Pearl Harbor not forgotten
The surprise-attack was complete. Japanese planes came in two waves with the first hitting its target at 7:53 a.m and the second at 8:55 a.m. By 9:55 a.m. it was all over. Near 1 p.m. the carriers that launched the planes from 274 miles off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii were heading back to Japan. (So we thought.)
In a single stroke the Japanese left behind massive chaos, 2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes and a crippled United States Pacific Fleet that included eight damaged or destroyed battleships.
Approximately three hours later, Japanese planes began a daylong attack on American facilities in the Philippines. Local Philippine time was just after 5 a.m. on Dec. 8, 1941, as the islands are located across the International Dateline.
Further to the west, in another coordinated surprise-attack so as to inflict as much damage as possible to strategic targets, the Japanese struck at Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Although stunned by the attack at Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Fleet’s aircraft carriers, submarines and, most importantly, its fuel oil storage facilities emerged unscathed. These vital assets formed the foundation for the American response that led to the victory at the ‘Battle of Midway’ the following June.
What were the Japanese thinking when they executed their Pearl Harbor plan? Were they not aware that such an act would ignite outrage in the American people resulting in retribution? Japan would eventually pay dearly for its outrageous and unjustified conduct with the total destruction of the Japanese Empire four years later.
During the weeks and months to follow, a great deal of repair work and salvage operations were done by the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard with assistance from tenders and ships’ crewmen. This effort represents one of history’s greatest salvage jobs. All but two ships were salvaged. Target ship USS Utah and the battleship USS Arizona were not returned to service, and their hulls remain in Pearl Harbor to this day.
Efforts were expended in recovering human remains, documents, ammunitions and other items from the interiors of these and other ships that had been under water for months.
The day following the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a message via radio to the American people. This address has become known to be the ‘infamy speech’. In FDR’s words:
“Yesterday, Dec. 7,1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
“The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
“It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
“Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.
“I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”
Today the battle-scarred, submerged remains of the battleship USS Arizona rest on the silt of Pearl Harbor, just as it settled on Dec. 7, 1941. The ship was just one of much causality from that deadly sneak-attack by the Japanese. Presently an average of 40,000 people visit the site of the Pearl Harbor attack daily while 1.5 million visit the USS Arizona Memorial each year, according to Pearl Harbor Tour website.
Pearl Harbor Day is not a federal holiday, but it is commemorated around the nation while U.S. flags are lowered to half-staff. For 70 years the Pearl Harbor attack has lived up to FDR’s description as “a date that will live in infamy.”
The members of Milton L. Bishop Post 301 of The American Legion utilize this opportunity to commemorate and salute all World War II veterans.
Dennis McKendry is past commander and 24th district deputy commander of the American Legion Post 301 in Connellsville.