USS Decatur (DD-5)
Biography
The USS Decatur (DD-5) was an early U.S. Navy destroyer commissioned in 1902 as part of the Navy's first generation of modern torpedo-boat destroyers, serving primarily in Asiatic waters during a period of expanding American naval presence overseas. Among its junior officers was Chester W. Nimitz, who joined the ship as an ensign and gained some of his earliest operational experiences at sea. In 1908, while in the Philippines, Nimitz ran Decatur aground, an incident that led to his court-martial but ultimately resulted in a reprimand rather than severe punishment. Decatur continued in service through World War I before being decomissioned in 1919 and sold for scrap in 1921.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Chester W. Nimitz Personal Writings
The Chester W. Nimitz Personal Writings comprises correspondence from 1893 to 1911, documenting his early life, education at the United States Naval Academy, and early naval service aboard several vessels. The collection also includes notebooks and textbooks from his time at the Naval Academy.