Day Of Infamy
By Wyatt Earp | December 7, 2009
ABOVE THE FOLD UPDATE: For those of you choosing a search engine, check out this comparison Ace of Spades found between . Google puts up graphics for “major events” like Earth Day, but not for December 7th. It’s exactly why I switched to Bing for all of my searching needs.
The forward magazine of the USS Arizona explodes.
We remember.
At 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.
At 7:02 a.m., two radio operators spotted large groups of aircraft in flight toward the island from the north, but, with a flight of B-17s expected from the United States at the time, they were told to sound no alarm. Thus, the Japanese air assault came as a devastating surprise to the naval base.
Much of the Pacific fleet was rendered useless: Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged, and more than 200 aircraft were destroyed. A total of 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 were wounded, many while valiantly attempting to repulse the attack. (H/T – History.com)
There is also a great video of FDR’s Declaration of War posted below the fold:
Topics: The Troops | 9 Comments »
December 7th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Went to Hawaii a few years ago and of course, went to Pearl Harbor. Cried like a baby and still get choked up when I see pics of that horrific day. God bless the greatest generation!
December 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
MeToo – My parents went there with friends when I was a kid. I made sure they brought back some items from the Memorial.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
It was a different time in American history.. A more innocent time, a time when Americans left others alone but kicked ass when they had to…
If Pearl Harbor happened today, we’d surrender, well, Obama would…
December 7th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I noticed that a long time ago. I am guilty of falling back into the Google habit. They are turds, though.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Not quite on topic, but
Pearl Harbor mini-sub mystery to be solved?l
points to
Japanese mini-submarine that probably fired on U.S. battleships
The sub may have fired at West Virginia and Oklahoma ships, capsizing the Oklahoma. This point has been in dispute ever since the attack. Five minisubs were to take part: it was known four never did, and usually assumed the fifth did not – but now it seems it did, firing its two torpedoes.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:45 am
TexasFred – We certainly wouldn’t declare war the next day.
Captain – They certainly are.
John A – Unbelievable. They mentioned that on “Myths of Pearl harbor,” but said they thought the fifth sub didn’t fire.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
i believe the quote is “a date” not “a day” that will live in infamy.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:16 am
NP – It is, but I wrote “Date” for this post on the last three years. Wanted to mix it up.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Or at the very least, he’d apologize for whatever offense caused them to attack us, and then offer them money to leave us alone. To which the response would be to take the money and then attack us again.