Red Brinkley, age 15, of Gulfport, Miss., for his question:

WHO WAS CHESTER NIMITZ?

Admiral Chester Nimitz served as commander in chief of the United States Pacific Fleet during World War II. He took command on Dec. 31, 1941, just three weeks after the fleet had been almost completely disabled in the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Adm. Nimitz is given credit as the man who painstakingly rebuilt the U.S. strength in the Pacific. As commander of the Pacific Fleet and the Pacific Ocean areas, Adm. Nimitz directed the Navy and Marine Corps forces. His calm assurance of final victory did much to restore the U.S. Navy's faith in its own power and ability.

In the early months of the war, Adm. Nimitz refused to attack before U.S. forces were fully ready, in spite of angry questions from congressmen and members of the press. He waited until he had enough ships, supplies and men to assure victory.

He developed a strategy of seizing only key islands from which attacks on other key Pacific islands could be launched. This strategy saved lives and time. The Japanese were driven back to Japan.

Adm. Nimitz signed for the United States at the Japanese surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay. After the war, he became chief of naval operations. He left active duty in 1947 and became special assistant to the secretary of the Navy. Born in 1885, he died in 1966 at the age of 81.