Nurses were employed at their home to attend to Joan Nimitz’s worsening health problems, but the couple did not want to squander all of their money on such care. Extensive evaluations and treatment at the best Boston teaching hospitals proved ineffective for this proud warrior. Like his wife, his vision became impaired, and he could no longer safely drive. However, after several years, his health began to noticeably deteriorate he had frequent bouts of congestive heart failure, suffered gastrointestinal problems, lost 30 pounds, became incontinent, experienced chronic back pain, and began to fall at home. This did not mean they wouldn’t take advantage of medical advances, and when the admiral developed coronary artery disease, he promptly underwent quadruple cardiac bypass surgery. Her parents did not lead especially lavish or self-indulgent lives but were extraordinarily generous to all of their progeny. According to his daughter, the first year he worked at Texas Instruments in Dallas he paid more in income taxes than he had cumulatively earned during 23 years in the Navy. He was recruited by Texas Instruments and later became the president of the Perkin-Elmer Corporation. After completing service in the Korean War and against Chester Nimitz Sr.’s express wishes, he left the Navy. Of greater concern to him in the interview was conveying his indignation over the penurious salary that he received during his time in the military that would not properly cover family expenses. In other words, we sank something all the time.” When asked about his awards, he simply replied, “Yes, the patrols were all deemed successful. … The Haddo out-maneuvered and out-fought the enemy at every turn launching her torpedoes with deadly accuracy despite the fury of battle and sending to the bottom two destroyers and a patrol vessel with another destroyer lying crippled in the water.”Īn interview recorded two months before his death was conducted at the Naval War College, and it reveals a man with no interest whatsoever in rehashing any brave exploits that took place in the war. The Navy Cross citation reads in part, “For outstanding heroism in action during her Seventh War Patrol in restricted enemy waters off the West Coast of Luzon and Mindoro in the Philippines from 8 August to 3 October 1944.” The citation goes on to say, “Valiantly defiant of the enemy’s over powering strength during this period just prior to our invasion of the Philippines, the USS Haddo skillfully pierced the strongest hostile escort screens and launched her devastating attacks to send two valuable freighters and a transport to the bottom. Nimitz was transferred to command of another submarine, the USS Haddo, and was awarded the Navy Cross and a Letter of Commendation with Ribbon. He was awarded the Silver Star, which was presented by his father at Pearl Harbor. graduated from the Naval Academy and served on a submarine, the USS Sturgeon, during World War II. The new law is an important step forward for the death with dignity movement.Ĭhester Nimitz Jr., at age 86, was a bonafide military hero and the son of the legendary World War II Pacific fleet admiral-Chester Nimitz Sr.-who was responsible for defeating the Japanese navy in the Battle of the Coral Sea, the critical Battle of Midway, and in the Solomon Islands campaign. Vermont has also become the first state from New England to officially accept this treatment option, which has been available in Oregon, Washington, and Montana. Vermont is now the fourth state to make it legal for a physician to prescribe lethal medication to a terminally ill, mentally competent patient who wants to end his life and to offer immunity from criminal prosecution to doctors, family members, and friends who wish to participate. Passage of the bill was a bittersweet triumph for the governor, who had made it part of his election platform and then encountered fierce opposition from a coalition of leaders from the Roman Catholic hierarchy and from representatives from the disability community and socially conservative organizations that also dispute the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, abortion, and contraception. Peter Shumlin signed the Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act. Last month, following a decade of bitter political combat, Vermont Gov.