A Legendary Texan at the Helm
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn 

At the peak of his wartime career, Admiral Chester Nimitz served as commander-in-chief of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet and as Fleet Admiral during World War II. The record of this famous Texan will be recognized again on Sept. 2, the anniversary of the formal end of the Pacific war in 1945. He was aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay that day and signed the Japanese surrender papers on behalf of the U.S. government.

Two and a half million naval personnel were under his command in World War II, many of them from his home state. The history of the Pacific war is filled with accounts of brave Texans in all branches of the military. A dozen won the Medal of Honor.

Dallas native Samuel D. Dealey, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, commanded the submarine USS Harder and sank five Japanese destroyers in four days. His fearlessness, which eventually accounted for 16 sunken enemy vessels, earned him the Medal of Honor.

Cleto L. Rodriguez from San Marcos and San Antonio, a rifleman in the U.S. Army, became the first Mexican-American GI to win the Medal of Honor in the South Pacific. Army pilots Horace S. Carswell, Jr. of Fort Worth and Col. Neel E. Kearby from Wichita Falls also earned the Medal of Honor for their bravery in the Pacific.

Heroism on Iwo Jima resulted in a Medal of Honor for Texans Jack Lummus and William G. Harrell, U.S. Marines. Harlon Block of Weslaco was one of the Marines immortalized in the iconic photograph when he helped raise the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima.

Another inspiring story is found in the wartime bravery of Doris “Dorie” Miller of Waco. When he joined the Navy, African-Americans filled non-combat positions. He was gathering laundry when his ship was bombed in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. After moving his wounded captain to safety, he began firing an antiaircraft gun at enemy planes. Admiral Nimitz presented the Navy Cross to Dorie Miller.

Valor sometimes comes in groups. Members of the 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery of Texas’ 36th Division became known as the “Lost Battalion” when they endured nearly four years as POWs in Southeast Asia, along with survivors of the USS Houston.

The determination and courage of women in WWII expanded opportunities for future generations to serve in the armed forces. Texan Oveta Culp Hobby served as the first director of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. Women in the nurse corps tirelessly treated soldiers wounded at the front lines. Women pilots trained near Sweetwater flew planes stateside, freeing more pilots for overseas duty.

It is fitting that the National Museum of the Pacific War is located in Fredericksburg, hometown of Admiral Nimitz. His life and career are tributes to the Texas spirit of patriotism, dedication to duty and perseverance in the face of daunting odds.

After the enemy attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Nimitz was chosen to reassemble America’s Pacific Fleet. Over the next four years, he directed the counterattack that culminated on V-J Day.

The Texas spirit exemplified by Admiral Nimitz springs from cities, small towns, farms and ranches. Texas men and women serving in the military today superbly carry on this proud tradition.

The September anniversary of one of America’s greatest victories, the war in the Pacific, is another opportunity to honor all who have served in the armed forces. Their service and sacrifice provide all the rest of us with the gift of freedom.


Sen. Cornyn serves on the Armed Services, Judiciary and Budget Committees. In addition, he is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Border Security and Refugees subcommittee and the Armed Services Committee's Airland subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.