Martin Balsam credited as playing...
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel
- [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.
- [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.
- 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!
- 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.
- Admiral Kimmel: It looks good on paper, but for God's sake... that's not a paper fleet sitting out there.