Dec. 7, 1941 will forever stand out in history as the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Four-star Admiral Husband Kimmel received a great deal of blame for the American unpreparedness for Pearl Harbor. He retired from the United States Navy the following year with a reduction in rank and died in 1968 still trying to clear his name and reputation.
Kimmelâs grandson, Thomas Kimmel, will discuss his grandfather and the familyâs efforts to clear his name on Monday [August 5] in Kahlmus Auditorium on the campus of Mississippi State University-Meridian at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Toby Bates, assistant professor of history at MSU-Meridian is teaching a class this summer on the years 1917-1945 which include World War II. One of Batesâ students, Dustin Phillips, decided to do his class research paper on Pearl Harbor and the controversy surrounding the United States Navy and Admiral Kimmel.
On the advice of Bates, Phillips contacted the Kimmel family for information.
âThomas Kimmel spoke at length with me and offered to come to Meridian to speak about his grandfather,â said Phillips. âIt is evident from everything he shared that not only was the Pacific Fleet attacked Dec. 4, 1941, but Admiral Kimmelâs military career, honor, and legacy also became a casualty of that fateful day.â
Thomas Kimmel is a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, and a former FBI agent of 25 years. He has appeared on 60 Minutes, War Stories Investigates with Oliver North, the Discovery Channel and the National Geographic Channel.