Politics & Government

Pearl Harbor Day, WWII Attack Remembered on 71st Anniversary

Pause today to remember what is considered a major attack on US soil.

On this day 71 years ago, the Imperial military forces of Japan bombed US military targets in Hawaii or, through what many term a "sneak attack."

It's Pearl Harbor Day, a day we set aside in America to remember "a date which will live in infamy," as President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed December 7, 1941.

"71 years ago at 07:55 HST was the 1st attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking a moment of silence to remember those lost," the U.S. Navy tweeted.

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To help us all remember, and to learn about Pearl Harbor, we've gathered some facts about that day, which you can find on its Navy associated website as well:

  • 353: The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, Wikipedia states, which were launched from six aircraft carriers.
  • Death Toll: On that day in 1941, approximately 2,402 people were killed.
  • People Injured: About 1,282 people were wounded at Pearl Harbor.
  • U.S. Navy Damage: All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, and four sunk. All but two of the eight were raised, repaired and returned to service later in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship and one minelayer.
  • 188: One hundred eighty-eight U.S. aircraft were destroyed.
  • Perspective: During that time, the U.S. then had only 48 states. Hawaii was a territory that gained statehood in 1960. The Salk vaccine, credited with halting the polio epidemic in the U.S., had not been developed.
  • Vessels: The Arizona and the Utah are the only vessels still sitting in the harbor. The ashes of three others will be scattered in the water in separate ceremonies this week, CBS News states.
  • USS Arizona: Almost half of the casualties at Pearl Harbor occurred on the naval battleship USS Arizona, which was hit four times by Japanese bombers, History.com states.
  • What Prompted the Attack: In brief, President Roosevelt moved the Pacific fleet to Hawaii from its previous base in San Diego and ordered a military buildup in the Philippines in the hope of discouraging Japanese aggression in the Far East, Wikipedia states. But some say this backfired, causing the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor and thus dragging the U.S., which had been taking an isolationist position, into World War II.
  • War Declaration: The following day, Dec. 8, the United States declared war on Japan, HistoryLink states.

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