December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy".

I visited Pearl Harbor recently and  I can tell you when Im standing quitely on the Arizona memorial or over looking the other ship memorials, I can almost hear the enemy planes racing in and shooting up the place. I can still see the bullet holes aboard Ford Island in the cement, I can still see the bullet holes aboard KBay around the Generals office. There are signs of the attack, you just need to look. Remember Pearl Harbor, I do!
Time for a CGar for those Heroes!

The attack on Pearl Harbor (called Hawaii Operation or Operation AI^[7][8] by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters (Operation Z in planning)^[9] and the Battle of Pearl Harbor^[10]) was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

The base was attacked by 353^[11] Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers.^[11] All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. Of these eight damaged, two were raised, and with four repaired, six battleships returned to service later in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship,^{[nb 4]} and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed^[13] and 1,282 wounded. Important base installations such as the power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day (December 8), the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for non-interventionism, which had been strong,^[14] disappeared. Clandestine support of Britain (for example the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.

There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. However, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy".

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

Some shots from the last time I was there.....

Comments

[Mike P]

Sadly, the survivors are going away quickly. Along with the nation's conscience of this terrible attack. Semper Fi.

[howard Love]

Thank you for the remembrance, my Dad was at Pearl Harbor on the USS Case and he is still with us.

[MINDY1]

RIP :(

[Arrow]

Rest In Peace. I will remember you always and those in my family that joined the fight because of your sacrifice.

Thank you for posting this, Major, you are much appreciated here in Indian Territory.

[Kim Gibson]

Not all of us younguns are igerant! I remember, and revere the dead.

[Bruce]

With the passing of years great advents that shaped a
nation and it's people slowly slip into the abyss of time.
"It's the job of the teacher to teach, it's the job of the
student to listen".
"Those who forget their history, are bound to repeat it".

[Rrddbb]

In 1997 I too stood over the Arizona looking down at
a sunken war memorial and crypt for many men.
You can feel the moment of 1941 in the air.
I never felt that way anywhere else I've ever been.

[pincher]

NEVER FORGOTTEN! As a child of 7...I still remember... the news came by radio... we had no TV then.. The Dad's went off to war and the Mom's went to work to do many jobs the men had done.. As time passed I remember we pulled together..doing without so all could go to the war effort... Sad to say but I don't really see that happening today! December 7, 1941... REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR!