Edward Kimmel

Edward Kimmel was a United States Navy admiral who served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet from 1940 to 1941. Kimmel was in command of the Pacific Fleet when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was a highly respected naval officer with a long and distinguished career, but his reputation was forever marred by the events leading up to and including the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Early life and education

Kimmel was born on February 26, 1885, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Edward Kimmel, a Navy officer, and his wife, Mary. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1904, where he was a member of the Academy's class of 1904. During his time at the Naval Academy, Kimmel was an accomplished student and athlete, exceling in track and field and boxing. After graduating, Kimmel went on to serve in various roles in the United States Navy, including as a midshipman on board the USS New Orleans.

Naval career

Kimmel had a long and distinguished naval career, serving in various roles, including as a gunnery officer on board the USS Missouri and as a commander of the USS Mississippi. In 1926, Kimmel was appointed as a naval attaché to the United States Embassy in London, where he served for two years. He then went on to command the USS Colorado and later served as a Rear Admiral in the Navy's Bureau of Navigation. In 1940, Kimmel was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, a position he held until his relief in December 1941.

Attack on Pearl Harbor and aftermath

On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, catching the Pacific Fleet off guard. Kimmel, who was in command of the Pacific Fleet at the time, was criticized for his failure to anticipate the attack and prepare his fleet for the possibility of an attack. An investigation into the events leading up to the attack, known as the Roberts Commission, concluded that Kimmel and General Walter Short, the Commanding General of the Army's Hawaiian Department, were guilty of negligence and dereliction of duty. Kimmel was subsequently relieved of his command and reduced in rank to Rear Admiral.

Later life and death

After his relief as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, Kimmel retired from the United States Navy in 1947. He spent the remainder of his life in Groton, Connecticut, where he died on May 14, 1968, at the age of 83. Kimmel was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where he received full military honors.

Legacy and historical assessment

Kimmel's legacy has been the subject of much debate and controversy over the years. Some historians have argued that he was unfairly blamed for the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, while others have defended the Roberts Commission's findings. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of Kimmel's contributions to the United States Navy and his role in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Despite the controversy surrounding his reputation, Kimmel remains an important figure in American military history, and his legacy continues to be studied by historians and scholars today. Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stilwell were among those who served during this time.