2026 Helen McDonald Memorial Nimitz Conference

Join us for the 2026 Annual Conference, hosted by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. This year’s theme, Forgotten Fronts: People, Place, and Progress, explores lesser-known campaigns, overlooked individuals, and underexamined regions of the Pacific War, highlighting how these stories deepen and challenge our broader understanding of World War II. Through a series of expert presentations, the program will examine the war through multiple lenses, from the civilian experience in urban battlefields to the strategic failures and turning points that reshaped empires. Attendees will gain insight into the human dimension of warfare, including those caught between opposing forces, as well as the contributions of influential yet often underrecognized military leaders. Topics include the battle for Manila and its civilian toll, the legacy of General Robert Eichelberger, psychological warfare in the China Burma India Theater, and the fall of Singapore. The Conference will take place on Friday, October 16, and Saturday, October 17, 2026, in the Historic Nimitz Ballroom. Featuring leading historians Jon Parshall, John McManus, Ann Todd, Nicholas Evan Sarantakes, and roundtable moderation by Rich Frank, this year’s program offers a deeper look at the places, people, and pivotal moments that shaped the Pacific War but are too often left out of the narrative.