Husband E. Kimmel, U.S. Admiral - Pearl Harbor, 1941

Husband Edward Kimmel (1882-1968) was the commander of U.S. naval operations at Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December, 1941. The Department of the Navy's Historical Center provides the following background information about him:

Husband E. Kimmel was born in Henderson, Kentucky, on 26 February 1882 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1904. Before reaching flag rank, he served in several battleships, commanded two destroyer divisions, a destroyer squadron and USS New York (BB-34). He also held a number of important positions on flag staffs and in the Navy Department, and completed the senior course at the Naval War College.

After promotion to Rear Admiral in 1937, he commanded Cruiser Division Seven on a diplomatic cruise to South America and then became Commander Cruisers, Battle Force in 1939. In February 1941 he became Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet and Pacific Fleet, with the temporary rank of Admiral.

Operating from the advanced base at Pearl Harbor, Kimmel led his fleet during the months of vigorous training that preceded the outbreak of the Pacific War. Relieved of his fleet command in mid-December 1941, following the the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Kimmel reverted to the rank of Rear Admiral and retired in March 1942. Rear Admiral Kimmel died at Groton, Connecticut, on 14 May 1968.