Editing Chester W. Nimitz (section)

===Early career===
[[File:USS Decatur (DD-5).jpg|thumb|250px|{{USS|Decatur|DD-5|6}}, 1902]]
Nimitz joined the [[battleship]] {{USS|Ohio|BB-12|2}} at [[San Francisco]], and cruised on her to the Far East. In September 1906, he was transferred to the cruiser {{USS|Baltimore|C-3|2}}; on 31 January 1907, after the two years at sea as a [[warrant officer]] then required by law, he was commissioned as an [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]]. Remaining on Asiatic Station in 1907, he successively served on the [[gunboat]] {{USS|Panay|1899|2}}, [[destroyer]] {{USS|Decatur|DD-5|2}}, and cruiser {{USS|Denver|CL-16|2}}.

The destroyer ''Decatur'' [[Ship grounding|ran aground]] on a mud bank in the Philippines on 7 July 1908, while under the command of Ensign Nimitz. The incident was the result of a navigational error. Nimitz had failed to check the harbor's tide tables and tried Batangas' harbor when the water level was low, leaving ''Decatur'' stuck until the tide rose again the next morning, and she was pulled free by a small steamer.<ref name="nimitzBook" /> Following the grounding, a naval board of inquiry was convened to investigate the circumstances. The board found that Nimitz had indeed made an error in judgment, but they did not recommend any punitive measures against him. Instead, he received a letter of reprimand.<ref name="navy-ship-nimitz">{{Cite DANFS |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n5/nimitz.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040316125547/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n5/nimitz.htm |archive-date=2004-03-16  |title=USS ''Nimitz'' (CVA(N)-68)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite DANFS|title=Decatur II (Destroyer No. 5)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/decatur-ii.html}}</ref>

Nimitz returned to the United States on board [[USS Nantucket (IX-18)|USS ''Ranger'']] when that vessel was converted to a [[school ship]], and in January 1909, began instruction in the First Submarine Flotilla. In May of that year, he was given command of the flotilla, with additional duty in command of {{USS|Plunger|SS-2|6}}, later renamed ''A-1''. He was promoted directly from ensign to lieutenant in January 1910.  He commanded {{USS|Snapper|SS-16|6}} (later renamed ''C-5'') when that submarine was commissioned on 2 February 1910, and on 18 November 1910, assumed command of {{USS|Narwhal|SS-17|6}} (later renamed ''D-1'').<ref name="navy-ship-nimitz" />

In the latter command, he had additional duty from 10 October 1911, as Commander 3rd Submarine Division Atlantic Torpedo Fleet. In November 1911, he was ordered to the [[Boston Navy Yard]], to assist in fitting out {{USS|Skipjack|SS-24|6}} and assumed command of that submarine, which had been renamed ''E-1'', at her commissioning on 14 February 1912. On the [[Monitor (warship)|monitor]] [[USS Nevada (BM-8)|''Tonopah'']] (then employed as a submarine tender) on 20 March 1912, he rescued Fireman Second Class W. J. Walsh from drowning, receiving a [[Silver Lifesaving Medal]] for his action.<ref name="navy-ship-nimitz" />

After commanding the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla from May 1912 to March 1913, he supervised the building of [[diesel engine]]s for the fleet [[Tanker (ship)|oil tanker]] {{USS|Maumee|AO-2|2}}, under construction at the [[New London Ship and Engine Company]], [[Groton, Connecticut]].<ref>Potter, p. 124.</ref>