INTRODUCTION President Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to December 7, 1941, the day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, as "a date that will live in infamy" . This description has continued to be accurate, nearly 70 years after the attack on American soil. However, not many people have the same emotional connection to the events of Pearl Harbor as her former husband Admiral Edward Kimmel, the man who held the position of "commander in chief" at Pearl Harbor. The events of that day caused his rank of "Admiral" to be removed. Kimmel's Military Background Admiral Husband E. Kimmel grew up in Henderson, Kentucky as one of seven children, and graduated as valedictorian of his high school. Although originally his plan was to attend West Point, he was not accepted, so he entered the United States Naval Academy in May 1900. Kimmel graduated from the Naval Academy on February 1, 1904, and was then sent to serve in the Department of artillery on February 1, 1904. the battleship USS Kentucky. He continued to rise through the ranks over the next few years and then, in 1914, after being commissioned a lieutenant, he was appointed "adjutant and fleet artillery officer on the staff of the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet". (p. 58, Betrayed). In World War I, Kimmel rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, as well as serving as squadron artillery officer, Arkansas executive officer, Naval Gun Factory production officer, and commander of Destroyer Division 45. Kimmel was regarded very highly by his superiors, being described as "an all-round officer of great promise" and "a splendid officer of high character". (Betrayed, 59). Chief of Naval Operations Admiral William V. Pratt said of Kimmel: "He is an extremely efficient driver and worker... middle of paper...Richardson, David Charles, vice admiral of the United States Navy." 'Critical analysis of the Department of Defense report dated December 1, 1995 regarding the advancement of her husband Rear Admiral E. Kimmel and Lieutenant General Walter C. Short on the Retired List.' August 4, 1997. PDF file.Stinnett, Robert B. Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor. NewYork: Touchstone, 2000. Print.United Senate. "Report of the Commission appointed by the President of the United States to investigate and report the facts relating to the attack made by the Japanese armed forces on Pearl Harbor in the Territory of Hawaii on December 7, 1941." Attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese military. By Owen J. Roberts. Np: np, 1942. ibiblio. Net. December 1. 2011..