have been lost but for “Nimitz.”) One might suggest that less detail is needed regarding who did what when but without this book that detail otherwise would be lost to history.What tone should a writer take? Familial, familiar, respective, objective? Sometimes the titles and names might have been changed about but they do serve the purpose of keeping the reader from mistaking the subject as might happen otherwise. Perhaps more important they continue the theme of the deep friendship spanning three generations and the names and diminutives used by all.The book includes wonderful photographs, a helpful map of Oahu (fittingly from 1944 and not from Google) for anyone not familiar with the geography of the locations in the book, and various images reflecting physical reminders of the ongoing history, from passes for traveling at night, to place cards, to a photograph of Admirals King, Nimitz and Spruance on the USS Indianapolis (p. 154), which went on to deliver parts for the first atomic bomb and which was then sunk only a couple of weeks before the end of the war, leading to a loss of hundreds of men (and a later court-martial and exoneration for the captain).Given the activity in the book and the frequent dinners and country excursions, Nimitz was never far from the helm. For anyone who has not spent some time at a quiet home near the beach, it is hard to imagine the feeling of tranquility that arises from being in what seems like a separate world, with an ocean to enjoy. (Surely there must be a Ph.D. thesis somewhere on that subject.) The visits to the Walker family estate, however, always were followed by a morning return to Pearl Harbor and the events recorded in the Graybook. Though the principals were constantly busy they were not alone and the book recognizes the staffs that enabled Nimitz and the Walker family to accomplish everything else that their responsibilities required.While a superficial view would assume that the time and relationships comprised dinners and social activities and walks the Walkers were well familiar with the reality of the war effort. While managing what probably was the largest corporation in Hawaii during a war that consumed society, Sandy Walker also served as the volunteer Director of Food Control (without a day off for over one year), responsible for the provisioning of Hawaii. Despite Hawaii’s geographic isolation and challenging logistics, “‘The fact that throughout the entire war, Hawaii was not rationed like mainland communities, speaks volumes for the fairness and efficiency’ of Sandy’s skillful management.” (p. 33) In addition to providing a respite and refuge for Nimitz at the family’s Honolulu home and country estate about an hour away, Una Walker assumed responsibility for the Red Cross Surgical Dressing Corps (which, with many local Japanese volunteers, had produced “two hundred thousand dressings” before December 7 for a war expected to last six months, a supply exhausted the first day, and by 1945 was “producing a million dressings a month,” p. 29), and the Women’s Air Raid Defense contingent.The Naval History and Heritage Command and Naval War College Foundation, which supported the digitizing of the Graybook, deserve credit for the Graybook having been made accessible. Perhaps a future historian will provide a multi-volume biography of Nimitz, which would be impossible without the Graybook and “Nimitz.” Though Mrs. Nimitz apparently destroyed letters that would have been helpful for any writer that is understandable from a sense of privacy. (But how do we learn history when people don’t write letters that might be retained but send emails instead? Who keeps the emails?) I would have thought that this book would have been perfect for the Naval Institute Press to publish but perhaps this aspect of Nimitz’ life doesn’t fit too well with the official Nimitz history—Nimitz out swimming, enjoying a drink and poker with friends, planting flora sent by the Walkers to lighten a devastated Guam, stories told and tempting patience with a constant parade of official visitors in Hawaii and Guam while handling the constant responsibility and stress of being the most powerful military figure in history. (The visitors, especially after Nimitz moved his command forward to Guam, might remind a reader of the movie “Don't Go Near the Water,” in which much time is spent showing correspondents and Congressmen around a Pacific island.)At times an index would be useful but since most of the references are to individuals and there are many references to a relatively small group of individuals, an index would not have added much. Similarly, though there is no bibliography, the extensive endnotes provide reference to the numerous source materials involved in the writing. Some statements seem to be from quotations (due to brackets) that the quotation marks don’t match and there are a few typos inevitable in any book of this length. Thoughts or feelings occasionally are attributed to individuals without citation but these ring true under the circumstances.The Afterword serves helpfully, as an afterword should, not to finish the theme of the book, which is for the book itself to address but to answer the inevitable questions that any read would have. “What happened to X?” The later story of the Woo Pen, which Nimitz had used to sign the Allied copy of the Instrument of Surrender, is gracefully included, and Sandy Walker’s work with the Red Cross in Siberia at the end of World War I, a story in itself, is lightly referenced by only two lines.An official record of what occurred during some event or in a public figure’s life will always exist but sometimes, as with “Nimitz,” we can only learn certain lessons and character from the unofficial record, whether of a family or a Fleet Admiral.

Finally! A three-dimensional and delightfully intimate portrait of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the man. How was this towering wartime hero able to withstand the immense, incessant pressure of commanding the most powerful naval force in world history? How was he able to maintain the emotional balance and clarity of mind necessary to make the life-and-death decisions that won the bloody war in the Pacific? Michael A. Lilly, in his excellent book, "Nimitz at Ease", provides captivating insights. Nimitz became close friends with Lilly’s grandparents and frequently found respite at their seaside retreat on Oahu. The author masterfully weaves detailed notes from his grandmother’s diary into the overall tapestry of the war in the Pacific, along with a loving treatment of Hawaii and its people during the war years. "Nimitz at Ease" is an outstanding, one-of-a-kind book, very well-written and easy-to-read. It’s a true gem, not only for students of WWII, but also for anyone who wants to find insights into how we all – even the great ones – need to find balance in our lives, especially during times of overwhelming challenge.

Nimitz at Ease is a truly remarkable book that circumscribes Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz’s life as he commanded the war efforts of U.S. Naval forces in the Pacific from Oahu during World War II. Unknown until now, Nimitz was graced by the incredible gift of friendship with H.A. “Sandy” and Una Walker, the grandparents of author Michael Lilly. The Walkers’ home and generous friendship provided Nimitz a safe harbor from the demands and stresses of leading American forces to the victor’s table on the U.S.S. Missouri, September 2, 1945. One of the best parts of the narrative takes you right into the teeth of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. You will read how the Walkers’ enormous volunteer contributions as prominent and well-respected members of Oahu’s business and volunteer community helped Oahu persevere and recover. Interlacing primary sources, including Una’s personal diary and the CINCPAC Graybook that chronicled the Navy’s path to victory in the Pacific under Nimitz’s tremendous leadership, Lilly renders a portrait of Nimitz you will not find anywhere else. The Walkers and Nimitz forged and shared a magnificent friendship, and giving testament to it is a marvelous gift and achievement. We learn that Nimitz, finding a devastated Guam upon arriving at new CINCPAC headquarters there in January 1945, asked Sandy and Una to provision him with seeds of Oahu’s flora. It would be one of the first “care” packages the Walkers would send him towards the end of the war. My wife Melanie and I visited with Michael and his wife Cindy four years ago in Oahu when we were guests at the 70th remembrance of the Japanese surrender. During our visit, we had the enormous pleasure of staying at Muliwai, the Walker oceanside cottage property, which essentially is another character in Nimitz at Ease. We, like Nimitz before us, fell underneath its spell. It is hard to describe its magnetism, but I can say that during a five-day sojourn there, we never toured the rest of Oahu. We stayed there amidst its glorious sunrises and moonlit evenings, enjoyed the beach and ocean that Nimitz too grew to love, and most of all enjoyed Michael and Cindy’s incredible hospitality and friendship. We heard many of the stories you will read about in Nimitz at Ease from Michael while we were there. He is a great storyteller, and it’s easy to see that even now, Sandy and Una Walker walk with him at Muliwai.