Pearl Harbor's 74th Anniversary: Events, Facts And Photos Commemorating December 7, 1941

2015-12-06T20:22:23-05:00

Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was attacked without warning by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, claiming more than 2,400 American lives and bringing the United States into World War II. The attack by hundreds of Japanese warplanes and submarines on the U.S. naval base took just 90 minutes and sank four battleships and two destroyers and damaged many other aircraft, buildings and ships.
The day marked the deadliest foreign attack on American soil, until Sept. 11, 2001. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called on Congress to declare war on Japan, saying the famous words that the date of the attack “will live in infamy.”
American warships are still docked at Pearl Harbor today. The USS Arizona Memorial is moored in commemoration of the attack and the battleship USS Missouri, where the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, sits as a symbol of the end of World War II.
For Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, the National Park Service will air a live video stream of the commemorative events on Monday. The ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time (12:30 p.m. EST), featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Kennedy as the keynote speaker. The webcast will also include a Q&A with experts, Pearl Harbor survivors and other World War II veterans.
A ceremony for the USS Oklahoma will also take place at 1:30 p.m. HST on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. The ship was one of those moored at Pearl Harbor's Battleship Row — along with the Arizona that bore the brunt of the attacks — when it sank after being hit by up to 12 torpedoes, causing the deaths of 429 crew. Just in April, the Department of Defense ordered the exhumation of the sailors and Marines who died on the ship, so their bodies could be examined, identities confirmed and remains returned to family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK8gYGg0dkE

http://www.ibtimes.com/pearl-harbors-74th-anniversary-events-facts-photos-commemorating-december-7- [login to see]

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 6 at 2015 8:23 PM

2015-12-06T20:23:42-05:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I recall FDR announcing the attack on the family's RCA floor model radio.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Dec 6 at 2015 8:57 PM

2015-12-06T20:57:42-05:00

In June 2013, my wife and I went to Hawaii after my return from Afghanistan. The best part of our trip was the "Home of the Brave" tour which took us to the USS Arizona, Fort Shafter, Schofield Barracks, and Wheeler Army Airfield. See these historic places is a memory I will never forget and want to go back again some day.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 6 at 2015 9:32 PM

2015-12-06T21:32:56-05:00

The Pacific Ocean became Japan's Russia. The Japanese army expanded their reach in the Pacific so far that they could not possibly defend their islands against our Navy, Marines, Soldiers, and Air Force.

Response by SP5 Michael Rathbun made Dec 7 at 2015 12:51 AM

2015-12-07T00:51:53-05:00

My birthday is the anniversary of D Day. My long-time friend, the 1CAV door gunner and crew chief, has his birthday on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

By long tradition, we exchange salutations on those days.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Dec 7 at 2015 5:31 AM

2015-12-07T05:31:29-05:00

December 7th 1941; a date that will live in infamy. Remind those that threaten our country and our way of life; it didn't work then and they will fail now. Know our history before you try to take our legacy.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 7 at 2015 11:36 AM

2015-12-07T11:36:22-05:00

As an officer stationed in Pearl Harbor twice in my career, the history of Pearl Harbor is very personal...

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 7 at 2015 2:42 PM

2015-12-07T14:42:11-05:00

While on vacation there, I made sure I stop by the memorial to pay tribute to those that lost their lives during Pearl Harbor, very sacred place.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 7 at 2015 9:29 PM

2015-12-07T21:29:20-05:00

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL I have enjoyed reading and studying military history of Europe, USA, Asia, and Africa since I was about 10 years old. My interests were more focused on Army than navy in US military history. Since the Army Air Corps was involved in WWII I was interested in the attack on Pearl Harbor,
On December 7 and 8 the Japanese also attacked Guam, Wake Island, and the Commonwealth of the Philippines, which at the time was under control of the United States. The Japanese also, on the same day, invaded the British crown colony of Hong Kong resulting in its occupation, and Thailand where the Japanese continued on down the peninsula to Malaysia. [because the international date line is between Hawaii and Guam the attacks occurred within the same 24 hour period]
A few years ago a coworker of shared the written testimony of his father who kept his experiences to himself for so many years after the attack Pearl Harbor. This man was onboard his ship when the attack occurred and saw significant carnage and loss of life. Late in life he came to the point of coming to terms with his experiences and put pen to paper to record his memories for his descendents before his memory failed him.
I hope and pray that all veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam come to peace with what they saw, felt, heard, smelled and tasted in their combat experiences and in the incredibly long nail-biting periods of inactivity prior to combat.