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Month, Day, 2011

YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

          The 70^th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack presents you with a timely opportunity to right a wrong left uncorrected by your predecessors: posthumous advancement on the retired list of the Pearl Harbor commanders.

          From 1984 to 2000 three former Presidents of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association initiated and pursued action with the membership that ultimately resulted in legislation recommending that your predecessors advance Pearl Harbor commanders, Rear Admiral H.  E. Kimmel and Major General Walter C. Short, posthumously to their highest temporary rank held in World War II, admiral and lieutenant general, respectively.  Section 546 of the Defense Authorization Act for FY 2001 so recommended and was sponsored by then Senator Joe Biden and Senator Harry Reid.

          Initially, advancement to the highest held temporary rank was provided for by the Officer Personnel Act of 1947, however, Admiral Kimmel and General Short, among all flag and general officers, were solely and punitively excluded by the two services.

          The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association initiated this matter as a means to rehabilitate the reputations and honor of its commanders who they believe were wronged when solely blamed for the Pearl Harbor attack.  Former Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke wrote that the matter was important to the Navy as an institution. In 1991, two former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, six former Chiefs of Naval Operations, one former Director of Central Intelligence—33 four-star admirals in total—urged the President to advance Rear Admiral Kimmel.  Additionally, based upon their writings, it is clear that the giants of World War II, Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, King, Spruance, and Kinkaid would also support this action.

          It would be an honorable and magnanimous gesture to implement the Congress’ recommendation, and I urge you to do so before the sun sets on our World War II generation.

Respectfully,
//S//

CC:

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Senator Harry M. Reid
522 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510