At this moment, 65 years ago, the Empire of Japan commenced its attack on American military bases in and around Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, bringing the United States into the Second World War. The war would last nearly four years more, claim more than 60 million lives, and end with Germany utterly devastated and two Japanese cities nearly levelled by the first (and, so far, only) use of nuclear weapons in anger.
Over 2,400 Americans lost their lives on this date, and all eight battleships in port that morning were destroyed or damaged. But by the end of the war, six of them were raised, repaired, rebuilt, and sent off to exact their own measure of revenge.
We all should take a brief moment to remember those who died on that day, as well as those who preceded and followed them in that war.
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Comments (4)
In 1941 men were men, and p... (Below threshold)1. Posted by USMC Pilot | December 7, 2006 7:11 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
In 1941 men were men, and politicians were Americans first, no mater which party. The Japanesse thought that America would sue for peace after Pearl Harobor. I can't help but wonder if a lot of the politicians that we have running the country today would not have done just that, in order to prevent war with Japan.
1. Posted by USMC Pilot | December 7, 2006 7:11 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 7, 2006 19:11
2. Posted by Keith Ralph | December 7, 2006 7:50 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Our response was America's finest moment.
2. Posted by Keith Ralph | December 7, 2006 7:50 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 7, 2006 19:50
3. Posted by cubanbob | December 7, 2006 10:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I'm thinking of an older gentleman and a friend who had the good or bad luck ( depending on one's point of view) who was stationed at Schofield Barracks on the morning of December 7th and was rudely awakened by Japanese Zero's strafing the base. Later his luck was such that he had the experience of coming ashore at Normandy. I wonder if I would have been able to brave such circumstances.
3. Posted by cubanbob | December 7, 2006 10:56 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 7, 2006 22:56
4. Posted by SShiell | December 8, 2006 9:43 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
After almost 4 years and 400,000 American lives lost in WWII, Germany and Japan lay in ruins. Their leaders were either dead or facing a short drop at the end of a hangman's noose. But one thing was assurred for all Americans - there would never be another Pearl Harbor.
Can we say there will never be another 9/11 today? Until we can, we still have work to do.
4. Posted by SShiell | December 8, 2006 9:43 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 8, 2006 09:43