Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
Martin Balsam: Admiral Husband E. Kimmel
Photos
Quotes
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[a bullet smashes through the window of Kimmel's office and hits him in the chest, but only tears his uniform before falling to the floor. Commander Curts picks it up]
Commander Maurice E. Curts : It's spent, sir.
[Kimmel stares at the bullet]
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : [somberly] Would've been merciful had it killed me.
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[Halsey has been ordered to take his Task Force to Wake Island to deliver a squadron of fighters]
Admiral Halsey : Kim, level with me. I want a clear directive... If I run into a Jap ship, what action do I take?
Admiral Kimmel : Use your common sense.
Admiral Halsey : That's the best damn order I ever had.
[Halsey walks away, then turns around]
Admiral Halsey : If I see so much as a sampan near it, I'll blow it out of the water.
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Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : [Being notified of the Ward's attack on a Japanese midget submarine] You mean to tell me that a submarine was trying to sneak into the harbor over an hour ago, and it took this long for me to know about it? I don't care if it hasn't been confirmed, I should've been notified when the Ward filed its first report! A submarine that close is a serious matter, it's a very serious matter! Now, get the confirmation, or the reports, to my office. I mean, right now!
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Adm. James O. Richardson : This was my command, and it's become habit to worry about the security of the fleet. I can't forget that the British, flying some old biplanes, torpedoed and sank three ltalian battleships at Taranto. A harbor very much like this one.
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : Well, l share your concern, Jim, but CNO doesn't think it can happen here.
Adm. James O. Richardson : Why not?
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel : Well, a torpedo dropped from a plane will plunge to a depth of 75 feet or more before it levels off.
Adm. James O. Richardson : l know and Pearl is only 40 feet deep. l'm still worried, Kim.
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Admiral Kimmel : It looks good on paper, but for God's sake... that's not a paper fleet sitting out there.
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Admiral Kimmel : Try to hurry things along, John. I want you out there to probe!