REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR

Much has happened in the intervening 71 years, but on this the anniversary of the day, we should all stop and recall the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the losses we sustained, and the almost four years of destruction that followed.  Although there are fewer with each passing year, there are still many who served at Pearl Harbor and remember that fateful day and a talk with any of them will serve to remind us that freedom is never free.

From Walter Bourneman:

Seventy-one years ago today the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a devastating, surprise attack against American naval forces at Pearl Harbor. That moment became the defining memory marker of a generation—much as the Kenney assassination and 9/11 would become for later generations. Everyone of age to understand that Sunday morning would always remember where he or she was when the news crackled out of a radio or sprawled across the front page of a newspaper.

On that day, December 7, 1941, Europe was fighting Nazi Germany and President Franklin D. Roosevelt was slowly preparing the United States for an inevitable entry into the conflict. But America was still divided; many held strong isolationist views. Roosevelt had been slowly chipping away at American isolationism for years, but in two hours on a quiet Sunday morning, Japan finished his task.

The magnitude of Japan’s attack was sobering, but it was the long-planned, secretive manner in which it was executed that truly enraged the American people. America suddenly stood united in purpose as never before.

At Pearl Harbor that morning, America lost eight battleships, hundreds of airplanes, and 2,400 navy, marine, army, and civilian personnel. The memories of those lost that day are sacred, but no less so than the contributions of those who answered the call in response. Over the next four years, 8 million American men and women would serve in the armed forces.

Today, those who remain are in their late eighties and nineties. They have many memories of long and fulfilling lives, but in the twilight of their years so many of their sharpest memories seem to be of that time long ago when as fresh-faced teenagers they gave their all to a common purpose. Much has been written about their leaders, but it was their individual efforts that made this difference.

Perhaps the greatest lesson of Pearl Harbor is that nothing is impossible for the American people.
The most amazing transformation in American history may be the 1,366 days between December 7, 1941, and September 2, 1945—and the speed with which the Axis powers were reduced to ruin once the United States entered the Second World War. During this time, the tremendous outpouring of America’s industrial strength in ships, planes, tanks, and other armaments was exceeded only by the bravery and determination of the nation’s men and women.

They were a “can-do” generation who did not take “no” for an answer. They did not put off until tomorrow what needed to be done today. We should remember their resolve, honor their commitment, and seek to emulate their example. They truly were the greatest generation.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/12/07/pearl-harbor-greatest-lesson/#ixzz2EOfUkWXI

From Wikepedia:

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.



The USS West Virgina burns and settles in the mud of Pearl Harbor.  In the foreground is a small boat going to rescue those who have jumped overboard.



The USS Arizona explodes.  This is where most of casualties occured.  Hundreds remain entombed on the ship, which is now a historical site administered by the U.S. Park Service.