Word: kimmell
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Stark had failed to give Kimmel all the information at hand on Jap intentions. Stark had even written Kimmel (in a personal letter) on Oct. 17: "I do not believe the Japs are going to sail into us." Stark's messages had "directed Kirnmel's attention toward the Far East" as the most probable Jap target if they should attack, rather than toward Hawaii; this was the conviction also generally held in Washington...
Actually the Navy court wound up by exonerating Kimmel, who would stand cleared were it not for sharply worded addenda by Fleet Admiral Ernest King and Navy Secretary Forrestal. Strongly dissenting, both declined to let Husband Kimmel off the hook...
...Kimmel had enough information (said King) to make him aware of the need to take extraordinary measures. His preparations were little more than routine. He could have maintained some kind of longdistance air reconnaissance, even with the few patrol planes...
...futures (Forrestal noted) it was written down that a declaration of war might be preceded by: "1) a surprise attack on ships in Pearl Harbor, 2) a surprise submarine attack on ships in operating area, 3) a combination of these two." And yet, even on Dec. 2, when Kimmel's Fleet Intelligence officer told him he had suddenly lost track of four Jap carriers (which they were checking on by radio). Kimmel was not alarmed...
...officer, Captain Edwin T. Layton, testified: "Admiral Kimmel looked at me, as sometimes he would, with somewhat of a stern countenance and yet partially with a twinkle in his eye and said, 'Do you mean to say that they could be rounding Diamond Head and you wouldn't know?' or words to that effect...