Nimitz Fall Symposium - Desperate Days: The Challenge Develops

Sponsored by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, The Texas Historical Commission, St. Edward's University (Austin), FISD, the U.S. Naval Institute (Annapolis, MD), Texas Tech University, and the Exxon Mobil Volunteer Involvement Program, The Admiral Nimitz Foundation & The National Museum of the Pacific War invite you to their fall symposium, Desperate Days: The Challenge Develops. The symposium will focus on the first six months of the Pacific War during which the United States and its allies suffered a series of devastating defeats, which in turn ultimately led to the setting of the stage for the Battle of Midway, a turning point for the war in the Pacific.

Historians, scholars, and veterans will present different perspectives on a variety of topics. The following speakers are scheduled to speak at the symposium, although there may be last minute changes to this schedule.

DAY ONE
• Japan's Forces & Objectives - Allied Forces in the Pacific: Don Goldstein, author of numerous books on Pearl Harbor and editor of translation of Ugaki's diary.
• Pearl Harbor, Guam, Wake Island: Albert A. Nofi, author & historian AND BGen Vicente Blaz, teenager on Guam in WWII.
• American, British, Dutch, & Australian Naval Actions: James Hornfischer, author & historian AND Art Nicholson, author of a book about the sinking of HMS Repulse and Prince of Wales.

DAY TWO
• Allied Territorial Losses - Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore, Burma, & the Dutch East Indies: BGen J. Hagen, USMC, author & historian AND Inez Jongenburger, Dutch civilian on Java, POW AND Preston Holcomb, USN, served aboard the USS Tulsa, 1 of the last 3 surviving ships of the Asiatic Fleet.
• Fall of the Philippines - Bataan, Corregidor, MacArthur's Exodus: Richard B. Frank, author of book on downfall of the Imperial Japanese Empire AND Richard Meixel, author of book on the Philippines.
• Roundtable - New Guinea and Battle of Coral Sea: Historians Frank, Goldstein, Hagen, Hornfischer, Meixsel, and Nicholson.
Veterans are being contacted and will relate their experiences on these topics. Paul Stillwell - historian, author and founding editor of Naval History magazine, will be the Moderator.

Registration Information: The symposium is open to the public and runs from 9AM - 5PM both days. The cost is $40 per person for members of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation and $50 for non-members. Students with ID's are admitted free. Box lunches are available for an additional $9 per day. Dinner with the panelists is available Saturday evening for $40/per person. Online registration is available for participants, or call (830) 997-8600 for registration info.

The symposium's headquarters are Fredericksburg Inn & Suites at 201 S. Washington St., (800) 446-0202.

For more information, please visit the website of the Nat'l. Museum of the Pacific War, or call (830) 997-8600.