Captain Howard Kimmel

Howard Kimmel was born 1923 in Brooklyn New York to Isadore and Mary Kimmel. Growing up in Brooklyn meant coming of age in a world that was loud, crowded, and endlessly alive—tempered early by hardship, but rich in neighborhood, routine, and grit.

At some point in his early life, Howard moved to Columbus, Ohio – perhaps to attend school. He graduated high school at 16, and then went to Ohio State University. Soon after, he attended the dental program at Penn State while enrolled in ROTC . He studies were intensely hands-on, disciplined and demanding. Participating in ROTC while enrolled in dental school added another demanding layer. ROTC at Penn State in the 1940’s was already well-established and increasingly important as Europe was at war and the United States prepared for possible involvement. Students drilled regularly, wore uniforms several days a week, and balanced military obligations with an already packed academic schedule.

After graduation in 1944, he joined the US Army Dental Corps and ended up in Saipan towards the end of the war. Being a U.S. Army dentist on Saipan in the closing months of World War II meant practicing medicine at the sharp edge of history—half clinician, half field officer—on a coral island that had just endured one of the Pacific War’s bloodiest campaigns. Although the island was officially secured, not all resistance was stamped out. Japanese snipers were a constant, unnerving threat to U.S. Marines and Army troops.

Howard treated exhausted men who had survived island-hopping campaigns and were desperate to go home. He also treated Japanese civilians and prisoners of war as humanitarian operations expanded after the fighting ended.

By late 1945, morale on Saipan was complicated. Victory was near, but the atomic bombings and the sheer scale of loss weighed heavily. Howard took on the additional role of improving troop morale by arranging athletic competitions and other forms of entertainment.

After being demobilized at the rank of captain, he returned to the States and continued in dentistry, including a stint working at NYU Dental School as an Instructor. He was married to Rosemary Cotter (from London) and had three children. Howard ended his days retired in London, England and passed away there in 2008.

Howard cherished most the deep camaraderie and shared sense of purpose that united him with his fellow soldiers throughout their experiences in Saipan.