Seventy-two years ago today, The Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japanese had detailed planning and flawless execution and the Americans were caught off guard and ill prepared on that Sunday morning at 7:48 AM. Six American carriers were hit but bombers and torpedo planes resulting in 2000 dead and 1000 severely wounded. The Americans had radar evidence of incoming aircraft and there was discovery of a foreign submarine. But human mistakes were made.
The USS Arizona was sunk.
Today, the minimal memorial is over the remains of that surprise attack that lead to the immediate entry of the United States into World War II.
These brave men are surviors from that day. We visited the site in 2010 and saw the ever shrinking group of eyewitness survivors. As long as they are able, these heroes visit the site daily and will gladly answer questions and sign books.
Their life’s work today is to do what they can to insure that their fallen comrades are not forgotten.
This is a primary source of December 7, 1941.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LK2sRmffc0
This Is the Pearl Harbor Story
Images from Google Images, Public Domain
TalesAlongTheWay 
I wonder how those veterans feel about the fact that Washington was not as surprised as the American public was?
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I read that while I was reading some research. Ah the government. . . . . It is always the little or regular people who suffer……still true today!
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Unfortunately, YES.
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It was a very sad day. Although the Americans played a huge part in world war 2 so we probably would have lost if it weren’t for that fateful day.
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Did you know that Washington DC was not as surprised as most Americans at the sneak attack? Ah. . . . .the government . . . . and it is always the little people who suffer!
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Yes, I did know that. How come the government was so well informed!?
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I don’t know, but the impression to me was that if this surprise attack came, the common people would be angry and willing to enter the war. They were the people who would be called on to fight. Up until Pearl Harbor the war just just “over there” for most Americans.
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I somehow tend to believe the Pearl Harbor was Hitler’s design to bring the USA into the world war. And that sounded the death knell to Britain’s colonial hegemony.
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Interesting take. It certainly makes sense, though Germany got more than they could handle with the US entering the battle, didn’t they?
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